Coronavirus has Changed the World

COVID-19 or Coronavirus has changed the world.

People are getting ill and some have died. I watch the news almost daily for local, national, and global updates. The children are home so my spouse wants me to limit the TV being on with news so the kids won’t be more upset. They are home every day and my wife and kids put in a full day teaching and learning. I wake up in the morning and walk to work at my home computer with my full office set up including dual screens and an IP phone. My staff does the same as I do. I am the lucky one that can do that.

The federal government has set up $600 of additional weekly unemployment for those that have been unemployed making the majority of worker’s paychecks higher than before… I got a text last night from a tenant that is 2 months behind on rent and he hopes his employer lays him off. Texas has jailed a beautician for cutting hair while letting prisoners go free.

The Federal Government has approved and issued PPP loans to businesses but doesn’t know their own rules they created as they are too vague. Pelosi was too busy eating ice cream and wouldn’t return to work unless there was an emergency. Banks are required to defer loan payments for up to 90 days.

Almost all auto insurance companies are returning some premiums because claims are down due to reduced time on the road and taking out ads to promote how great they are as a company and giving back.

Citywide sells real estate and, I have entered homes wearing a mask, attended loan closings in a parking lot outside an attorney’s office. I could not get an appraiser to enter a house without it being vacant.

The states are saying it’s okay to return to work except for the public offices. Citywide is a licensed WV title service and are doing temp tags and title transfers in our New Martinsville office thru a window by appointment. Jennifer has been great!!

When will the DMV open?  The West Virginia State Tax Department does not have a way to take payments online or over the phone to obtain necessary documents to conduct business. A physical check needs to be mailed with a paper application. It’s great to see my local municipality is now taking online payments without a fee and they are offering automatic recurring ACH payments. But, I can get a pizza delivered using a credit card since I can remember. So I guess it’s okay for some people to go to work but not others.

Let’s not forget the majority of workers that have continued to go to work during this time. This started with a piece of paper Vice President Pence was waiving that said: “15 Days to slow the spread, then a revised one for 30”. I have not seen a new one lately. What would it say? 90 days?

So as a small business owner, when should employees go back to work and actually encounter a face to face meeting? With or without a mask? 

The answer is whenever they feel it is right for them.

Just because an order is lifted doesn’t mean a business needs to react unless it desires too. But of course, they desire to get back to normal.

Be patient, be kind, and keep faith.