The innovative Bristol tech firm behind the Limber app that links hospitality venues with staff seeking flexible shifts has amended it to allow workers to increase their hourly rate as demand soars.
The feature has been introduced as bars and restaurants struggle to fill vacancies as they reopen from Covid-related restrictions. 
The staff shortage has been triggered by many former hospitality workers moving into other work when venues closed at the height of the pandemic last year at the same time as the pool of European labour dried up due to Brexit.
Meanwhile, changes forced on the industry by new regulations such as table service means more staff are needed – with some operators claiming the crisis is the worst in living memory.
As a result, a new trend for ‘surge pricing’ – workers asking for higher shift payments – has started as venues compete for staff.
According to Limber, surge pricing is becoming common on Friday and Saturday evenings when demand for staff is at its highest.
Limber founder Chris Sanderson said: “Our users are reporting Christmas-like levels of demand, with around half the staffing levels.
“Covid-19 restrictions have made hospitality more labour intensive than ever with requirements such as table service, meeting and greeting, etc a necessity.
“What should be a period of welcomed profitability for the industry after a tough year, is becoming really challenging.”
The changes to the app mean whenever it is busy, workers applying to shifts can increase the hourly rate they’re willing to work for.
“Venues have to pay a bit more but, in the current climate, that might be what it takes to keep the business moving,” Chris added.
According to the Office for National Statistics, almost half of all UK jobs lost over the past year were in the hospitality sector.
In the 12 months to March the total number of paid employees in the country fell by 813,000, with hospitality businesses accounting for 43% of the national total, losing 355,000 employees over the period.
Now those positions are open and need filling again but staff are not returning in the numbers hoped for by venues.
Launched in 2016, Limber set out to disrupt the outdated concept of a traditional career and help those wanting more freedom in the rapidly expanding gig economy to find work and manage their affairs simply in one place.
Chris added: “The idea of aggregation is really important to us. If we can collect all the unfilled shifts and match them with skilled staff then we can make sure no opportunity to earn goes to waste.
“It’s vital to both support the industry and help people get back on their feet financially.
“There also needs to be a focus on nurturing young talent and strengthening the pool of skilled hospitality workers – it’s a fantastic industry to be a part of but it’s facing a real crisis.”
The Limber app is available for staff to download on both Apple and Google app stores. Users can create a profile in seconds and apply to shifts the same day.
Limber provides staff with one weekly payslip for all their shifts and has the option for staff to earn into a pension.
