Posted on: Wednesday, September 8, 2004
Bus company offers $3,000 signing bonus
By Dan Nakaso
Advertiser Staff Writer
Roberts Hawaii, the state's largest private tour and school bus company, for the first time is offering signing bonuses of up to $3,000 to attract licensed bus drivers in a hurry.
"Yes, we're that desperate," Roberts Hawaii spokeswoman Sam Shenkus said yesterday.
Roberts needs 60 bus drivers just for O'ahu, as well as an unspecified number of drivers on Kaua'i, Maui and the Big Island. So company officials are willing to pay signing bonuses for licensed drivers and cover the training expenses for beginners.
Roberts historically loses drivers to higher-paying jobs at Oahu Transit Service, the company that runs TheBus for the city. But this spike in driver openings comes primarily from increased competition for workers and a tourism industry that continues to hum.
A lot of companies are desperate to attract workers as Hawai'i posted the country's lowest unemployment rate three months in a row, hovering at or just above 3 percent.
In July there were nearly 20,000 more people employed statewide than the year before and only 18,750 people out of work.
"Everybody's business is picking up and things are getting more competitive," Shenkus said. "Everybody needs drivers these days: delivery drivers, food drivers. ..."
The company also will run its first job fair on Saturday at the Ward Centre parking lot to recruit drivers. Just to get people to fill out applications, Roberts will give away dinner cruises and Magic of Polynesia dinner and cocktail shows as door prizes.
On Sept. 21, company recruiters also will join 90 other businesses at the Job Quest fair at the Neal Blaisdell Center looking for all kinds of workers.
Company officials declined to say how many drivers the company would like to have overall but Roberts operates 1,000 vehicles on all major islands.
Roberts pays drivers between $9 and $14.50 per hour and offers medical and dental plans, profit sharing, 401(k) plans and employee discounts. Salaries for TheBus drivers range from $15.26 to $21.17 per hour.
Reach Dan Nakaso at dnakaso@honoluluadvertiser.com or at 525-8085.
Roberts began on Kaua'i in 1941 and has never had to offer signing bonuses to attract drivers, Shenkus said. Licensed drivers who receive bonuses will be obligated to stay with Roberts for two years.
Roberts Hawaii driver job fair
When: 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday
Where: Ward Centre parking lot across from the Ward Theatres.
For the Neighbor Islands, contact the local Roberts Hawaii office.
