Pandemic stress taking a mental toll on business, staff
The pandemic has weighed heavily on business owners and staff with more than 60 per cent of those surveyed reporting mental health impacts, according to Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland.
The Bank of Mum and Dad is facing its own financial problems
The toll comes after almost two years of restrictions that have impacted business and workers and CCIQ said there was still a lack of clarity that was promised more than four months ago when Government outlined its plans to reopen all borders.
The Government said when the vaccination rate hit 90 per cent all the rules would be reviewed.
That happened earlier this week but CCIQ policy and advocacy general manager Amanda Rohan said apart from the Covid check in app being scrapped for some businesses there had been nothing about a review.
“So far we haven’t seen what the review includes or what it means for those businesses,” Rohan said.
“The financial and emotional impact of business restrictions, mandates, low consumer confidence, supply chain disruptions and staff availability meant businesses have little optimism to see them through.
“Many businesses are on their knees and some have told us that the Omicron wave has caused them more financial and emotional harm than the original Covid economic impact in 2020.”
However, there were surveys that conflicted with the CCIQ finding.
The NAB business confidence survey showed a return of confidence. It found that while business conditions slumped in January, business confidence rebounded 15 points.
Confidence rose across all industries outside mining and across all states. Forward orders were steady at +4 index points, while capital expenditure edged down 3pts to +3.
