May 1, 2020-
As America reopens following its worst pandemic since the Spanish Flu of 1918, questions have arisen about the future of the average workplace, sustainability of once-profitable companies and the nation’s economy.
Still, questions remain unanswered over how many Americans whom will get infected with COVID-19 or worse, die.
Many American workers in several states are angry at the government shutdowns. There have many protests as small businesses want to reopen and workers want to return to their jobs.
Other workers are filled with hope in being able to again earn paychecks.
The challenge remains for other companies in how and when they can reopen for business legally and safely.
Again this year as has been the case since 1889, May Day protests by workers have been inspired by Communism and socialists.
Amazon, Instacart, Whole Foods and Target workers held May Day protesting what they feel are inadequate coronavirus measures in their workplaces.
Moreover, in the form of socialism, the pandemic hangs like an atomic health-care bomb over America’s free-enterprise system.
George Bernard Shaw was right: “Socialism is the same as Communism, only better English.”
Workers vs. employers
COVID-19 unemployment benefits are an economic threat — pitting workers vs. employers.
About half of workers are earning more in unemployment benefits than their jobs pay them.
This is a nightmare for many employers that want to reopen their businesses. Many of their workers, who have a sense of entitlement, will want to stay at home and collect cash.
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For example, companies are having to increase wages for employees in higher-risk jobs in the form of hazardous-duty pay, according to published reports.
That includes delivery, grocery stores, health care and warehousing.
So, don’t be surprised if companies find it difficult to decrease those wages to acceptable levels once the coronavirus danger is gone.
Can you say unnecessary job losses and inflation?
Health insurance premiums
Thanks to free-enterprise and the strong economy that President Trump built, America was enjoying the best economy in its history.
However, the pandemic is creating havoc. Premiums for health insurance will probably increase for the immediate future. Why?
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Like every sector, insurance companies didn’t anticipate being hit by the pandemic, which means it wasn’t factored into their budgets and coverage for policyholders.
Surely, the insurance companies will want to make up their losses, which doesn’t bode well for companies that pay all or most of their employees’ premiums.
However, rising costs of health insurance has placed an increasing number of workers in increasingly more precarious conditions.
Universal health care
There might be increasing calls for universal health care.
If the socialistic philosophy gets serious traction, employers would no longer be the main source of insurance for working adults under the retirement age of 65.
It’s believed many unemployed workers have lost their employer-provided health insurance. They’re hustling to get enrolled in Medicaid and the debacle known as the Affordable Care Act exchanges.
Already there have been calls to lower the eligibility age for Medicare.
Such health-care changes would be disastrous for America. So would higher wages if not accompanied by higher worker productivity.
Both would create permanent dangerous changes — for American society and workplaces.
As soon as feasible, governors must end their shutdowns.
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“Socialism is the same as Communism, only better English.”
-George Bernard Shaw
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