It is hard to find help these days — just ask Tim Gorman.

The owner of Bagels Etc. in Barrington was forced to close his popular restaurant late last week because he does not have enough workers. Mr. Gorman said all but three of his employees went back to college recently. 

“I’m probably going to be closed through Labor Day,” Mr. Gorman said, adding that he will re-assess his situation after the holiday. 

Mr. Gorman said he is looking to hire workers right now. He said there is a job application on his website: bagelsetcbarrington.com

Finding employees has been challenging since the onset of the pandemic, Mr. Gorman said. His business was closed for a month and a half, and when Bagels Etc. reopened it did so with different hours — Wednesday through Sunday — and offering takeout only. Bagels Etc., which first opened in 1989, has some outdoor seating available to customers now.

But even with a condensed schedule, Mr. Gorman has found it difficult to find workers. 

“Peoples’ mind-sets have changed,” he said. “People don’t want to work.”

Mr. Gorman said it used to be the norm where the majority of teenagers in Barrington would have part-time jobs, but he wonders if that is the case anymore. 

“The dynamics have changed. The dynamics of this town have changed,” he said. “They don’t need to work anymore.”

Mr. Gorman said that some teenagers are just focusing on their activities and interests and delaying entering the workforce. 

“A few years back I’d have stacks of applications,” he said. “Now kids do other things.”

Mr. Gorman said he has been fortunate in the past to have some great employees — hard-working kids from town who made the customer experience an enjoyable one. “I’ve had some great kids work here over the years,” he said. 

But often, as the high school and college students get older, they trade their jobs at Bagels Etc. for internships or career pursuits. 

Mr. Gorman said his business is not the only one in town struggling to find employees. He has heard of other restaurants cutting back their hours of operation to fit downsized staffing. 

Mr. Gorman also said he has spent thousands trying to recruit new hires. He said he has used services such as Indeed to find new workers. He said he has received plenty of applications, but no candidates follow through and show up. 

Help wanted

Interested in working at Bagels Etc.? Visit bagelsetcbarrington.com and fill out the online application.