The president of Envision Greater Fond du Lac says there is some glimmer of hope in a new survey conducted by the state’s chamber of commerce on the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. The survey found three-quarters of Wisconsin companies said COVID-19 and the state’s safer at home order had a negative financial impact on their business, but only 23 percent predict they will end the year in the red. Envision president and CEO Sadie Parafiniuk says the survey shows that businesses across the state are cautiously optimistic. According to the survey of nearly 150 employers, the top public policy issue facing Wisconsin is the regulatory environment related to COVID-19. This is the first survey in more than five years where the workforce shortage was not the number one issue. However, even with high unemployment, the workforce shortage still ranked second. Fifty-one percent expect to be less profitable, but still end the year with a profit; seven percent saw no impact on their profitability and another seven percent said they would be more profitable. As the economic downturn hit companies, many had to make temporary or permanent reductions in staffing. Forty-one percent of respondents said they made a temporary or permanent reduction in employees, while 49 percent did not.
