By BERNADETTE WILSON
To say I was frustrated as an employer is an understatement.
Since May, I have been trying to fill an open position in our Anchorage office. Now, all of a sudden, the flood gates have opened.
I advertised in the same places, using the same method I have throughout our several years in business. Yet, I could count on one hand the applications I have received those last four months.
The struggle is real for so many businesses large and small across Alaska and the country as a whole.
I had one applicant decide not to come in for an interview after they were told yes, they would be required to actually, physically, show up at an office.
More than one applicant informed me she wasn’t particularly interested in working, but she had to show they had applied for jobs as a condition to receive unemployment.
After four months, I decided to approach my hiring process much like my politics: Be blunt, and be honest. The following is an excerpt from the ad that I wrote a few weeks ago, but finally posted online this past Friday:
“Denali disposal is a commercial refuse company servicing Anchorage and the surrounding areas. We are looking for part-time help in our office.This is a 25hr/ week position (M-F 9 am-2 pm with some flexibility on Fridays).
“Things to know before you apply:
“We will not be asking you your vaccination status. If the Doctor who administers the vaccine is not willing to be held liable, neither are we.
“You will not be required to wear a mask and neither will your coworkers.
If you apply with the intention of simply ‘showing that you applied’ for purposes of collecting unemployment, don’t frustrate yourself. We will turn you in to the Department of Labor.
“Our trucks proudly fly the American flag on holidays.
“As your boss, you will hear me quite often thank God for helping me with any given project.
“If you feel the above is not adequate or it offends you in anyway please do not waste your time. No one should be miserable at work.
“If you’re still interested:
“Duties will include tasks such as: answering phone calls, maintaining and organizing office areas, managing filing systems, maintaining calendars, data entry, and setting up and maintaining client’s accounts as well as other company documents/spreadsheets, etc…“
That was Aug. 27. I quit counting resumes Tuesday, Aug. 31, when I hit 75 applicants.
To be clear, I’m offering the exact pay I’ve been advertising the past four months, with the same hours, same location, and identical online advertising platforms I’ve used in the past.
The ad, a pure reflection of what was genuinely going through my mind, received an overwhelming response. Every day since I posted the ad I have opened my inbox to what looks like an endless list of resumes. Here are a few enthusiastic responses that I have received from people who saw the ad:
“I would love to have the chance to work with you, as we seem to hold a lot of the same values, and I believe I would be a great asset for your company. Attached is my resume for you to look over, and I hope to hear from you at your earliest convenience. Thank you for your time and consideration.“
“HI!! I saw your job on CL and i want to APPLAUD you!!! how refreshing!!!!! my husband and I moved here from Northern California a few months ago and believe me, this ad would trigger tons of people lol GOOD for you!! you would definitely be the type of boss I’d love to work with, but I’m not familiar with Quickbooks & my Excel skills are below average. I’ve worked in a legal office environment as either a Records C|erk/Office Assistant. GOOD LUCK with finding a great candidate 🙂“
“Greetings, I really enjoyed your job description. Unfortunately, those hours won’t work out with my schedule but I really wish more employers were like you and stood for freedom and traditional values. God bless,“
Employment agencies have contacted me, saying, “Your company is the type of place people are expressing a desire to work at.”
My company doesn’t offer the compensation or health care packages that the vaccine-mandate Southcentral Foundation offers prospective employees, yet I was stunned to see that many Southcentral Foundation employees have submitted their resumes to my company. Southcentral is firing people who don’t get the Covid-19 vaccine.
There can be no doubt that the generous unemployment checks from the government have played a significant role in the lack of desire to work. I applaud Gov. Mike Dunleavy for ending the federal unemployment bonuses when he did. Unemployment payments are out of control. Unless you have a doctors note, you should be working, especially when there are opportunities on every corner. But that is a conversation for another day.
A flood of applicants in such short order points to a theory: Not everyone wants to sit at home. The $20/hr hiring signs plastered all over the Carrs store on Huffman ought to provide a clue that this has nothing to do with minimum wages; employers are begging for workers and providing big signing bonuses.
Perhaps instead it is the idea of working under the thumb of liberal propaganda that is turning potential employees away.
Perhaps it is that workers are tired of being told they are uneducated and selfish. Liberal ideology abandoned the working class long ago.
Maybe there is a workforce that is standing back, waiting in the wings to come back to work the “old fashioned” workplace, where employers say the choice to wear a mask is yours, the choice to vaccinate is yours – and your employers don’t need to know about it.
It’s a way of thinking that says, “you’re damn right I’m proud of this flag and I’m going to fly it; I’m thankful to Almighty God and I am going to say it.”
The workforce is standing ready, they’re waiting for the rest of us to return to our American values.
Bernadette Wilson is the owner of Denali Disposal in Anchorage.
