I have a confession to make. Many years ago, on occasion, I had the tendency to act like the northbound end of a southbound mule. I was young. It was a phase, and I eventually grew out of it. I recall one episode during the depth of my depravity when my sister-in-law had an issue. Let me preface this story by telling you I once lived down the block from a White Castle restaurant. I lived there for approximately 30 years.
Fun fact: apart from winter, the first morning you wake up you can smell the sliders. After the third day you will never smell them again. You get used to it. Similarly, like living next to the elevated “L” train. Your senses quickly adjust to the noise and after a few days it doesn’t even register anymore.
My sister-in-law, who happened to live with us at the time, had a problem. She worked at the White Castle. She was second shift and on schedule for the next 4 days. She by chance inherits two tickets for the Rolling Stones due to a friend’s illness. I ask her what the issue is. She explained she was afraid to give the shift back because she didn’t want to lose her job. I put it to her this way. The White Castle had a help wanted sign on their building before I moved to the neighborhood, while I lived in the neighborhood, and more than likely still have the sign up. I tell her, go see the Stones. Show up the next day and claim you had food poisoning.
She took my advice and had a great night at Soldier Field. Next day I return home midafternoon, and I see my sister-in-law lounging on the couch watching tv. I ask her why she is not at work, and she says simply, “they fired me”. That was most likely the defining moment in my fledgling business career. It took some time to digest, internally juggle yet understand the entire employer/employee dynamic. I always thought of that episode when I or my clients faced unique hiring challenges, especially right after Covid in 20–21 or later when everyone became priced out of the market.
It appears Craigslist was always the most efficient entry level way to connect with fresh talent. If you recall that concept was neutered between Uber, Lyft, door dash and the like with their deep pockets commandeering the help wanted categories. By the time their dominance subsided we were priced out of the labor market. It was so easy way back when. A candidate with a heartbeat and knowledge of how to get to the airport was an instant hire.
Then just recently, I noticed that the labor pool started pivoting to our favor. These were a new breed of drivers I just couldn’t figure out. After asking a lot of questions and getting a grasp on the level of ignorance they disguised as baggage, I figured it out. Uber is doing major housecleaning and once again we pulled the short stick. It reminds me of the great Cuba boat lift years ago. Cuba decided to empty its prisons of dangerous criminals and mentally ill convicts. They invaded Florida with relative impunity.
Uber’s weak, because they’ve had to re-prioritize half a dozen times. At this point, they’re basically, a brand name more than any specific service. The flip side of this is they can shapeshift. And if, next month, they decide their main competitor is Waymo, not Lyft or DoorDash… then we’re looking at another wave of refugees from Cuba. Lyft and DoorDash are liable to follow suit. If it makes sense for Uber to change their footing, why wouldn’t it make sense for the others to do the same? Either they change with the times and automate or throw in the towel. Whichever of those happens — the talent drain’s going to get worse before it gets better.
And there’s another disadvantage that goes hand in hand with being the industry’s redheaded stepchild. Because we’re the necessary, “analog” backup, we don’t have the ability to modernize. If we change our business model, we become something else and we lose. We’re shored up as a necessity, but to say that another way, we’re stuck in the past.
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