State lawmakers are working to keep small and large business doors open amid the omicron variant surge. Their latest effort is bringing back COVID-19 sick pay and reimbursing employers. With restaurants and other kind of businesses facing never before seen staffing shortages, employees are making up for absences by working longer hours, leading to burnout.
“We appreciate that they’re continuing to keep small business top of mind, and we ask that, as we continue to make these choices, we really find that balance between keeping everybody safe, keeping everybody protected and keeping our doors open. So, our economy can continue to rebound, you know, as we’re starting to see after the first of the year,” said Amanda Blackwood, CEO of the Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce.