How does Bojangles respond to staff shortages? By closing for two days, giving employees unpaid breaks

SOUTHEASTERN NC North Carolina-based fast food chain Bojangles announced in a Edition Friday that it would close 277 of its own restaurants on two upcoming Mondays, Aug. 30 and Sept. 15, as it continues to deal with staff shortages in multiple states.

The move affects nine Bojangles in the Cape Fear region.

The chip shop’s CEO, Jose Armario, said the free time is an “investment in the most important asset”: employees who have put in extra work in difficult times.

We appreciate everything our dedicated team has done for Bojangles over the past year, Armario said in a release. From navigating a global pandemic to adapting to new security measures to including services for those unable to come to work, we asked and they delivered.

The move will affect a total of 8,000 employees. According to the Associated Press, Bojangles will not pay for the free time. Still, the company says it is committed to the health and well-being of its employees and will “soon roll out additional benefits to further support them.”

“We hope that these extra two days off will provide rest and refreshment,” Armario said in the release.

Port City Daily reached out to communications officer Stacey McCray about how many workers are affected locally. The article will be updated as and when she responds.

McCray told Port City Daily two weeks ago, “The labor shortage is an industry-wide problem that we were all dealing with at this point.”

The employees of the Monkey Junction location on Carolina Beach Road walked out on Aug. 13. McCray said the location was temporarily closed that morning due to problems with properly staffing the operation.

“The restaurant reopened a few hours later,” she said.

RELATED: Bo Time, No Time, Go Time: Monkey Junction Bojangles Staff Walk Out, Shutter Shop Temporarily

At 2 p.m. that Friday, when Port City Daily was on the scene, 5513 Carolina Beach Rd. location remained closed and no one came to the door; no one answered phone calls in the evenings either. The restaurant resumed normal operations the following Saturday.

Currently Bojangles has more than 50 jobs openings within a 50 mile radius of Wilmington. The Monkey Junction location is hiring a general manager ($47,500-$58,500) and assistant general manager ($36,000 to $41,500), as well as shift managers ($12-$15) and team members (payment not listed).

In response to the hiring issues, McCray confirmed that the company was working on pilot initiatives that could attract and retain employees, with potential bonuses and referral programs. In Charlotte, the Observer reported that Bojangles was testing new hires with $500 bonuses to be paid out after 30 days at $100, 90 days at $150, and 180 days at $250. McCray did not confirm whether the company would continue with the program in the Southeast of North Carolina.

The upcoming store closures on August 30 and September 13 will impact locations in six southern states, from Kentucky to Florida. Local shops include:

WILMINGTON
520 S. College Rd.
5513 Carolina Beach Rd.
7155 Market Street
2409 Carolina Beach Rd.
4505 Market Street.

CAROLINA BEACH
1341 N Lake Park Blvd.

SOUTH GATE
5160 Southport Supply Rd.

LELAND
Village road 109.

HAMPSTEAD
22913 US Hwy 17

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