Pizzeria Puts Up Recruitment Signs To Hire ‘Non-Stupid People’ & Gains Attention

Feb 22, 2023 by apost team

Across the United States, several businesses have struggled to stay afloat. One of the main reasons for this is staffing issues. The Washington Post reported that many restaurants have had a hard time keeping a full staff as many of their employees have quit for better jobs. This could have been a result of people finding better pay, a better work and life balance, or better working conditions.

This can be troubling for restaurants, though, especially if they simply cannot afford to pay their employees more or if they are new and struggling to operate on a daily basis. Some business owners have come up with creative tactics to get new employees and to make their current employees feel appreciated, while others have leaned toward a more cruel route. Even if hospitality places are able to fill the gaps, some have then struggled with finding people who have the work ethic they were expecting.

A pizzeria in Columbus, Ohio, also found itself having staffing issues and decided to use an interesting method to find new employees. Santino's Pizzeria put up two signs that read: "Now Hiring Non-Stupid People." With encouragement like that, it's easy to understand why this shop and its signs went viral in February 2023.

The signs had been put up several months before, but it wasn't until around mid-February 2023 that people began posting photos and videos of the pizzeria's signs, causing the restaurant's staffing tactics to gain attention.

While some folks found the signage hilarious, others called out the restaurant for its working conditions.

Paul Robbins spoke with 10TV about finding humor in the sign.

"I thought it was funny, I didn't think it was offensive at all, and so, that made me really curious about this pizza place, so that made me decide to come in and check it out," he said.

Heather Stockton, the store manager of Santino's Pizzeria, said many customers expressed support for the sign while others prank-called her. She explained:

"It was all supposed to be a joke. Nothing serious, it was just more of the fact, we kept having an applicant, we'd train them and they'd just walk out."

Jayden Dunigan, the owner's daughter, said: "A lot of people we've hired just don't want to work. There is no work ethic behind them, so that's the meaning behind the 'Non-stupid.'"

Stockton said many of her employees began not showing up for work or taking their job seriously, which prompted her to put up the sign. She wants workers who are "just reliable, on time, just, don't come to work in like sandals."

Cathay Barrett, another business owner, supported the pizzeria and its signage.

"I thought (the sign) was awesome, because they're not saying people are stupid, they're saying, hey let's pay attention, let's communicate, let's get things going back to the way they're supposed to be, helping each other," she said.

While others found the sign to be funny, some people called out Stockton and her pizzeria's working conditions. One person shared:

"If you don't want the clown shows you end up with then pay living wages. They earn them. They deserve it. You don't get to set such standards until you do. Maybe we rather need more intelligent business owners that don't go using abusive language like that just for starters."

apost.com

What do you think of this pizzeria and the signs the owners put up? Have you ever worked in the hospitality industry? Let us know, and be sure to pass this along to your family and friends.