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THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 2, 2021 PM40050478 519.623.7395 Hey Kids! Call if you're interested in delivering the 534 Hespeler Rd. CAMBRIDGE (across from Starbucks) 519-624-9220 885 Glasgow St. KITCHENER (corner of Fischer-Hallman & Glasgow) 519-741-1233 Sunglasses WE DIRECT BILL! 3 for 1BACK TO SCHOOL Book your EYE EXAM with us and receive on a new eyeglass purchase As both an experienced busi- ness owner and chef, poaching has never been much of a prob- lem for Nick Benninger, until now. But when it comes to securing staff in the hospitality industry, it's a dog-eat-dog world these days. "There's a lot of actual phone calls being placed to employees saying 'Hey, I know you work for so and so, would you like to come work for us? We're offering you more money,' which has never re- ally happened in our industry here before," said Benninger, co- owner of the Fat Sparrow Group. "There's a bit of an unspoken rule you don't do stuff like that. But people are resorting to des- perate measures (because des- perate times call for desperate measures)." Benninger, who has fallen vic- BUSINESSES STAYING CLOSED DUE TO STAFF SHORTAGES See 'THE', page 3 LURING EMPLOYEES VIOLATES UNWRITTEN RULE, SAYS WATERLOO RESTAURATEUR BILL JACKSON bjackson@torstar.ca Sydney Keedwell, head chef at the Fat Sparrow Group's Taco Farm, serves up some tasty birria tacos with rice. The popular uptown restaurant is still looking to hire several people so it can open for lunch on weekdays. Bill Jackson/Metroland CAMBRIDGETIMES.CA METROLAND JOURNALISTS EXPLORE THE INTENSE HOUSING SITUATION IN A SERIES OF STORIES. SCAN THIS CODE TO READ MORE. UNDER PRESSURE