In September, members of the Ogunquit Community Support Group, representing businesses in the coastal town of Ogunquit in southern Maine, attended a meeting with the state’s senior US Senator, Susan Collins, to discuss an issue close to their hearts: the dire need to support J1 Work and Travel and H2B visa programs. These programs have been targets of criticism by those who say they take jobs away from Americans, but the reality as told by these local businesspeople is a far different story.
Hotel representatives explained the damaging repercussions of limited staffing this past summer due to the new lower H2B visa cap, which was reached early and prevented the hiring of additional seasonal support staff. The result was a heavier than normal reliance on domestic staff to bear the brunt of the work. Consequently, many business owners turned to J1 Work and Travel students to supplement their seasonal staff, since Maine does not have a viable labor pool of people who want these seasonal positions.
Each business shared stories that revolved around a common thread – less available positions in these visa programs resulted in less seasonal staffing help, causing severe understaffing and ultimately, exhausted domestic workers. A number of businesses also mentioned that the understaffing was noticed by customers, and impacted their experiences, with some hotel guests discussing the potential of changing their future travel plans. The adverse ripple effect on the local community and the culture of Ogunquit of losing long-standing guests could be devastating.
In addition to the potential loss of customers, local seasonal businesses are also now facing fears of losing local, full-time employees due to burnout, a result of a workload that has become overly demanding without the additional help that is usually available. Without a reliable backbone of local, year-round staff, it is impossible to operate fully, let alone meet the needs of guests. Local seasonal business owners are clear when it comes to J1 and H2B visa programs – they need them in order to run viable businesses.
Megan Ramsey, Human Resources Manager at Anchorage By The Sea Ogunquit, a local seaside resort, says “Without our J1 support, we would be forced to close 72 of our rooms during peak season, which amounts to more than one entire building on our campus property. In the winter, we would be forced to close 48+ rooms. We would lose the customer service [and] support that the J1 students provide in our restaurant, and ultimately lose some of our clientele due to the failure to meet our established standards.”
The benefits of a diverse and worldly staff are tremendous and recognized by guests. J1 Work and Travel and H2B programs offer everyone in the business community the chance to learn more about different cultures and create connections with those from abroad. International students get a chance to experience American life during one of the most popular times of the year, participating as community members and helping boost the local economy.
At the end of the meeting, it was clear that Senator Collins was empathetic and receptive of the plight of Ogunquit’s seasonal businesses. There is a good chance that these conversations will continue, and help rally support in favor of both the J1 Work and Travel and the H2B visa programs. We are very grateful for Senator Collins’ efforts and hope that these stories will resonate with others on Capitol Hill.
The Mount Desert Islander, a local news outlet, wrote about the meeting, reporting that “Collins said there was strong bipartisan support for continuing these programs. She recognizes how critical these visas are for Maine’s economy and that, at least in Maine, these people are not depriving other Americans of jobs, a criticism levied by some against the visa programs.” Full Article
