Being out of school for the past few weeks has taken a toll on all of us; the online schooling is piling up, while the boredom is sinking in. But how has the virus affected our parents and others in the workplace?

I asked men and women from all over to talk about how the COVID-19 virus has affected their workplace. I first asked Gina Wingerter, my mother and a partner at a human resources firm, who described an unsettling situation.

“Business is slowing down, and people are getting nervous about whether or not they are going to lose their jobs,” Wingerter said.

Wingerter’s answer reflects a common problem in America today; many adults are facing the unknown, unsure of whether or not they will ever be returning to work. People are worried about their health, the economy, and job security. Wingerter said that working at home has been a struggle.

“The days have become longer, and phone calls have grown more intense,” she said.

Josh Rutan, a cousin of mine who is working in sales for Trace3 in San Diego California, has been continuing to work in the office to get away from the distractions at home. Rutan said the pandemic has affected his day to day work life in a surprising way. 

“Business was at an all time high, and I found myself in some of the busiest weeks yet,” Rutan said. He believes that people were panic buying, which has benefited him as a salesperson; however, Rutan also said he believes that this won’t last for long, and predicted that his company will soon reach what he describes as a “plummeting point.” 

Small businesses are the ones who are getting crushed hardest by this virus, as for most there is little to no income coming in. My father Todd Wingerter owns a golf shop in Greenwich, Connecticut, and is struggling with this very problem. As we are entering April, this should be his busiest season.

Instead, Wingerter said, “I still have packages coming in daily due to previous orders, but there is no one here to buy them.” Due to the shelter-in-place order that the governor has enacted, people aren’t allowed to leave their homes for non-essential reasons, causing small businesses to plummet.

The situation here in the US has even affected many overseas. Ross Farrell, who lives in Ireland, said that he was relying on his internship in America to make money this summer, but he is now on edge about whether or not it will still be available to him because of the virus. Internships represent huge opportunities for college students across the world, but this virus may affect whether or not they will be able to participate in them at all this year. 

While the COVID-19 virus has definitely been disruptive to students, it is affecting everyone’s day to day life. Whether it be interrupting the school day, or taking people away from their jobs, we are in this together. I encourage people to support local businesses who are reaching low points, and ensure your safety by constantly washing hands, social distancing, and staying home as much as possible!