With public health orders revised on a weekly, and sometimes daily, basis; business owners in Saskatchewan are often hard-pressed to keep up with the latest pandemic regulations and guidelines.
“It can be very confusing for business owners and their employees,” said Prairie Sky Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Debbie Brown. “They may not have the time to read through all the depth of information in new public health orders and how it impacts their workplace.
“They want to know what they should do in order to be in compliance with the rules and keep everyone safe.”
In an effort to cut through the regulatory fog, the PSCC summarizes the latest information from provincial health authorities and issues email bulletins to its members in the region as quickly as possible. A text alert is also being developed.
Brown, who took over as PSCC Executive Director in July, said business owners are adapting to the ongoing pandemic.
“There is light at the end of the tunnel,” she said. “A lot of the really big changes have already happened.
“They’ve rebuilt and redesigned their operations to accommodate the new reality.
“Shoppers today are using a hybrid of online and face-to-face purchasing.”
Brown said every business is facing increased responsibility, and many have ramped up their staffing levels and hired more qualified people.
“Every business is experiencing something different,” she said. “But overall,, I think the attitude out there among business owners is very positive. They want to keep their doors open and they see real opportunity for growth in the new year.
“They’re adapting. They’re resilient. They’ll make it work one way or another.”
Brown said with government support programs for workers being phased out, more people are re-entering the workforce. That’s a positive development for businesses that have been struggling to find employees, she noted.
“It’s true that some staff are nervous about coming back to work,” she said. “They may have kids or elderly parents at home and are afraid of exposing themselves to the virus; but on the other hand you have to earn a living.
“The bottom line is you have to get back at it whether you like or not.”
With increasing numbers of people getting vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus, she expects the fourth wave of the pandemic to eventually subside.
In the meantime, she said businesses are stepping up to the plate and doing what needs to be done.
“We have become very dependent on governments, both federal and provincial, to make decisions for us,” she said. “Now what’s happening is a lot of the responsibility is being put back into our own hands.
“Overall, I think it’s good for us to take responsibility for our own businesses and the safety of staff and customers,” she said. “But it’s also very important for business owners to have the detailed information they need to be able to make those informed decisions.”
She noted that many of the public health safety measures introduced during the pandemic are likely to continue.
“It’s really not a bad time to be investing in things like technology, for screening staff and customers, even though it can be expensive,” she said. “Once this pandemic is under control there will be another one of some kind in the future.”