Paid leave, bonuses, and 401(k)s: How some restaurants are tackling staffing shortages

Staffing in restaurants has long been a challenge. Now, some operators are trying various approaches to attract and retain workers.

Amy Lombard for BI

When Laurie Schive and her husband opened Blue Loon Bakery in a small New England town in 2018, she didn't expect hiring and keeping workers would present much of a challenge.

After all, earlier in her career, Schive darted around dozens of countries as a clandestine service officer for the CIA, focusing on limiting the spread of weapons of mass destruction.