To the Head of the SF JobsNOW Program
Deptartment: San Francisco Human Services Agency

As small business owners operating in San Francisco’s service industry, we are committed to providing jobs and work opportunities to our industry workers.

Since the pandemic JobsNOW! Program has been a life line for small business in San Francisco. It is an employment program that matches job seekers with employers and subsidizes salaries for up to six months.

However, the recent changes announced by San Francisco Human Services Agency’s JobsNOW! Program refrains our ability to participate in this initiative. The subsidy program qualified low-income candidates to be hired at the minimum wage of $20/hour. Since front and back of house staff earn tips as additional income, the $27/hour mandate places an excessive burden on small business owners in this particular industry. Especially with the goal of retaining the staff after the 6 month subsidy period. Our industry is still recovering from the economic impacts of the pandemic and the aftermath of it.

The JobsNOW! Program has been a huge support for many of us, allowing us to hire and train employees with the help of wage subsidies. However, the sudden increase in the minimum wage requirement for participation threatens to make the program inaccessible for many small businesses like ours.

Small businesses are the backbone of San Francisco's neighborhoods. By making it harder for us to hire through JobsNOW!, this policy change could harm the local economy and reduce job opportunities for San Francisco residents.

We urge the department's decision makers to amend the wage requirement be adjusted back to a reasonable levels that reflects the financial realities of small businesses particularly the service industry, allowing us to continue hiring and supporting our community.

Thank you so much for your consideration,