My son has worked for our local Walmart since he was in high school, 4+ yrs for less than $15/hr then, pretty much could set his own schedule. Was always a good, dependable employee over the last 4 years. I was so happy, when they raised their minimum wages, but humiliated when he bragged about how he was only making a few less dollars an hour than me after working at my place for over 6 years. Put himself on the schedule 2 weeks ago to start working again when he was on summer break from college. The schedule was filled, no open shifts (except third), and they are short staffed in automotive (likely because starting pay is also $15/hr, and they don't get to work in an air conditioned store).
I'm thinking that that's where all the former restaurant employees that “don't want to work anymore” have gone? Pay is the ONLY thing that matters to workers, not culture, getting along, being “part of the family”, none of it. Workers have bills to pay and need the money, not a pizza party, we need to recover over 30 years of stagnation of wages.