RETAILER OPERATIONS SHORTSTAFFED? How to find employees in the current worker shortage By Keith Loria Contributing Writer 72 WINTER 2021 MUSEUMS&MORE R A recent Gallup poll revealed that at the height of the pandemic, 68% of employed U.S. adults were working from home and only 26% felt they were emotionally ready to return to their workplace, with 25% saying they wouldn't return if needed over fears of contracting the virus. That has made it somewhat difficult for gift shop owners to get workers in the stores and help try to salvage business in 2020- especially for the busy holiday season. Darrin Hess, human resource manager of P. Graham Dunn, which manufactures art, gifts and home décor and has numerous retail shops, shared when COVID kept employees from coming in, the company turned to known help and utilized temporary employment agencies to help fill retail staff positions. " In order to retain current employees and attract new employees, we have increased our starting wages, " he said. " We