Thankful For Being Essential During This Difficult Year.
The year of the Covid-19 has not been the best of days for majority of the world. The coronavirus crisis has overturned all our lives. Socializing has been put to a stop. Some are working from home. Our kids are learning in virtual classrooms. The massive closure of businesses – from restaurants and bars to movie theaters and gyms has laid off workers or put them on furlough.
But not all of us are hunkered down in our homes.
A lot of people are still working, and we are fortunate that this includes all of us at Stripe Rite.
Essential Construction Industry
During all the shelter in place orders they typically allow construction. Including, but not limited to, construction required in response to this public health emergency, hospital construction, construction of long-term care facilities, public works construction and housing construction.
To be considered an essential part of the community during this unique time is something Stripe Rite can be thankful about. Although we did have a brief two week “shelter-in-place” closure when the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) shut down. We have been in the offices, available over email and in the field for this construction season.
Thankful For Work
With so many people working from home, the opportunities to crack fill, seal coat and restripe parking lots and garages without disturbing employees or business has increased. The decrease in traffic has allowed our work in pavement and asphalt marking to continue uninterrupted. Our sign shops were still fabricating road signs. Plus producing masks required and other custom signs for Covid-19 job site requirements. Plus, offering social distancing floor decals and hand washing station decals and signs.
These days things do not look the same with mandated facial coverings in the offices and job sites. An increase in workplace sanitation and good social distancing measures throughout all the branches. While there is a risk of communicable diseases in every industry, construction sites are unique workplaces with their own levels of ‘social distancing’ built in. With the required safety protocols and separation from the public our job sites are often tightly controlled.
Being an essential business has allowed us to keep all our employees on the payroll this year. Having ability to offer paid time for missed work from potential COVID-19 exposure for time in quarantine until test results were available.
Setbacks From Covid-19
Not all aspects of this construction season have gone smoothly. We have seen delays and shortages in construction materials and signage supplies. Limited schedules and working remotely has created a lag in permits and inspections from municipal and state officials and inspectors.
But even with these setbacks we are going strong despite this pandemic and we are growing. As this year ends the one key thing to be thankful for is that we are still working. Let us remember we are all in this together and COVID-19 is not going to go away quickly or quietly. And we will get through this together – with the help of very essential people.
As The Year Ends
So before we move on from 2020 and welcome a fresh start in 2021, we want to recognize the kindness and encouragement provided by our customers, families, friends, and coworkers even when that recognition must be mostly online.
This Thanksgiving and Christmas season, we will be taking time off to appreciate what’s important in our lives. All of us will enjoy holiday foods and traditions, and those with young children/grandchildren will enjoy watching them express joy and enthusiasm for family activities even if remotely.
Our staff wish you a wonderful holiday season and a happy new year. We appreciate your support and will be here as your choice for road striping, curbing, and sign making as we happily transition to 2021.