According to Rakesh Naidu, CEO of the Windsor Ontario Chamber of Commerce, sick leave is a real challenge for businesses in his region.

Many reported an increase in employees reporting illness. Some companies struggle to find employees to replace those unable to workhe explains.

” If they don’t have enough employees to work, they may need to reduce their operations, they may need to reject orders and in some cases even close. “

Mr. Naidu said he was worried because the companies were facing another difficulty after experiencing a lot since the pandemic started.

[Les entreprises] realize that their ability to work is also affected by supply chain disruptions. Prices are rising and they don’t get all the equipment they need to workhe says.

Different situations

Other businesses were less affected by the sixth wave. To those who struggle less than others, there is Kara’s Rose Guardn, a flower trade at Tilbury, near Chatham-Kent.

Chantale Sedlacek is the head florist there. He said the company, which employs three people, has not yet recorded any absences.

Despite this, steps were taken to avoid storing too many flowers, to avoid unexpected situations that would force us to remove inventory that had not yet been sold.

He considers the company he works for lucky because he knows a florist who had to close for a week due to lack of staff.

However, he fears in the next few days: one of my women [collègues] will be on vacation next week, so we hope the other two, we won’t get sickhe says.

” If that happens, the rest will have to do their best to try to do it on their own. “

Ms. thinks. Sedlacek that the situation at his company is unlikely to be widespread. He feels that in large companies you don’t have the flexibility to work in small numbers.

The difficulty compares to large florists like in Windsor where they are more numerous, five or six working. We are pretty flexible with two or three people workinghe explained.

” We can rely on each other and adapt schedules whereas in a big city you don’t have much flexibility. “

He said that in smaller communities, things are simpler because customers understand more. They are often, he explains, the same customers.

Does the unemployment rate have no effect?

These new difficulties generated by the pandemic came when, in a region like Windsor, the unemployment rate of 8.3% for the month of March was higher than the provincial average of 5.3%, according to data from Statistics. Canada.

According to Mr. Naidu, this unemployment rate does not necessarily indicate an increase in the availability of labor.

One would think that at high levels of unemployment more people are willing to work, but there is no direct correlation. Some companies require specific skillshe explains.

” We realize that there are people who want to work, but have concerns about their own health or are caring for family members with health problems. “

And even in the case of people willing to work, Mr. Naidu points out that they too are faced with the pandemic and its hurdles.

The specter of new restrictions

As far as his concern is concerned, Wade Griffith is not worried about staff absences. He is the co-owner of Endeavor Hospitality Group with six restaurants and bars in downtown Windsor.

What keeps him awake is the idea that new health measures can be put in place of public health while businesses are barely recovering from their predecessors.

It will be catastrophic now. To this must be added the large increase in the minimum wage as well as the inflation that hits the price of food. This will bring the hospitality industry to its kneeshe explains.

” Since the restrictions were lifted, our sales have started to rise again. They are still far from where they were before the pandemic, but if they are down for the sixth time, we need to know what the government is planning. [en termes de soutien] even before considering new restrictions. “

He said the overall economy in downtown Windsor is fragile now and added that some businesses are investing or considering capital expansion because they find the local public health unit wants to reinstate some health restrictions, that would have consequences, according to him, that would intimidate American customers.

Just last weekend they went here again which is positive. But if they start to put restrictions again, i.e., wearing a mask, showing proof of vaccination, […] we think this will cause Americans to stay on the other side of the border, which will kill our tourist base all summer longhe explains.

” We followed all the rules. We did what was asked of us. Despite this, we were still punished. And so, the idea of ​​the government telling us that they can put restrictions back in place, none of us will accept that. “

Mr Griffith wants businesses to have the choice of whether or not to continue wearing personal protective equipment.

He regrets the fact that companies do not have adequate access to screening tests, which, according to him, will allow them to better protect themselves and better protect customers.