6 A
SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2017
Workforce
from 1A
A 2015 study by the Federal
Reserve Bank of Kansas City found
that close to 10 percent of 35 to 39
year olds and seven percent of 40 to
49 year olds were living with par-
ents. In 1980, these numbers were 3
percent and below.
“Things don’t work out where the
people are at, and they need a place
to stay, so they come and stay with
family members here,” Easton said.
“Or, a lot of times, it’s an elderly par-
ent that they come here and take care
of.”
The young workforce isn’t com-
ing just to provide amenities to the
retirement community — they’re
coming to support, or be supported
by, the retirees themselves. But
when those younger people come
here, they find a sometimes-unstable
job market that affects both employ-
ees and employers.
For Fred Meyer, the problems
begin with the Rhododendron
Festival.
“In a perfect world, we would be
fully staffed by May 1,” Easton said.
“Because from Rhody Fest, we go
into Memorial Day, and then boom.
We’re in the thick of it.”
In the summer, Easton estimates
that her store needs to hire 30 percent
more employees from her baseline.
Except, she can’t.
“That’s when everyone else starts
to hire,” she said. “The casino is
ramping up at that time, and all the
little restaurants around town are
looking for people left and right. We
can’t get enough people in here
employed.”
When Easton is able to hire during
that time, it can be chaotic.
“When you hire them on July 4,
nobody has any time to train. So, you
just kind of throw them in, sink or
swim,” she said.
It’s only during the slow periods
that Easton really takes time to train.
“When you find a good associate,
you want to do the best possible
“Is Coastal Living in Jeopardy?”
This 10-part series covers the current housing
and employment crisis facing the Siuslaw region.
Through in-depth interviews with government
officials, volunteer organizations, property man-
agers and employers, the series examines the
problems facing the region, the solutions that the
community is working on and what the commu-
nity can do to help.
All parts of the series are available online at the-
siuslawnews.com, or in print by request.
thing to keep them here,” she said.
“The hiring process is lengthy and
it’s expensive. When you invest in
somebody, you don’t want to say,
‘It’s not working, see you.’ We have
a small pool that we’re fishing from.
If you find someone who you feel is
a great employee, you’re going to try
and get them into the right position.”
Fred Meyer also invests in bene-
fits. Health insurance coverage
begins at 30 hours, and many of the
store’s positions pay salaries well
above the national average, particu-
larly with the 30 management posi-
tions available in various depart-
ments.
But Easton has found it difficult to
get people to advance in her store.
“To be honest with you, we’ve
had a hard time filling a lot of full-
time positions because we’re peo-
ple’s second jobs. They’re not look-
ing for that career,” she said. “A lot
of times, people work for the school
district and in the summer, they need
a supplement. We have quite a few
people who work for the casino, and
then work for us.”
In her experience, Easton finds
that people have second jobs because
of the high cost of living in the area.
“I would say it’s just to be able to
afford housing and cover basics,”
Easton said. “With the average rent,
and just your basics — I don’t know
how people do it, to be honest. We
hire above minimum wage, depend-
ing on experience. But even at that,
it’s tough.”
And with the store as a “second
job,” turnover is high at Fred Meyer,
according to Easton.
“Sometimes we get someone who
moves to Florence who has been
here for two weeks, and they applied
everywhere. Well, the first to (hire
them) would be Fred Meyer. I bring
them in, hire them at part time. But
then someone down the street offers
them more hours, so they end up tak-
ing that job. Then I’m back to square
one as far as the hiring process goes.”
There are other reasons her
employees leave.
Series List
Nov. 15: SOS
Nov. 22: State
of housing
Nov. 29: How we got here
Dec. 6: Time to step up
Dec. 13: Volunteer economy
Dec. 27: Jobs and workforce
Upcoming topics include
economic development, educa-
tion and the future of the
Siuslaw region.
“The ones we lose quickly are the
ones who didn’t realize what they
were getting themselves into when
moving to Florence,” she said. “They
can’t find a place to live.”
Easton could try and hire from
places like Eugene or Newport, but
Florence’s geographical isolation
prevents it.
“If you can find the same job at
the same wage where you’re living,
you’re going to take that job there,”
she said. “Or even for a little less
money, you’ll take that job. No mat-
ter what, a commute to Florence is at
least an hour in every direction.”
But the employee attrition does
have an upside. Easton has never had
to lay anyone off and rarely cuts
hours. She also states that the eco-
nomic health of Florence’s Fred
Meyer is extraordinarily positive.
It’s not like that for everyone,
though, particularly for untrained
entrepreneurs in the service industry
when winter hits.
“I had no idea what
I was in for”
Khufu was gobsmacked by the
lack of work and low wages when he
moved in the region in 2003. A new
father, he was finding prices in San
Francisco too high, and his wife was
tired of life in the city. So, their eyes
turned to Swisshome.
“It’s where my wife’s family was
from,” he said. “When it came time
for raising the kids, she wanted to be
closer to her family center.”
