Ever since COVID-19 it has been affecting us in major ways and forcing people to make tough decisions for their families. We are going through financial hardship. We were promised bail outs through small business loans or grants yet the government has made the stipulations on these grants nearly impossible for our type of business to qualify for the loan to become a grant.not to mention there is no money left for these grants, and a large percentage of the grants went to large businesses and not small businesses. Most tattoo shops, if not all tattoo shops, have been/ will be denied . We have no help when we have been promised help. We are still waiting for an application for independent contractor unemployment. Most of us have gone without making any money for 4 weeks or more. And are looking at another 2 weeks for an unemployment application. Then another 2 to 4 weeks for payment of any kind. The Quarantine was implemented to flatten the curve of the spread of COVID-19 to assure that hospitals were not overwhelmed all the once in to help prevent such a rapid spread . The numbers of infected people is on the decline . We tattoo artists are trained and certified in blood-borne pathogen‘s and cross-contamination as well as many other medical safety and sterility procedures we are just as safe if not safer than most hospitals. tattoo shops are very clean and we take this very serious. This is our livelihood and if we do not return back to work by May 1st many Tattoo businesses will be lost as well as Barbershops, Beauty Salons ,and Groomers among many others. We will not be able to pay our bills, rents/mortgages, Insurances, we have the very potentially of losing everything. We still have to pay our mortgages/ rents and phone bills and gas and electric none of this has stopped for us . Yes, we can postpone them, but they’re not going away! "Some" of us can sustain for a while, but most can't. That doesn’t mean that we are doing OK Governor Wolfe. This is how we pay our bills. This is how we feed our families and we are not getting any help from anyone, nor are we asking for it. We just want to be allowed to return to work, and be able to sustain ourselves. Pennsylvania Tattoo Artist

We are able to safely implement precautionary procedures to allow our clients to see us as they’re requesting. This will allow us to save our businesses. With zero income and expenses still coming in most of us can not survive another month.

As health and fitness professionals as well as small business owners, we want to make sure that when we begin our work again, we do so in a way that protects the health and safety of our members and community. We have developed a white paper that spells out what we think are best practices and standards for the fitness industry to reopen and operate safely and effectively. Our gyms allow us to engage in these powerful preventative measures in a manner that is far safer than any grocery store, bakery, liquor store, retail outlet, or gas station; all of which are still operating as "essential" businesses. Not to mention, other “gyms” cannot do what we do as we have hundreds of members, whereas they have thousands. Not to mention, when our clients are healthier, they are more readily able to fight disease!

The survival of the independent beauty professionals is at risk. We are facing a grave financial hardship.

Pets are considered family members to their owners and getting regular grooming is essential to their health and wellness. In some cases, Fluffy being well groomed is mandatory for their owners health as well. For example, some older client's require their dog's nails to be kept short and filed to keep them from tearing those who have thinning skin or have a harder time healing from scratches and cuts. There's also the service dogs and Emotional support animals that might require grooming. Plus grooming salons have sanitary protocols in place to keep every owner and pet safe. Besides, how can beer/liquor/wine be essential and not pet grooming? Help us pet groomers have a reason to need that glass of wine at the end of a 14 dog day! We WANT to be as essential as a 6 pack of Shiner Bock!

Covid 19 is affecting the economy in major ways and forcing people to make tough decisions for their families based upon recent events and work displacement. To ease the economic burden in our industry it is in our best interest to open back up with these limited restrictions. Moreover the quarantine was implemented to flatten the curve of the spread of covid 19 to ensure that hospitals were not overwhelmed all at once and to help prevent such rapid spread. The number of people infected is currently on a decline and the numbers aren’t as bad as once projected. Additionally Tattoo artist are trained and certified in blood borne pathogens and cross contamination as well as many other medical safety and sterility procedures.

Cosmetologist, manicurist, Massage’s therapist and esthetician’s have no income and need to work! The survival of the independent beauty professionals is at risk. We are facing a grave financial hardship.

The survival of the independent beauty professionals is at risk. We are facing a grave financial hardship. Clients who also have hair extensions need the adjustment before it pulls out their own hair. In addition, clients are faced with ripping of their own acrylics, which damage the natural nails.

Skies are more clear. Smog no longer hangs over our highways like a haze. Life seems more balanced these days between life and family. Coffee at home tastes better. Road rage is no longer a problem. No longer must a commuter fear being struck by a drunk or intoxicated driver on their way to work. These are just a few reasons why working from home is the employment mantra of the future. Additionally, working from home reduces costs to companies such as rent, space and other facilities and has been shown to increase productivity among employees. COVID-19 has forced traditional, corporate culture to rethink how to be more efficient and, in many cases, just survive. We are discovering that companies are more capable than they thought when they allow their employees to telecommute. Working from home has shown to improve morale, improve productivity and protect commuters from tragic accidents on the way to work. Employees also have more free time to devote to their families, and it forces them to reflect on what’s most important to them in their lives. Working remotely not only promotes a better work-life balance but also allows individuals more time and energy to put towards projects that moves society forward.

This is important for all the owners, employees, and the members! You ask anyone that loves going to the gym, how the mental aspect of it plays a big roll. Going to a gym is sometimes an escape for people. It is their social time. It is their time to clear their head. It is their time to get a really good workout in. This keeps the body strong and the immune system strong. Being around others and the atmosphere keeps the mood and motivation up! This can also go for the owners and employees, not only financially, but just seeing your members makes your day. Seeing them enjoy the gym, being proud of what you have built to provide others. None of us want to lose what we have worked hard for. This shut down is making it hard for everyone. We need to start opening things back up, even if it is at a restricted rate at first! We have businesses and jobs to run. We want to keep people happy and healthy, this is the type of career we went into! Members have their own choice whether to leave their house or not. We can’t be forced to stay shut down any longer! Financially speaking, the longer this goes on, the harder and harder it gets to keep the bills paid. None of us want our doors to be shut permanently because of a shut down.

Why would the Trump administration target farm workers with wage cuts in the middle of a pandemic, when other essential workers are winning hazard pay? Instead of lowering wages for the poorest workers, we need to ensure that some of the $9.5 billion allocated for COVID-19 aid will protect the vulnerable, essential workers who are out in the fields in this pandemic to keep the food supply intact. The wage cuts being pushed by Trump's administration will not just hurt vulnerable guest workers. It will depress wages for all farm workers nationwide. Industry "aid" that excludes the essential workforce and drives down wages is a clear warning sign to working people in every industry. Millions of us are sheltering in place to avoid exposure to the coronavirus. Farm work can't be done remotely and we all need to eat. During a crisis, rather than trying to cut costs by oppressing the poorest, we need to place value on the people risking so much to feed us. We can't let the Trump administration go through with this.

The survival of the independent beauty professionals is at risk. We are facing a grave financial hardship. Also believe that our profession helps our clients improve mental wellness with feeling good about their appearance.