Happy Valley-Goose Bay store owner says she's desperate for staff

The owner of three convenience stores in Happy Valley-Goose Bay says she has just about reached a breaking point in dealing with a lack of employees and the poor work ethic among her current staff.

Glenda Thistle told CBC News the situation has often left her manning the counters solo.

• Happy Valley-Goose Bay employers host job fair to entice service workers
• Happy Valley-Goose Bay businesses seek foreign worker-ban exemption

"Fifteen, 17 hours a day sometimes. It's just myself, my nephew, and we pretty much run the show and we try to get everybody to come to work every day — and they just don't want to," said Thistle.

Customers have come in and I've offered jobs to them. I normally just get, "I'm on my EI, I'm good."- Glenda Thistle

Thistle estimates she gets an average of five sick calls a day from her 11 staff members, along with regular no-shows for shifts.

"I've gotten calls from customers, 'Is your store open today?' It's 9:30, and my employee should have been there at 8:30, but the store just didn't open. They didn't show," said Thistle.

'Closed: nobody willing to work'

Thistle recently went so far as to post a sign in one of her stores, reading, "Closed — nobody willing to work."

"I felt that I needed to post it because not only is it mentally draining, it's physically draining," said Thistle, adding the stress has taken a toll on her in recent months.

Beyond her physical health, Thistle said her businesses overall are suffering as administrative and managerial functions fall behind with her tied up in front-line duties.

When asked to sum up what work ethic is like in the region, Thistle bluntly stated, "There is no ethic, whatsoever."

The search for staff

Thistle said she has advertised in newspapers, online and in person for new employees.

"Customers have come into my store, and I've offered jobs to them. I normally just get, 'I'm on my EI [Employment Insurace], I'm good,'" said Thistle.

There is no [work] ethic, whatsoever.- Glenda Thistle

"It's excrutiating."

Thistle employed two temporary foreign workers two years ago, before that program was overhauled by the federal government as the result of a CBC investigation into abuses in the system.

"Those were good times, back then. They [the workers] were amazing," said Thistle.

In recent weeks, the federal Liberal government has taken steps to launch a review of the program and has also lifted restrictions on workers in some seasonal industries.

• Temporary foreign worker program review to be launched by Liberals
• Seafood plants able to hire more temporary foreign workers this year

Those are moves Thistle is watching closely, and with hope.

"I'd just like to see more support here, and the application process change," said Thistle.

"It's an employee's world, not an employer's world."