Shortage of workers and supplies in Sebastian, Florida – Editorial

Editorial/Opinion – There’s no doubt about it, Sebastian is a boomtown right now, and the season hasn’t helped either. As a result, we’ve seen more traffic in Sebastian than usual, and there have been staff shortages at almost every bar and restaurant.

Many people have complained about slow service at some of the establishments along the waterfront. But, unfortunately, these places have seen more customers than ever before, and they are receiving bad reviews at no fault of their own.

To make matters worse, most of these “bad reviews” are from locals who should know better. They can see that every restaurant is experiencing challenges at a time like no other. 

Most of these reviews were written about the busiest nights for the restaurants. You can’t expect to walk into a place for dinner on Friday at 6:00 p.m. and be seated and served right away. Unfortunately, this is our new reality and has been for about the last two years now. 

The COVID-19 pandemic brought a lot of new people to our area. More people are moving to Sebastian like no other time, which is why real estate is a booming market right now.

At the same time, restaurant owners are having difficulty getting regular supplies. A couple of local restaurants told Sebastian Daily that it now takes about 6 to 8 months to get things like plastic cups and coasters. 

I have personally watched servers under complete stress and overwhelmed due to staff shortages. Most servers are having difficulty getting food and drinks out of the kitchen and bar on time. These servers will then have to tell the patrons of the delay, which usually doesn’t go too well if people are demanding.

Orders are piling up, and there are staff shortages there too. It does help workers to hear that they’re doing a good job from the customer. It puts a smile on their faces, and that helps them not to stress out.

So please, if you’re thinking about writing a bad review about one of our establishments in Sebastian, ask yourself if it’s worth punishing the staff and restaurant even further.

We’re in season right now, and the Sebastian population is booming. So say something nice to a bartender or server today, and PLEASE TIP. Things will settle down in time, but they need our understanding.