General News
25 May, 2025
Staffing and cost pressures in local hospitality
Horsham cafe owner Sharron Keating has shed light on the challenges facing the hospitality industry, including staffing shortages and the pressure of rising costs.
Ms Keating, who owns and operates the popular Cafe Jas, said while her business remains busy, maintaining staff numbers has been an ongoing challenge, particularly since COVID.
“I would say since COVID, staffing has been a real challenge,” she said.
“We’re not even talking about experienced staff, but just staff in general has been really hard to find.”
Despite those difficulties, Ms Keating said her team has managed to keep the business running without cancelling bookings, although some weeks are tight.
“There are times when the current team are working extra hours to cover shifts, and that can really tire them.
“You find yourself praying no one gets sick.”
Cafe Jas operates seven days a week, which Ms Keating said helps them maintain a steady customer flow, even when other sectors slow down.
“People still want to come out and enjoy coffee, breakfast or lunch,” she said.
“With the cost of living going up, these little treats are still affordable and something people choose to enjoy.”
The business relies on junior workers to help cover weekend shifts, though many are also involved in local football and netball, making availability a challenge.
“We have a lot of juniors, especially on Saturdays and Sundays,” she said.
“But it’s hard when they play football or netball that’s when we really need them.”
She also noted the role international students and working holiday visitors could play in filling gaps, but said short-term availability sometimes limits long-term staffing stability.
Ms Keating said the cafe now manages business costs by including a card surcharge, which was introduced last year to cover rising bank fees.
“It was a really massive cost to us,” she said.
“We encourage people to use cash and we’re not saying you have to pay the surcharge, there’s an option.”
While acknowledging that the industry has yet to recover from COVID disruptions fully, she praised the local community for its support.
“Horsham is great at shopping local, as best as they can with what we’ve got,” she said.
“We’re very lucky to have some really loyal customers.”
Ms Keating encouraged continued support for small businesses, saying it was vital to keeping the town vibrant and resilient.