A restaurant owner said Tuesday that she can’t get employees to return to work because they make more in unemployment benefits than in working for her business.
Melony Wagner, who owns Charles Village Pub in Towson, said her employees would prefer to continue collecting unemployment than come to work as they make more money staying home, according to a report by FOX 5 News.
“They don’t want to [come back to work] and I don’t really want a restaurant full of unhappy employees,” Wagner told the tv station.
“They don’t want to because it is less money. I am not even angry or upset with them. I understand. Why would you want to come back and actually work and make half as much money or two-thirds as much money – and you are working – as you can get to stay home,” Wagner said. The restaurant is currently open for carry-out orders and has hired high school students to make deliveries.
The increase in unemployment totals is a key provision in the CARES Act, a coronavirus relief bill implemented to help struggling Americans in the midst of the pandemic that led businesses across the country to close.
Under the CARES Act, Americans who lost their jobs due to the pandemic and claim unemployment benefits can receive an additional $600 per week on top of what they already get from their state. The federal unemployment aid went into effect April 22 and will continue until July 31.