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A few months ago we wrote an editorial asking the public to be generous and understanding when out to eat or when shopping at a retail store. For whatever reason, hiring for these types of jobs has been a real challenge the last few months, as we come out of the COVID-19 pandemic.

We updated the hiring difficulties over the weekend, and while it appears to have improved for some, others are still having issues finding employees who are dependable and can do a good job.

With that in mind, we encourage you to continue to stress patience when you’re out and about. These retail and food service positions are all essential jobs that often have low pay and long lines of customers to deal with. And unfortunately, some of those customers are impatient, not understanding and are in a grumpy mood.

It doesn’t have to be that way.

Everyone hates standing in line or looking for a server who seemingly has disappeared at a restaurant, but it’s also not the most important thing going on in our lives. It’s a small speed bump during the day, and we hope that’s how you’ll look at it, especially right now when these companies are struggling to find good workers.

For instance, a lot of servers may be helping more tables than normal right now, so keep that in mind if your sweet tea glass has been empty for a prolonged period of time.

There’s another way you can assist too.

Not only should you keep going to your favorite restaurants and stores as a show of support, please also keep in mind any positions they have available. A lot of times the best way to get notice of an open position is through word of mouth, and people often value what their friends and family have to say.

It’s a lot more personable than an Indeed or Monster job posting. If you know someone who might be a good fit, tell them about the position.

We appreciate everyone in these industries, as they provide an essential service and give us an outlet when away from work or having family time. Keep that in mind when you’re shopping or eating out.