Retail stores in Bangor and surrounding areas are complaining that there is a shortage of help. There is no shortage of help. The main reason they cannot get anyone to work for them, and to stay, is the lousy wages and the working conditions.

Nobody in his right mind is going to work the hours the businesses expect for what they want to pay. Another problem is split shifts. Who wants to work for two or three hours, go home and come back later to work another four or five hours? A lot of sales people do not drive or own cars and would have to pay cab fare. It’s not worth it.

There is no incentive to work for minimum wage without benefits. There is not much of a future for a retail salesperson working for someone else. Ralph Staples Bangor