Saskatoon Chamber CEO anticipates major worker shortages with Omicron

Having enough staff to work is going to be one of the biggest challenges for Saskatchewan businesses over the next few weeks.

Greater Saskatoon Chamber CEO Jason Aebig says with Omicron spreading quickly, many workers are out for the mandatory five-day isolation period, or even longer.

Aebig told 650 CKOM’s Brent Loucks that businesses have been adapting and adjusting to the changes since the pandemic began almost two years ago.

“The big challenge for many businesses now is, over the next three to four weeks, watching their staffing levels (and) making sure they can keep their teams functioning and working together in spite of people having to step away because they are not feeling well or they have tested positive,” Aebig said.

He said the vast majority of businesses he’s heard from would still prefer to be open rather than rely on government support programs.

“I’m hearing, ‘Let us operate, let us function, continue to support us, come grace our doors and buy from us,’ ” Aebig said.

Some businesses have adapted by reducing hours, having less staff working or moving to online pickups, and restaurants with positive cases are opening for takeout orders only.

Aebig told Loucks while the government programs are helpful, they never cover all the bases.

“Many organizations, many companies, over the last two years, in spite of those really good programs when they were in effect, still had to take on mountains of debt to keep going,” he said.

Aebig recommends businesses take advantage of the rapid test kits that are available to everyone in the province.

“We’ve been on this track now for months, talking about these rapid tests,” he said. “Get a kit for your house or your employees and take the tests and if there is an issue, then you can deal with it.”