Southern Indiana Business September-October 2020 | Page 4

FROM THE EDITOR Private sector leads the way on safety The great mask debate of 2020 will make for a great case study some day on how we humans react to changes in our normal routine. Whether or not you believe face coverings truly help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, wearing a mask isn’t exactly a cumbersome requirement for most of us. For those front-line workers and the employees of large operations where wearing a face covering for an entire shift is necessary, it can be a little more challenging. But while the verdict is still out on the effectiveness of the steps we’re being told to take to slow the spread of COVID-19, we can already glean that the private business sector has played a sizable role in getting us to mask-up when we’re out and about. Governing bodies can order us to wear face coverings, but they have a hard time enforcing it. Before Gov. Eric Holcomb decided to nix the misdemeanor charge from his Indiana mask mandate, many law enforcement officials said they wouldn’t even attempt to force the issue. But for the most part, when you enter a business in Southern Indiana, folks are following the requirement. Some are doing it out of concern for others and themselves, and because they want to follow the law. Some are wearing their masks, though, because of basic economics. While we’re not likely to run into Dr. Anthony Fauci on the streets, we are going to need groceries. We’re going to buy clothes and shoes and get our hair cut. We’re going to want have a drink or grab a bite to eat with friends we haven’t seen in a while because they’ve been at home social distancing. We’re going to go out in public, and enter businesses, and we’re going to be wearing masks when we do so. The reason we are putting those face coverings on is because private businesses are requiring it. Just simply posting a sign on a door stating that patrons must wear a mask for entry goes a long way. While there are those who push the envelope, businesses en masse are refusing service to those who don’t follow the rules, or are at least threatening to do so. This is what has ultimately led to the wide-scale wearing of face coverings. We can’t stick our nose up at private businesses because we require their services for our wants and needs. We can claim the government is playing politics when it comes to rule-making, but private businesses don’t have to put up with the conspiracy theories and excuses when it comes to entering their establishments. One of the most basic yet important parts of operating a business is ensuring that customers feel safe when entering the building. It doesn’t matter if the government allows normal business operations to resume — customers will still shy away from frequenting an establishment when they feel not enough is being done to keep them safe and healthy. Businesses need revenue to survive, so they’re not going to risk losing customers because a few people don’t want to wear a mask. They also have an obligation to protect employees. I’ve never supported the belief that government should be run like a business, but at a time where there’s a major void in leadership, at least the private sector is stepping up and setting the standard for safety. We repay that leadership by keeping those businesses open. This issue is dedicated to family owned businesses in Southern Indiana. They are the backbone of our economy, and they’re facing unprecedented struggles during this pandemic. But if we refuse to wear masks and take steps to stop the spread of COVID-19, we put them in jeopardy. If our government is forced to shut down businesses to the level that we saw in the spring, we could lose many of our small, family owned establishments. We don’t want that, so let’s follow the lead of the private sector and do what it takes to get through this as quickly as possible. Daniel Suddeath is the editor of Southern Indiana Business Magazine, and the senior reporter for the News and Tribune. He can be reached at 812- 206-2152, or by email at [email protected]. 4 September / October 2020