The challenges of reopening
New health, safety guidelines may be easier to follow for some businesses, experts say
This week, some businesses in Ontario are being allowed to reopen their doors to the public, albeit under strict guidelines.
It’s the first step in the province’s gradual reopening of the economy and many business owners are eagerly looking forward to reopening. But others aren’t so excited. Jake Somerville owns Bodh Salon & Photography with partner, Michelle, in Guelph. Since Somerville has a compromised immune system, they were extra careful when the pandemic began and closed their salon a week earlier than the provincial government mandated.
The business is not eligible for the federal $40,000 loan and has not yet received rent relief, but both partners are receiving CERB — Somerville’s half is going toward keeping the business afloat while it’s closed.
With reopening looking like a distinct possibility in the near future, Somerville is faced with a difficult choice.
“The problem … is that the businesses will be forced to make a very serious ethical choice,” Somerville said. “Do you keep your business closed to protect the health of the community and, as a result, contribute to the loss of your business and the collapse of the economy, or do you reopen and risk further spread of this contagious airborne virus?”
For many businesses, it’s not really a choice, Somerville said. Without enough financial relief to keep their businesses shut but afloat, Somerville believes many will reopen because they need the money.
“If there was proper support, I believe more businesses would choose to remain closed until we’re through … this unsafe zone with this virus.”
Since their business is a salon, Somerville feels there’s no way they can operate safely right now, even with the strictest of protocols.
“We’re not set up to have control over an airborne virus.”
They still don’t know whether they will open their doors when allowed. But if it was today? No.
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, a labour and employment law group, says it will not be business as usual when people start going back to work.
One of the biggest challenges for businesses will be a logistical one, says BLG partner Stuart Aronovitch, especially in settings where social distancing is difficult. Businesses will need to figure out how to rearrange the workplace and whether to mandate personal protective equipment — and if so, how to source it.
“What the office setting will look like, I think, will be different and will need to be adjusted,” he said.
It’s also important for businesses to plan ahead for how to bring employees back to work. For example, how many will they bring back in the first wave and how will they decide who is in that
wave? Should it be random? Volunteer? The least vulnerable?
With these options may come some privacy issues, Aronovitch said.
As well, employers must think about their employees’ mental health.
Many will be fearful to come back to work and may refuse; employers must be able to offer accommodations, such as working from home or different hours.
For some businesses, these adjustments will be more difficult than others, such as for Somerville’s salon.
For others, they won’t be as hard to handle.
Graeme deRoux runs Alpine Print Company, also in Guelph. The business has been doing delivery and pickup throughout the pandemic, since it’s technically a manufacturing business and therefore allowed.
It’s been going well: the shop’s lobby makes a great place to safely drop orders, deRoux said. But he misses being able to talk to his clients and is looking forward to reopening.
When he does, he will still give clients the option to do things the lockdown way, through delivery or a safe drop.
“I’d rather do what’s best for my clients,” he said.
For those who are comfortable stepping into the shop, de
Roux will offer masks and gloves and will stay two metres away at all times.
Eric Matusiak, national retail leader with BDO Canada, said some businesses, like deRoux’s, will have fewer issues opening their doors again. But regardless of the business, it’s important to plan ahead.
Business owners can’t expect customers to react exactly the same as they did before the pandemic, he said.
“There’s going to be a lingering psychological effect here.”
Any business that is vulnerable to the effects of e-commerce, or isn’t able to offer a digital experience, will suffer the most, said Matusiak — the pandemic has pushed Canada in the direction it and many other countries were already heading.
“I think this is a bit of a tipping point,” he said, especially for groceries and pharmacies.