Student workers leave on break

As students leave for Spring Break, the many downtown businesses that employ them face a week of being understaffed.

Business owners say they have a steady customer base in the Chapel Hill community and do not see a large decrease in clients over the break.

But the shortage of employees forces them to choose between limiting their hours, asking workers to take extra shifts or convincing students to work during the break.

“We have policies when we hire that they agree they will work part of break,” said Ryan Faircloth, franchise owner of Ham’s Restaurant.

He said he expects to be open during normal hours, even though most of his workers are University students.

The restaurant will have fewer servers for each shift, he said, but will continue to operate as a bar at night.

Larry Trollinger, owner of Ken’s Quickie Mart, said his convenience store will be closing early next week because his student employees are going out of town.

He does not require students to work over break. In 40 years, he hasn’t ever closed down during Spring Break, he said.

Trollinger usually works during the day and staffs the store with students at night, he said.

Five of Trollinger’s seven employees are students.

“My daytime business doesn’t change; it’s my nighttime business that changes,” he said.

Tarheel Book Store expects to be open for normal hours even though most of the workers are students as well.

Christian Campbell, owner of the book store, said most of his student employees are planning to stay the week, even though working during Spring Break is voluntary.

Twelve out of the store’s 15 employees are students, Campbell said.

Business will slow a bit, he said, but because most of the store’s business comes at the beginnings and ends of semesters, the decrease will not be too noticeable.

Some students are taking advantage of the work shortage.

Top of the Hill Restaurant and Brewery waitress Nikki Leonard, a junior, said she’s taking on extra shifts.

“Most everyone goes out of town, and there are a lot of shifts open.” she said.

Ertle Jones, a junior who works at Tarheel Book Store, is staying in Chapel Hill during break and working.

He said Campbell didn’t have to convince him to stay.

“Just economic pressure,” Jones said.

“I’m kind of broke.”



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