Small businesses struggle to find workers

Élan Flowers in Manhattan’s Soho neighborhood is a sea of roses and ribbon. Christine Hall, who owns the shop with her husband Patrick, says a good bouquet takes precise work.“When I first learned how to do it I was, like, making the tissue all wrinkly and it didn’t look really pretty because like fighting with it and everything.”Like many small businesses, Hall needs employees who can do it all, including customer service. Hall would like to hire two more full-time florists, but she’s had to rely on a network of freelancers instead, who often need training in the shop’s style and whose schedules are inconsistent.That’s forced her to wake up and smell the roses. To attract and retain employees, Élan Flowers recently added a 401(k) option for its staff of seven, who make $12 to $30 an hour. And she’s considering offering health insurance.