So we all know it. It’s here. One of the biggest threats to mankind in the recent years has finally come to wreak havoc to us all. Private and Government sectors are working hard to minimize the damage and get everyone through this as fast as possible. All we can do is patiently wait and do our part as individuals to FLATTEN THE CURVE.

More than just health issues, it’s brought a handful of SME’s to the brink of closing up shop temporarily as foot traffic wasn’t all good the past few days. Even though some of us may have been fortunate enough to still have decent sales, thanks to our patrons who continuously supported us, the time did come when we had to choose which decisions are most sound for us to make for the meantime.

You see, the virus is feared because of how quickly it spreads, among other things, and that’s why everybody’s talking about SOCIAL DISTANCE and ISOLATION to protect yourself and others from contracting the disease. Yes we had a lot of safety measures and disinfecting procedures to ensure that the workplace is clean and that the handlers are in top condition. We did everything we could in-store so our DINERS GET TO EAT SAFELY.

But there was one factor we just couldn’t control – EXTERNALS. Are our people safe on their way to work? We’re never sure at this point. Are they safe on their way home from work? Still can’t be sure about it. Are the people they’re living with at risk in case they come home carrying the virus? Are the people they’re working with being put at risk in case they come to work with an infection? Unless they agree to be stationed INSIDE YOUR ESTABLISHMENT during the whole duration of the pandemic, allowing you to control external factors that could lead to infection, the worries might just go on and on.

What choice did we make as business owners to get some decent sleep at night?

We went with what was sound to our judgement. We listened to our staff’s fears regarding the current situation and what we could do to keep them safe. Inevitably, after hearing their concerns, we couldn’t care less about the sales we’ll not be making anymore. It was either the business or our people.

We were worried of how the external factors could still affect them regardless of our internal measures in the establishment. And they were worried about the same things too.

And in these times when everyone’s afraid for himself, his friends, and his family, I couldn’t afford to sleep at night knowing we’re calling them into work as usual with their fears going into their heads along with the REAL POTENTIAL RISKS they are under just with the commuting alone, for example. One thing could lead to another. And when it does, it could go downhill from there.

So today, we did what we thought was right. We followed suit and CLOSED SOME OF OUR LOCATIONS despite them selling okay. We gave our team the opportunity to stay at home safely with their families until all of this has boiled over. The losses these days will add up to couldn’t really make up for the soundness of the sleep we’d be getting in the next few nights. And that’s what matters most for us for now.