A new Florida law designed to crack down on illegal immigration has prompted workers to leave the state and left employers short-staffed.
Manuel Lievano is chief executive officer of MCC USA Global Workforce Solutions, a company that helps organizations recruit foreign workers who come to the United States on appropriate visas. He has visited several fine dining establishments in Miami and found "they are freaking out."
About 10 percent to 20 percent of employees are not showing up for work. That includes employees who normally work in the front of the house, in roles such as servers and hostesses, and in the back of the house, in jobs such as cleaners and dishwashers, Lievano said.
In some cases, major restaurant projects are being delayed because of a lack of workers. "Right now, companies are panicking because they don't know what to do," Lievano said.
And in some instances, construction projects are falling behind schedule—including two houses Lievano's company is building for employee living quarters in Orlando—because of a lack of construction workers.
Mark Neuberger, a lawyer with Foley & Lardner LLP in Miami, has held webinars to instruct clients about the new law, SB 1718, which takes effect July 1. "It's a concern for all employers," that need to determine whether the law will impact their business, he said.
Employers are particularly focused on three provisions:
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