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The QFC (Kroger owned grocery stores in the PNW) by me had to close early this past Sunday because it ran out of people to run the store. I had been there earlier in the afternoon and the site of bare shelves and lines as long as the entire length of the store was actually unnerving.

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Wow, do you know if it's because people quit or were sick at home with Covid? I remember the week after New Year's going into a grocery store (Ballard Market here in Seattle) and there were probably around 50% of the employees normally working there. I assumed it was due to people being at home sick, but didn't ask.

I would guess it is due to labor supply going down at the price grocery stores are used to and willing to pay.

I am seeing the same story play out at many other in person businesses used to paying low wages for in person work, especially at undesirable times of the day and week.

Daycares, hotels, restaurants, car rentals, healthcare, etc.

I've also heard that parking-lot delivery orders are causing labor issues. If you order a bunch of stuff from the store for curbside delivery, an employee has to spend a significant amount of time doing the shopping for you, likely in addition to their other duties. This is apparently VERY disruptive.

It ran out of people willing to work for poverty wages.

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