Margaret River businesses grapple with staff shortages and division over vaccine mandates

The hospitality sector is grappling with the added burden of staff leaving over vaccine mandates. (ABC News: Alkira Reinfrank)

Cafe and restaurant owners in some of Western Australia's most popular tourist towns say workers deciding to quit over the COVID-19 vaccine mandate has exacerbated an existing labour shortage.

Some businesses in Margaret River have had snap closures to rest staff, saying the loss of even a small number of staff who would not meet the December 31 first-dose deadline has had an impact.

It comes amid a dire staff shortage, with the hotels industry saying it is facing a shortage of 13,000 vacancies across WA — 2,500 of those are in South West region.  

The Australian Hotels Association (AHA) of WA stressed the statewide impact of the vaccine mandate was small.

Bradley Woods says businesses need more support negotiating vaccine mandates. (ABC News: James Carmody)

Chief executive Bradley Woods said there had been a 98.5 per cent statewide compliance rate by December 31.

But the non-compliance of a small number of workers puts further pressure on employers.

"In some parts of the industry, and in some parts of the state, there may be a higher propensity for individuals to opt out of getting a vaccine for social or personal or health reasons," Mr Woods said.

"That seems to be the case in some areas of Margaret River and the South West, which is obviously creating more pressure for operators and hospitality businesses who are already experiencing substantial staff shortages."

Ninety-eight-hour working weeks

Margaret River cafe owner Kelly Tigchelar said she "absolutely agreed" with WA's vaccine mandate.

But she but was sad to lose seven experienced staff, who would not comply.

Some businesses in Margaret River have had 'snap closures' to rest fatigued staff  (Supplied: Sea Garden Cafe)

She said replacing seven of 35 staff members was difficult.

Ms Tigchelar and her husband have worked 98-hour weeks in a bid to give their staff a rest.

"We've done a few snap closures to half days," she said.

"You need to look after them."

Accommodation an added burden for business

Located on the foreshore at Busselton, Shelter Brewing Company is one of the largest employers of hospitality staff in the South West.

Manager Paul Maley said the venue employed 170 staff and eight elected to leave due to the state government's vaccine mandate.

Paul Maley says the limited regional rental market is also complicating efforts to recruit staff.  (ABC South West: Anthony Pancia)

"Losing staff is always difficult and it was really sad to see them go, some had been with us since we opened in November 2020," Mr Maley said.

Waiting for the all-clear

Mr Woods said that the vaccine mandate only had a "very, very" small impact on worker levels.

But he said for some businesses, the loss of key workers meant the impact had been "acute".

He said until the borders opened, there was little prospect of the labour shortage being alleviated.

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