Waiting for word on shutdown waivers
On Friday, the final day for Pennsylvania businesses deemed non-life-sustaining to apply for a waiver to operate during the coronavirus shutdown, requests had eclipsed 42,000.
During the nearly two weeks prior, the state approved fewer than 7,000, compared to nearly 9,000 denied.
The long wait, in addition a lack of clarity or transparency with the process, left some local business owners feeling anxious and searching for answers.
And even businesses that already received waivers were running into obstacles where partners are not yet up and running.
“That’s been the biggest problem,” said Ryan Hauser, president and CEO of Isolator Fitness in Reading. “We actually did get approval now, but it’s not like we don’t have issues. Your suppliers haven’t been approved yet.”
After weeks of uncertainty — at first, Hauser said they didn’t even know where to apply — Isolator Fitness was finally granted a shutdown waiver so it can resume operations. Known for its meal prep bags, the company planned to immediately shift production to making masks.
The real trouble, it turned out, was obtaining the resources needed to make the masks.
“We’ve quoted over half a million a masks already, but we’re just on hold waiting for more material,” said Hauser.
At least Isolator Fitness can take some comfort in knowing it will soon be operational again, and manufacturing an item that could help save lives in a pandemic.
For Wyomissing resident Fred Hafer Jr., president of Omnitech Automation in Emmaus, Lehigh County, the lack of acknowledgment from the state left him wondering if his application was even received.
“The most frustrating part is not only do I not know if I’m going to get it,” said Hafer. “I don’t know when, and I don’t really even know if I’m on the list.”
Though Omnitech did not qualify as life-sustaining under the Pa. guidelines, it shows there can be a fine line. The company builds robotic and automation equipment for manufacturers of medical devices, as well local businesses such as East Penn Manufacturing, all of which are operating. Some would call that essential.
Ironically, it’s the automated response Hafer received upon filing online for a waiver that made him nervous. He since attempted to contact the governor’s office and Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) handling the requests for confirmation through numerous channels.
“It’s coming up on two weeks, and I know they have a backlog, but it would be nice to know if I’m on the list,” said Hafer. “What if there was a technical glitch? Or what if they responded and it went to my junk folder or got lost? I’m just sitting here with no information.”
“If the response from the governor’s office is, ‘We will get to you, we have X number of requests and you’re number whatever,’ I’d breathe a lot easier knowing I’m on the list.”
Finally, Omnitech received its approval on Monday.
John Gallen, president of Ethosource Office Furniture and Wyatt Seating in New Morgan, is still waiting, and also described a very murky application process.
Though office furniture might not sound lifesustaining, Gallen applied for two waivers, noting his businesses work with health care providers and a national defense contractor.
“The submission was really brief and vague,” said Gallen. “There was no real place to put much detail other than the name of your company. It was just a box.”
Gallen understands why Gov. Tom Wolf implemented a shutdown and believes doing so saved lives. Still, he feels there are ways many businesses can safely go back to work.
“I am in support of what the governor is doing with the concept of distancing and stay at home, be safe,” said Gallen. “I agree with that, but there are ways that we could maintain some sort of an operation and still be observant of that.”
It’s a notion shared by Hafer. Omnitech employs 20, but had to lay off half its workforce while the rest work from home. Now permitted to reopen, staff who can telecommute will continue to do so, while the rest will be split into two shifts to maintain social distancing.
Though there might be a tendency to view desires to resume operations out of only self-interest, a common thread here is a motivation and desire to help others.
Hauser said Isolator Fitness ceased production of its popular meal prep bags to focus on making the masks. In fact, the company couldn’t make both if it wanted.
“It’s not easy, but we had a lot of stock there, so I’m able to completely shut that down,” said Hauser. “We can’t really interlock the two. It’s just too inefficient.”
Isolator Fitness intends to have three shifts up and running this week. And once the masks are completed, 15,000 will be made available for free — minus shipping and handling — on the company’s website.
Gallen has also been busy importing masks on the side, bringing in almost as many as the 1.2 million that flew in on the New England Patriots’ team plane last week, he said.
What Gallen would really like to do though is put 55 furloughed employees from his 75-person staff back on the payroll. For the time being, he told everybody to hang on to their computers. “I’m coming back for them because we were extremely busy three weeks ago.”
The question is when that might be. For what it’s worth, the DCED hoped to answer the remaining outstanding requests this week, according to Ellen Albright, director of talent and workforce development for the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance.
Even then, what then if a business’ waiver is denied?
“I can eat it for a couple weeks here,” said Gallen. “Three weeks? Four weeks? 10 weeks? How long is it gonna go? That’s where it gets very difficult.”