In the years since the pandemic, we’ve seen story after story about worker shortages that are filled with employers complaining that nobody wants to work anymore. The question that comes to mind — which isn’t always asked — is, “Well, are you paying them enough?”
At Waffles and Whatnot — a beloved East Anchorage restaurant serving up waffles, fried chicken and more — you won’t find any complaints about worker shortages or worker turnover. There, owner Derrick Green prides himself on taking care of his employees, highlighted by the fact that he hasn’t had any turnover in two years.
“COVID taught me that taking care of the people was the most important thing, making sure that they’re not worried if they get sick … or making sure that they can make the payments for their mortgage and utilities and all that stuff without issue,” he said in an interview with The Alaska Current on a rainy Thursday morning. “I get the best performance from these guys.”
Waffles and Whatnot is among a coalition of Alaska businesses, Alaska Businesses for Better Jobs, publicly backing Ballot Measure 1 in this year’s general election. The voter initiative would raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2027, with annual inflation adjustments afterward. It would also guarantee paid sick leave for most employees.