HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV ) – Even though COVID-19 rates in Harrisonburg County and Rockingham County are low they still show the effects of the pandemic on businesses seeking new employees.
Rocking R Ace Hardware Harrisonburg, a member of Rockingham Cooperative, had to change its hours one hour earlier each day at 5 p.m. instead of 6 p.m.
Although the time difference is not significant, ACE Hardware division manager Bill Freeman stated that stress levels have increased in 33 employees as the busy summer season of outdoor project work is just beginning.
“It’s just hard to hire anyone because they’re not applying. And you know we feel that people that aren’t applying; before you had to have two incomes in a household and I think that COVID hitting a lot of people figured out a way to make income work,”Freeman said.
Freeman explained that staff shortages can also result from retirement and relocation. Five employees currently work in the store’s different departments.
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Rocking R Ace Hardware adjusts its hours amid staff shortage
