A recent report in FORBES magazine discussed a situation that a number of business owners have found themselves in, and window film company owners are no exception.
The Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act provides an additional $600 per week in unemployment benefits to workers who have been let go or furloughed as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. Add to that state unemployment that can range from a high of $790 per week in Washington State to a low of $235 per week in Mississippi and many workers will receive $1,000 per week to stay home.
As window film companies work to reopen, they are hearing from workers who want to stay home instead. This is especially problematic for companies that received funds through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which requires 75% of the funds be used on salaries and used in 8 weeks in order for the loan to be forgiven.
“In my state you can have installers make a decent living at $18 an hour, but I, like many, fear that more employees will go on unemployment to get a raise for up to four months instead of keeping their jobs where they make good, but less money,” said one window film business owner in Mississippi who did not want to be identified.
Some states are beginning to address the issue. Ohio, for example, is asking employers to let them know when workers won’t return to work and other states are expected to follow suit. In the meantime, it remains a problem for some employers, which isn’t expected to abate until after the extra funding ends. Right now, it is scheduled to end July 25, 2020 if Congress doesn’t provide an extension.
