Business perils of the virus

The Covid-19 issue will doubtless be used as a tool and excuse to downsize businesses for reasons that have nothing to do with profit issues or health concerns.

These enterprises owe an ethical responsibility to their staff for their efforts in building these enterprises.

People should not be made disposable in their jobs or careers when the first opportunity arises. However, unfortunately there are more and more accounts coming forward of staff being left high and dry as a result of Covid-19. Shotgun downsizing, windingsup and liquidations will be easier than ever before because of the current situation.

Staff should be told of any possibility of being rehired should a business continue, once things normalise, in the interest of fairness. We must not let the virus be a pretext for indifferent treatment of employees and a vicarious device for suspending people’s rights whenever it suits.