At-Home Workers Are Supporting Employers During Virus [OPINION]

The people who are working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic are providing crucial financial assets to their employers and keeping the wheels turning. This is an underreported story.

I am doing my radio show weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon from my dining room and I'm glad I can do it. The leadership at WBSM moved quickly and purchased some equipment and software for the local hosts to continue their shows without coming into the station.

There are many professionals working from home during this coronavirus crisis. Lawyers, sales executives, accountants, financial advisors, insurance executives, and their professional support staff are just an example of the workers now operating from their home offices and dining rooms across our nation.

The unmentioned economic fact is that these workers are providing their employers with the capital investment that is allowing the company to continue operations. More importantly, employees have provided flexible use of capital investments to their employers in a manner that has never been seen before.

Employees working from home are providing office space and covering costs for their employers. A small company with 30 workers who must be separated during the virus would have to rent 30 separate office spaces if the employees didn't volunteer to allow the company to use their home as a free office.

In addition to paying rent for the office space, the employer would be responsible for the electric, internet, insurance, and water and sewer costs for each location. Simply outfitting a small office with basic furniture and technology is expensive.

Perhaps more important than the costs is the flexibility that at-home workers are providing their employers. Given the circumstances, it would be impossible for most businesses to find, secure, and outfit new office space for their employees in a timely manner.

And now you know the least reported economic story of this coronavirus pandemic.

Chris McCarthy is the host of The Chris McCarthy Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon. Contact him at chris.mccarthy@townsquaremedia.com and follow him on Twitter @Chris_topher_Mc. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.