Restaurant workers—the majority of whom are women, immigrants and disproportionately workers of color—continue to bear the brunt of the pandemic. The findings in this nationwide survey of over 1,000 restaurant workers validate the severe effects of the pandemic on restaurant workers’ lives, and help explain why restaurants continue to struggle with staffing as the economy reopens. The survey was initially conducted in the fall of 2020, with a follow-up survey in late 2021. The complete findings of the survey will be released on February 10, 2022.

Wage theft remains a significant concern for restaurant workers, and many employers have failed to pay their workers a final paycheck.