How Restaurant Workers Are Surviving The Pandemic

In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, restaurants and bars across the country are doing everything in their power to stay open -- even when research suggests it’s not totally safe. The tragic irony is people who work in restaurants and bars, the same people many well-intentioned business owners are trying to help support, are the most at risk.

The National Restaurant Association estimates that compared to pre-pandemic levels, restaurant employment is down close to 2.5 million jobs and that the industry lost $240 billion in sales in 2020. And while the full impact of the pandemic is still playing out, it appears that hundreds of thousands of restaurant businesses have permanently closed. What will be left of the restaurant industry once Covid has run its course?

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How Restaurant Workers Are Surviving The Pandemic

[elizabethl]

No one gonna mention that the guy’s name is Denzel Washington??

[MRMT]

the girl used to make 1000 to 1400$/week and has 0 savings and 2 months behind on rent. ok.

[MrRobcher]

The only restaurants who will survive are the ones who make money with Uber eats and takeaway As even with all the outdoor dining being low there is still cash flow.
Pizzerias, chinese and mexican are likely to have that option but with seafood and fine dining It is a bit more difficult

[martins]

I think the restaurant owner have more to lose since some have already shut down. So instead of losing a job, they lose their business

[PlayLikeLimbo]

From that standpoint the US is not even a third world country. Can't even provide for a whole industry to make ends meet. Terrible.

[MashZ]

That's a shame. My parents used to dream about moving to USA someday. But turns out that 20 years later, we're living wayyy better off in our "third world country" than what USA can provide for its worker class citizens anymore

[TheDanaYiShow]

This would have been a completely different story if the US had said "everyone stay inside for X number of months" at a government mandated level but alas...

Great video!

[goldja]

My heart goes out to them, Restaurant workers are one of the hardiest workers out there. Its sad but everybody has gotten hit financially including me. As a result Ive been concentrating more on my Emergency Fund and Roth IRA more then anything after dealing with the 2008 stock market crash now this 2020 to 2021 fiasco.

[FinancialShinanigan]

Proper ventilation should be prioritized not of building outdoor indoor space smh

[harmony]

Did anyone else rewind after he said his name is Denzel Washington?

[CaseyBurnsInvesting]

Restaurant workers won’t survive a $15 minimum wage hike, that’s for sure. Not all of them.

[mackeejack]

How tf did you have no savings making 1400 a week? Pathetic asf

[Kevindevin]

Amazing reporting for this story Abigail! Love the ending too! Keep up the great work!

[nicolebond]

It’s rough, with some industries hit harder than others. The bar and restaurant business is no exception. Where possible, they have to employ creative strategies to remain afloat during the pandemic.

[nightstorm]

One restaurant owner by me took the covid relief money and used it to buy a million dollar rolls royce.

[LeATeP]

"force to adapt" you do even know what it means? not everyone has the ability to adapt in a short period. and if you don't, you have to close. and so, we have 5-10% of all. who successfully adapted in the new rules of the game

now you got it, who's government liked more when they give money for free... Business > People. Your survival is not their concern

[IReapZz]

it's unfortunate that this only covers the American market

[BLAqKGURLLUXE]

This was an awesome film. Please cover more.

[Iifeandmoney]

2:43 "Women makes less money than men" why do I feel something awkward here, anyway, men spend less than women, for the job equality its 2021st already if you live in western coutries I think the job opportunity and salary are genderless. My boss is a girl an she out earned twice. That's fine because she's great in what she does.

[erikgonzalez]

Are you serious a company like shake shack applied just why! I don’t feel sorry for that Long Beach restaurant owner she should get fined or if you can’t pay staff just close down!