“everyone is staying home from work as they continue to collect unemployment from the government.”
That isn’t true. The extended COVID unemployment benefits are history.
“Why should a person go work if they can get free money?”
Why should a person go to work when he/she has to deal with abusive customers, insensitive bosses, unvaccinated unmasked coworkers, zero ventilation office buildings, and inadequate pay? Not to mention the usual horrible traffic and overcrowded subways.
A lot of folks have decided to take early retirement. A lot of folks have decided to spend more time with their families. A lot of women are homeschooling their kids. What is wrong with that?