Calgary's Shawarma Saga: Is $36/Hour Not Enough for a Manager?

Calgary's bustling 17th Avenue SE is a hotbed of culinary delights, but a recent job posting from Osmow's Shawarma has stirred up a simmering debate among locals. The popular eatery is advertising for a manager position at their 17 Ave SE location, offering a healthy $36.00 per hour, a rate that’s actually higher than Alberta's full-time median hourly wage of $35.00. Yet, the chatter suggests a puzzling narrative: a supposed struggle to find a local candidate for a seemingly well-paid role.

So, what does this mean for your Friday night shawarma run? This isn't just about one restaurant; it's a window into the broader labour challenges impacting Calgary's vibrant restaurant scene. If businesses can't find staff, even for above-average wages, it directly affects your dining experience. Think longer wait times for your takeout order, diminished service from overstretched staff, and a general feeling that your favourite local spots are operating below their potential. In fact, due to labour shortages, Canadian restaurants are, on average, operating at only 80% of their normal capacity, leading to tangible impacts like 33% of consumers reporting longer wait times and 32% noticing diminished customer experience.

Why This Posting Raises Eyebrows on the Redditsphere

The online community, particularly on Reddit, has been quick to weigh in, with many suspecting this isn't just a simple hiring challenge. The job posting, listed on the Government of Canada's official Job Bank, has been flagged by some as potentially being part of a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) process. An LMIA is a document Canadian employers often need to secure to hire foreign workers, effectively signaling that there's no Canadian citizen or permanent resident available to do the job. This perception is fuelled by other Osmow's postings, like one for a chef in Toronto, explicitly stating an approved LMIA to hire foreign workers.

Critics, including voices like David Macdonald, Senior Economist with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, often point out that any claim of a labour shortage must be qualified: "The proviso to any complaint about a labour shortage is there's a shortage -- at the wage I'm willing to pay. That's the piece that's always missing." This sentiment resonates with online commentators who express skepticism that a $36/hour manager role is truly going unfilled due to a lack of local talent, suggesting these LMIA postings might be a step to facilitate foreign worker recruitment rather than genuinely struggling to find local hires. It's a complex dance between supporting local job seekers and addressing business needs.

For Calgarians, the takeaway is multifaceted. On one hand, it highlights the ongoing challenges businesses face in our dynamic economy. On the other, it sparks important questions about labour market transparency and fairness. When a job pays above the median wage, yet can't find a local fit, it forces us to consider the true state of our job market and the pathways employers are taking to keep our beloved local businesses thriving. And it certainly makes you wonder if that next shawarma will take just a little bit longer.