Businesses Shutting Down and Employers Responsibility
As of March 24, at 11:59pm, all non-essential businesses in Ontario must shutdown due to the global pandemic of COVID-19. Essential businesses such as grocery stores and pharmacies remain open. Ontario Premier made the decision to do so to slow the spread of the virus COVID-19 (DeClerq, 2020). All over the globe businesses are shutting down and people are losing jobs due to the pandemic. This has become a controversial topic because although Ontario needs to take these measures for health and safety, it also can put enormous amounts of stress on the economy and people who are now unemployed. In these difficult times employers must work extra hard to support employees and try to adapt to provide some source of work for employees from home or online.
Businesses in Ontario being shut down are an essential part of slowing the spread of COVID-19, but although shutting down businesses and work stops the spread, it can create other problems. Many Ontarians are now out of work and thus income, although it is possible to apply for employment insurance, this only provides around half of what you make working. For workers who already live paycheck to paycheck, only being able to receive half of this regular paycheck can be detrimental to their livelihood. This stress on being out of work can spark mental health issues such as stress and anxiety, worrying about how they will be able to afford basic necessities such as food, and the uncertainty of when work will become available again. Shutting down of businesses can have a huge impact financially on businesses, especially small businesses. The money they are losing out on being shut down could push them to go out of business completely or cause them to have to cut down on staff when businesses reopen in attempt to cut costs to make back this lost income. From the viewpoint of Ontario workers and business owners, the shutting down of many businesses and being out of work causes much worry and anxiety regarding their livelihood. The closing of many businesses is not good for the economy. Although this decision is beneficial for Ontario’s health and safety in regard to COVID-19, it could push more strain on the healthcare system with mental health issues rising in these times of anxiety and stress.
From the viewpoint of the government, it is essential to shutdown non-essential businesses to slow the spread of COVID-19, to keep Ontarians safe and healthy. In times of a pandemic there isn’t really any other option other than to close down to stop the spread.
The Ontario Primer had to shut down non-essential businesses. I think the responsibility of these hardships for some employees lies in the hands of employers. Employers who have had their businesses closed need to step up and support their employees. Employers should be doing everything they can to adapt to these new times whether it be transferring business online or over the phone, but adapting to provide employees with some form of work they can complete while in self-isolation. If employers can adapt their businesses, they will be able to provide employees with income which in turn will keep down mental stress and anxiety. This will also keep businesses having a form of income, so businesses aren’t going out of business. Overall, if employers take on this challenge and adapt, the economy overall will be benefitted.
References
DeClerq, K. (2020, March 24). Ontario orders all non-essential businesses to shut down. Retrieved March 25, 2020, from https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/ontario-orders-all-non-essential-businesses-to-shut-down-1.4864492
Aurora Corbett EMPR 