The restaurant hiring apocalypse is real, and now it& #39;s hitting even the aspirational chains where you never thought this would happen. Here in Florida a McDonald& #39;s franchisee is offering $50 just for coming in for an interview. Hungry for more? Unroll and read on. $MCD 1/6

My boots on the ground anecdotes start two weekends ago. Sunday morning. I pulled up to my local Burger King drive-thru. I was the only car there, but I was at the illuminated order box for a good 10 minutes. I can be patient. $RBI 2/6

My patience ran out. I drove up to the pay and pick-up windows. No one was there. I came back for lunch later in the week. This time there was a hand-scrawled note. BK wouldn& #39;t be opening until after 4pm all week. Now Hiring sign in big lettering. 3/6

Went out to Shake Shack on Sunday. You wouldn& #39;t think that the "better burger" chain is struggling for employees, but near the order counter were a bunch of pamphlets with the manager& #39;s business card. Pay starting at $11.50. Uh oh. $SHAK 4/6

I figured that Chipotle would be the last one to tumble. And it was well-staffed on a recent visit. I don& #39;t ONLY eat at publicly traded chains. I& #39;m cherry picking my outings for ticker symbol hashtags. Today, in my in-box. This. $CMG 5/6

It will be tempting to politicize the restaurant hiring apocalypse that will only get worse. Don& #39;t. Some say that it& #39;s because it pays too well to be unemployed. Stop. Some counter that restaurants don& #39;t pay enough. Maybe, but stop. It& #39;s a problem. What& #39;s the solution? 6/6