Hill Farmstead (2021)

Just going on my own understanding of the statement and reading into it a little as well, I think they are going on hiatus to detach from the stress and pressures they have been dealing with for the last 10 months, to reimagine their products, processes, and to reconnect with the passions that inspired Shaun to begin Hill Farmstead Brewery to begin with. I suspect financially they are in a position to do this while continuing to support their employees and provide them with a much needed break.

 

The timing also lines up nicely for the incremental $300 a week unemployment benefit that runs for 11 weeks.

 

Forgive me for not taking a cynical approach.

 

It can be both. I don't know Shaun, but he appears to be smart business and mentally/spiritually-wise. So, if there's a chance to give himself and his employees a break from this splattered shitshow to relax and refocus, while also knowing they won't be losing financially, how can you fault that?

 

I'm not faulting that. Just saying based off his statement I don't imagine that was a driving factor in his decision.

 

Didn't say it was a driving force and didn't say it was the only reason he did it. If I'm running a business and want to take a pause, an additional $300 a week for my employees is a check in the "pros" box right?

 

It sure is! However, nowhere in the Hill Farmstead statement does that topic come up. So inferring that it played into his decision seems a bit cynical to me. For all we know he could have come to his decision long before the enhanced unemployment extension was announced.

 

I'm not American and so apologies for being clueless about how this sort of thing works here, but surely you can either be laid off and collect unemployment benefits, or stay on the payroll and continue to collect pay/employee benefits, but not both?

If that's true, then with or without the temporary $300 increase playing into things, it would be incredibly disingenuous (and very much against the general HF "way" - at least from everything I've ever seen/read/witnessed) to characterize a lay off (even a temporary one), as:

This presents a rather rare and appreciable opportunity for the future of our team. First, it offers a much-needed restorative period for each member of our staff. Secondly, this window provides a rare, concentrated occasion for professional and personal development throughout the organization—a sabbatical, of sorts. ⁣

 

Last time I was there in early December, they only had 9 people working out of the 27 usually. Shaun came out to chat for a bit with some staff. The closing was mentioned, but as it's not my duty to publicize their business decisions, I pledged to let them control their own news. Staff seemed rather upbeat to take a break - I get the impression they feel secure in their future, and a lot of beer has been laid down in advance of the hiatus. There had been some concern about releasing desirable beers while being at odds with state COVID mandates that such releases incite, no matter how they did it. Makes for awkward, and potentially risky situations. Some orders have been awaiting pickup for months for people who still cannot safely travel as they try to find a solution for their customers. I'm glad they're able to take a breather - there are many hospitality businesses in VT that announced the same news at the end of December - taking a rest during a quieter time of year to re-assess, re-group, and hibernate to save utility & staff costs until things improve and it's safe to encourage visitors again. Cheers to their renewal this spring, I say!

 

I presume that statement means while the brewery pauses operations the employees affected by that pause will remain on the payroll. Whether or not that prevents them from receiving any type unemployment I have even less of a clue. I'm no doctor.

 

@likeadabeer did you get a confirmation email for registering for those bottles? I have not..

 

If selected, they won’t contact you until the morning of Monday, 1/11, per the Instagram post.

 

My question isn't about when they'll let us know who gets the opportunity to buy bottles. It's whether he got a confirmation that he registered for the lottery. I did not get a confirmation, and I would think it would be pretty basic to notify someone that they are actually entered.

 

Nothing in the post says you will get confirmation about registering, not sure why you're inferring you would.

Potential buyers will be contacted directly on Monday with purchase instructions.

 

Because usually when you register for something, you get something called a "confirmation email."

 

So, if you get that, but then don't get contacted on Monday, will you email to ask if you were selected? The confirmation email means nothing in the grand scheme.

 

Guys blue on blue. Or rather pure on pure.

 

Can you send me a confirmation email.

 

I did not get a confirmation email either. It's in the Good Lord's hands now.

 

RIGGEDLOTTERY#