He hustled for work where he
could, picking weeds and painting
homes. This is common for many
people in the area during the winter
months, working for cash under the
table. His first real job was at
Siuslaw River Coffee Roasters as a
barista, then the Florence Events
Center as the building manager and
supervisor. He couldn’t get the pay
he needed there, so he became a bar-
tender, building a reputation for him-
self in the food industry.
All the while, he was taking
courses in computer science, major-
ing in networking.
“I was just about to go through
finals when I was approached by a
friend of mine who said, ‘Hey,
Kelly’s Cantina is for sale,’” Khufu
said.
His first response? “No way.” But
his family and friends were now
rooted in the area, and his computer
science degree seemed useless in the
area’s job market at the time.
“Either I try and find a job with
computers that pays well, meaning
moving to Eugene or Portland, or I
stay here with family,” Khufu said.
With blind confidence, he jumped
in.
“Oh my God, I had no idea what I
was in for,” Khufu said.
Khufu had managed restaurants
before, but actually owning one was
an entirely different beast.
“Chaos,” he said. “First off,
licensing. Insurance. Then comes
building the menu. Then comes
stocking all the food. Learning about
payroll.
Using
Excel
and
QuickBooks. I have a very thorough
education in computers, but not with
Excel or QuickBooks. I’m still put-
ting in a formula by accident and not
knowing how I messed up all my
paperwork.”
See
WORKFORCE 8A
KEEP CHRIST IN
CHRISTMAS
Watch
“In Search of the Lord’s Way”
Sunday, 7:30 AM
KMTR Channel 12
Then visit the
Florence church of Christ
1833 Tamarack
Florence, Oregon
and experience the joy and simplicity of
pre-denominational New Testament Worship. (Romans 16:16)
Sponsored by
St. Mary Our Lady of the Dunes
Knights of Columbus
Assembly 3656
Florence, Oregon
Bible Study: Sunday, 10:00 am
Worship: Sunday, 11:00 am
www.churchofchristfl orence.org
Enjoy great food and good times.
MEATLESS MONDAY
Healthy vegan and Vegetarian expertly prepared meals!
Homestyle Comfort Food
WINE WEDNESDAY
Enjoy a palate-pleasing variety of half price wines by the bottle!
ALL YOU CAN EAT COD THURSDAYS 5-8PM
Enjoy all the hand-battered, golden fried cod and chips you can eat!
CULINARY CELEBRATION WEEKENDS
Ask about our featured specials!
New Fall Menu
Including:
Shephard’s Pie &
Meatloaf & Mashed Potatoes
Wine | Beer | Martinis | Small Plates | Seafood | Dessert
1297 Bay Street Florence • 541-997-1133
www.bridgewaterfi shhouse.com
Hi, Welcome Restaurant
to Mo’s
Mo’s
®
~ FEATURED LOW-CARB SELECTIONS ~
GRILLED
OR Poached,
BLACKENED
SALMON: Grilled,
or Blackened
CHICKEN
BREAST:
Boneless,
Skinless Breast of Chicken
COD
FISH
SANDWICH
SHRIMP SKEWERS: 2 Grilled Shrimp Skewers
All of FOR
the above $9.25
are served with
Green Beans or Mixed Steamed Veggies and a Shrimp Dinner Salad
and for NEW
dessert... ITEMS
MARIONBERRY OR PEACH COBBLER
BBQ PORK RIBS: Baby Back Pork Ribs with the
FOR $4.95, ALA MODE FOR $1.00 MORE .
James Gang BBQ Sauce
BLACKENED SALMON CEASAR SALAD
Mo’s Old
Town, Florence • Daily 11 am - 8 pm
®
Mo’s
Town,
Florence
• Daily
11 am - 8 pm
Serving Old
Bowls
of comfort
for Over
50 Years
Serving Bowls of comfort for Over 50 Years • 541-997-2185
Fall/Winter
Hours:
10am-5pm
Daily
The Grill Restaurant & Lounge
Open Daily for
Breakfast 10am-1pm
Lunch 10am-5pm
Daily Happy hour 2-5pm,
Beer, Wine, Cocktails
ALL NEW DINNER SPECIAL!
2 Entrees FOR $20.00
at Sandpines
1201 35th Street at Kingwood, Florence
Highway 101 & 35 St.
541-997-4623 ext. 5
Where good friends &
great food come together!
Sunday - Thursday 4pm-6pm
AND Don’t forget our
2 FOR $16.00
Breakfast and Lunch Menus
Monday - Friday
Surfside Restaurant
Call: 541-997-8263
Wednesday dinner special:
10 oz. Prime Rib and Salad,
with your choice of
Pasta or Potatoes!
Great Food
Happy Hour • Monday-Friday 3:00pm to 5:00pm
Enjoy discount food and drink specials at the bar!
1285 Bay Street in Old Town Florence • (541) 902-8338