With the Adelaide CBD effectively a ghost town, thousands of businesses with tens of thousands of employees are having a challenging time right now just surviving. The South Australian Business Chamber Chief Executive Martin Haese says that businesses all around the Adelaide metropolitan area are struggling.
“So many potential customers in our public service are currently all working from home. They would make incidental purchases during the day, shop at lunchtime, or buy takeaway. None of that is happening right now.
“As we reach the peak of cases, now is the time to get the plans in place to get back to the office. This must happen with a sense of urgency otherwise, those businesses that were there might very well not be once this is all over.
“On behalf of our members and other city and metropolitan businesses, the South Australian Business Chamber is calling on the Chief Executives of all state and federal agencies, as well as larger corporates, to bring staff back into the office where it is safe to do.
“We need to get back into work, buy that coffee, grab your lunch and get takeaway for dinner on your way home.
“Here at the South Australian Business Chamber, I’ve set a flexible approach to the return of staff to the office where we are encouraging them to return where it is safe to do, but mindful of the juggle that parents are facing with the staggered return to school.
“Ultimately, returning everyone to the office is good for each of our mental health as it reduces the social isolation that many experience when working from home.
“The South Australian Business Chamber also calls on the Premier to welcome people back to the city. It is no less safe than doing your shopping at any other suburban centre. The city is open air, and there is so much social distancing because no one is here at the moment.
“So please, let’s get people back into the city to make sure all those businesses are still here once this is all over. ”
