Snow isn't the only thing that's capping the ski mountains this season. Vermont ski resorts such as Smugglers' Notch, Jay Peak, and Stowe have hit some icy patches with regards to the new immigration reform, says Parker Riehle, president of the Vermont Ski Areas Association.
Congress left ski resorts out in the cold when it failed to extend the cap on U.S. legal foreign workers with an H-2B visa, he adds.
An H-2B visa is typically given to adults who are not students. The visas remain valid from six to eight months, Riehle says.
Difficulties hiring the help
It has been a challenge to find people to fill the jobs usually held by immigrant workers, says Julie Frailey, director of human resources at Stowe.
“We have had to go out and recruit more people,” Frailey says. “There has been more advertising, more pounding the pavement.”
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Smugglers' Notch is one of the many Vermont resorts to be affected. It has had to rely more on J-1 that H-2B visa workers. (Photo courtesy of Smugglers' Notch) |
Smugglers’ Notch has a very aggressive seasonal recruiting campaign. Due to the lack of immigrant workers they have had to step it up this winter, says Pat Boyer director of human resources at Smugglers' Notch.
“I wouldn’t say we are struggling, but it certainly has been a challenge not having as many H-2B workers,” Boyer says.
Stowe and Smuggs have begun to take advantage of foreigners who have a J-1 visa. A J-1 visa is typically granted to post-secondary students who are 18 years or older, and has more restrictions on it than an H-2B visa does, Riehle says. A J-1 worker is only allowed to work on their school breaks which causes a large concern for many ski resorts, he adds.
“J-1 workers start in December and have to return home in mid-March,” says Allyson Carpenter, director of human resources at Jay Peak. “This causes a concern because the ski season can last into April.”
Ski resorts like to focus on hiring H-2B workers not only because of the time restraints put on J-1 visas, but also because they are more reliable and dedicated workers, Boyer says.
The H-2B visa allows industries with peak seasons, such as ski resorts, to hire temporary workers to enlarge their staff during the needed season, according to the U.S. Department of State Web site.
“H-2B workers are older and more experienced,” she says. “They can be more reliable than younger J-1 workers.”
Unfortunate timing
The ski season started early this year and because of the heavy snows in early December, Vermont had the potential for an excellent ski season, Riehle says.
“The timing for the new immigration reform could not be worse,” he says.
"The timing for the new immigration reform could not be worse." |
-Parker Riehle, president of the Vermont Ski Areas Association |
Out of the 19 ski resorts in Vermont, 10 use the H-2B visa program, Riehle says. Approximately 650 foreign workers are employed throughout Vermont through the program. Due to the immigration reform, that amount has been cut nearly in half.
The annual cap is 66,000 visas per year with 33,000 allocated each to the summer and winter seasons. The Save Our Small Businesses Act (SOS) of 2005 allowed returning workers for the past three years to be excluded from the cap count, according to the U.S. Department of State Web site. Congress failed to renew this act before concluding the summer session.
“The ski resorts always look first to employ local Vermonters, but usually come up short by about seven percent,” Riehle says. “Seven percent may seem small, but it has had enough of an impact to be noticed. Some mountains are resorting to J-1 workers but they have their own set of disadvantages.”
All of the Vermont ski resorts have been working to try and fill-in the positions being left open by the lack of H-2B workers. Human resources departments have tried to find more successful recruiting techniques.
“Because of the employee shortage you do run up against issues with good customer service,” Riehle says.
The lack of customer service causes major concerns not only with the ski resorts, but also with the economy, Riehle says. Vermont is currently the fourth most skied state in the country. In past years, it hasn’t dropped below third, receiving an average 4.1 million ski visitors a season, Riehle says. Those visitors have the potential to greatly influence the economy, he adds.
“Ski visitors are huge for the economy because most of their spending happens off the mountain,” Riehle says.
Staying optimistic
Human resource directors from Smugglers’ Notch, Jay Peak and Stowe all reported that good customer service is not affected by having fewer H-2B employees.
“We decided no matter what we are not going to turn away lessons,” Frailey says. “Our service levels haven’t changed at all.”
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A cafeteria worker feeds hungry skiers and snowboarders at Smugglers' Notch. (Photo by Kurstin Reuschel) |
At Smugglers’ Notch, new employee recruiting techniques have helped to keep its customer service at a satisfactory level.
“We have been able to recruit J-1 workers and I don’t feel that has hampered our customer service in any way,” Boyer says.
Even with the absence of 14 returning ski instructors Jay Peak has also managed to keep their customer service levels from dropping.
“Overall we have less instructors than we prefer,” Carpenter says. “We are using more part-time instead of full-time workers, but our customer service has not been affected.”
While the extension of the H-2B cap is a small issue in the immigration reform debate, it has been prevalent in all of the discussions in Congress concerning the issue, Riehle says.
Congress is currently trying to reach a compromise so that more H-2B workers will be allowed to return to the United States. Although it is too late to for this ski season, resorts are staying optimistic that a compromise will be reached in Congress for next winter.
“We have been resourceful,” Frailey says. “I’ve been instructing [ski lessons] all week. It has been a challenge and management has really had to step into the front lines. I wouldn’t want to do this again."