First came the virus, then came the lockdowns and now a staff shortage is threatening to finally cripple businesses across the Southern Highlands and Tablelands.
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It's been a summer of discontent for cafes, restaurants and pubs after awaking from the 2021 lockdown only to be met by an Omicron COVID-19 variant during their busiest season.
Debate still rages about the NSW Government's re-opening strategy, dubbed 'let it rip', with the state reporting another 12,632 cases and 38 deaths on Thursday morning.
It's added further strain to businesses who, in addition to having staff contract the virus, are finding it harder than ever to actually employ people in the first place.
![Bowral's South Hill Kitchen has limped on through the pandemic. Picture: Briannah Devlin Bowral's South Hill Kitchen has limped on through the pandemic. Picture: Briannah Devlin](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/131358433/caea6403-b65f-41ef-abe8-1fd7350a0c20.jpg/r0_0_922_678_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
South Hill Kitchen owner Tory Bevan said she was struggling to attract workers on top of losing her international staff.
"I've got no staff, you talk to any cafe or restaurant and no one can find staff," she told the Post.
"They come in for a job trial and they have three others so they can afford to be really picky. It's a bit of a nightmare.
"I used to have workers from Europe and the wonderful thing was they were professional hospo staff.
"They took it very seriously and were well-trained. At the moment I'm struggling to find anyone and even then it's hard to find anyone who can carry more than two plates."
Across in Goulburn at the much-loved Hibernian Hotel, owner Patrick Burke admits he's got it better than most but he couldn't afford to lose anymore staff.
"We're going ok," he said.
"I know a lot of other businesses in the industry are really struggling. After the first lockdown lots of people in hospitality left the industry and didn't come back.
"It's been a bit of a test on everyone, we've had some people who have had health issues. We've been short staffed here and there, I've had to close some mornings in early January.
"It's feast or famine in hospitality and COVID hasn't made it any easier. At this stage we are travelling ok, it's just a matter of trying to keep the staff we already have."
![Goulburn's Hibernian Hotel. Picture: file Goulburn's Hibernian Hotel. Picture: file](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/131358433/fa25d03b-1dc2-4de3-ac22-dd3638e21cbf.jpg/r0_0_1021_678_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Mr Burke said government support was needed more than ever after a debilitating two years.
"It's been very challenging," he said bluntly.
"Anything that government can do right now to help out small businesses is great but I'm not sure if we are eligible.
"Small business have been struggling for two years."
Another support package was announced by the NSW Government on Wednesday to help businesses deal with downturn during January.
Businesses with an annual turnover between $75,000 and $50 million who have experienced a decline in turnover of 40 per cent or more due to public health orders or the impacts of Omicron can apply to receive 20 per cent of their weekly payroll, paid monthly.
It's a case of too little too late for the likes of South Hill however with Ms Bevan bemoaning the tight parameters of the support package which only takes 2022 into account.
"I was one of the few places that struggled through every single day during lockdown, " she revealed.
"I was in, quite often by myself, running the coffee at the front of house. It was a really really tough period. I was down between 70 and 80 per cent.
"It was horrific. I lost over $1 million in revenue.
"The government has screwed up no doubt. A support package for those 40 per cent down? What about those who are 35 per cent down?
"Our profit margins are about eight to 10 per cent so if you are 30 percent down you're losing 20 per cent and with nothing from the government."
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