COVID-19 and its Impact on Business and Employees

The Novel Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) has up-rooted many lives in 2020. First starting in Wuhan, China, there have now been confirmed cases in over 200 countries. As the world worked to stop the spread of the virus, we also slowed the global economy.

The manufacturing sector has been one of the hardest-hit industries in the world during the COVID crisis. COVID originated in China, the #1 manufacturing nation in the world, and one of the top producers of raw materials. The lockdowns at the beginning of 2020 brought the manufacturing industry to an almost standstill. More than 75% of businesses in the United States have “one or more direct or tier 1 supplier” from China.

With all the new workplace mandates and material shortages, it has been hard for the construction industry to maintain a steady supply of materials. Many material manufacturers are now working at 1/3 capacity to maintain a safe distance of 6 feet between employees. COVID has also required employers to stagger schedules of employees to allow for additional social distancing. This change in the workplace environment paired with the disturbances in the supply chain has continued to make manufacturing difficult.

The fencing industry specifically is having hardships as the top three building materials used in fencing are hard to come by. Tariffs, port closures, and shortages have had a heavy impact on the industry.

Lumber:

There is a severe shortage of pressure-treated lumber across the United States. This is causing issues for the construction and fencing industries. The shortage is largely due to the spike in DIY home improvement projects and working conditions in factories due to COVID-19.

Most pressure-treated wood comes from Brazil. Exports have slowed down due to shipping ports being closed. American lumber mills have also been closed or are working with reduced staff. The demand has been higher than the supply, and it’s estimated that it will be like this for a while.

Pressure-treated wood prices have skyrocketed between the months of June and July due to the lack of supply, and prices are expected to continue climbing.

Vinyl:

Vinyl product manufacturers are facing the same issue: working at reduced capacity. Our vinyl manufacturer is 32,000 panels backordered, putting vinyl shipments out 6-8 weeks from their ordered dates.

There have also been PVC shortages. PVC is a plastic polymer that can be used for many applications. Many manufacturers began using PVC to make PPE for frontline workers during the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis. PVC is being used to make face masks and face shields.

Prices on European PVC exports have risen by 8.5%, Indian PVC export prices have increased as well. Plant closures across the US have greatly slowed down vinyl production and distribution. The shortage of available vinyl products is causing prices to rise across the board, imported or domestic.

Aluminum:

The construction and automotive industries have been heavily hit by COVID-19. American made metal manufacturers are affected by the virus, as well as external factors, such as the Asian metal market. China is already the world leader for steel, and in 2017 it produced more than half of the world’s aluminum.

The construction and automotive industries are facing tariffs on imported materials, as well as long waiting periods to receive supplies.

At Paramount Fencing, we are keeping a “worker-first” mindset. Throughout the pandemic, employees from every sector are finding themselves overworked and stressed. COVID is affecting people emotionally, financially, and psychologically as well as physically. According to an article by the “Human Resource Executive”, 88% of surveyed employed individuals reported moderate to severe stress levels.

Across America, many employees are feeling stress over being exposed to the virus, their families’ needs, their children’s distance learning, financial hardships, uncertainty about employment, and learning curves with new work policies, workspaces, or schedules.

Prior to COVID-19, 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. reported having a mental illness. There has been an increase in mental health issues due to social isolation and stress. Studies have shown that adults who already suffered from depression or other mental health issues have remained more resilient while social distancing while those who had no reported mental illnesses prior have now a higher risk of developing symptoms of depression, especially adults over the age of 60. 47% of those sheltering in place reported negative mental effects.

We spoke with Kip HudaKoz, the owner of Paramount Fencing, who says “No fence is more important than individuals being able to return safely to their families. We have COVID- but our workers are also over-worked and stressed. We are working hard. I have been in the field daily assisting with installs. The situation is tough- but so are we.”