The article reflects on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the restaurant industry, particularly the mass layoffs that occurred as a result of government restrictions. On the fifth anniversary of the lockdowns, former restaurant workers share their experiences of loss and the subsequent reevaluation of their careers. The psychological toll of the pandemic pushed many, after years of labor in the industry, to abandon their long-term jobs seeking more stability and fulfillment. While hiring has rebounded, the industry struggles to retain workers amidst these changing priorities.
At the time, I could not possibly have known that I would never serve another table in a restaurant again. I had been working as a waiter in fine dining for over two decades.
When you're in the grind, you don't have a moment to think about whether it's fulfilling.
For many restaurant workers like me, the trauma of the pandemic led to epiphanies that forced us to reconsider our priorities.
Over 100,000 restaurants closed across the United States, many of them permanently, and more than 5m restaurant jobs were lost.
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