A Timmins business owner resorted to an unorthodox method of recruiting for a sales job in his store, also expressing frustration with the lack of people getting back to work after COVID-19 lockdowns.
Denis Gelinas had little luck with the Indeed online platform and other recruitment tools in filling the job of a long term employee who’s retiring from Mermaid Gallery, a kitchen and bath store.
“I thought it was going to be easy, but it’s definitely not,” he remarks.
So he posted on Facebook, inviting prospective applicants to get off the temporary CERB, in favour of a permanent job. Gelinas says it’s time to get back to work, and get the workforce going again.
“It’s been a long time waiting. Now everybody’s opening up,” he adds. “And you look at businesses in town, a lot of them are looking for people and I don’t get why they’re not filling the spots when the unemployment rate’s up there.”
Gelinas even offered a $200.00 referral fee. And his method’s paying off. He now has several applications.
Despite his frustration, he says he understands some of the reluctance from some people – especially young mothers.
“They don’t know what’s going to happen in September with the schools. So I’ve had three applicants (say) ‘I’d love the job, but I don’t know what’s happening in September because I have two kids.’ That’s a valid point.”
