It's Your Fault You're Short Staffed

There's an old joke I love about two guys stuck up a tree.

While out for a walk in the African Savanna, Jack and his friend come across a ferocious lion. Claws out and teeth bared the lion starts sprinting towards them.

The two friends, terrified, run as fast as they can to a nearby tree and climb up to where the lion can't reach them.

To their dismay, the hungry lion decides to wait out the friends and curls up for a nap at the base of the tree.

All of a sudden, Jack has an idea. He turns to his friend:

"I think we should climb down and make a run for it!"

"Are you mad?!" exclaims his friend "We'll never outrun a full grown lion!"

"I don't have to outrun the lion" Jack said with a smile "I just have to outrun you."

What has this got to do with being short staffed?

The majority of hospitality venues in the UK would consider themselves "short staffed" right now.

Almost half (45%) have even been forced to cut capacity or opening hours due to staff shortages in the past year.

Ok, there's a massive shortfall of people in the industry.

Yes, I know a lot of good people left over covid.

Believe me, I agree that Brexit sucks.

But I don't care. And neither should you.

Why?

Because you don't need to staff the 140,000 venues in the country.

You don't need to fill the estimated 170,000 vacant positions.

You just need to outrun Jack.