Already we are seeing changes in so many business in order to prevent this virus from spreading. Only “essential” businesses remain open physically as of now. There are lines packed with people to get into the supermarket, to get your order for drive-through/pickup, and even hospitals. People have been left jobless: leaving them struggling to find a way to pay for their bills, family, and needs. This pandemic has affected the lives of every single person on this Earth.
Depending on how long this pandemic lasts and the amount of precautionary measures we end up taking from now until then, will be pivotal in how many changes will be made in the future. When I say changes not only do I mean changes made by companies, businesses, the government, etc. but changes the average citizen would make to the way they usually live their lives. Here are a couple examples: method of transportation, online shopping, attending large group settings, the way they greet people, physical interaction with humans, and many more. Businesses had to adjust to the changes that are occurring now for the meantime, but what if these changes expand to even bigger changes? Business Insider says “A shift in consumer behavior to buying things online could accelerate the retail apocalypse and reshape the way Americans shop.” (Colarossi) The worry of online shopping taking over had already been an ongoing debate, but now the likeliness is even larger. So many people have shifted to online shop now due to the pandemic going on. If this carries on companies/businesses will have to adjust and make changes to their own plans. How many people are needed to work? How many physical stores will remain in business? How many physical stores will actually be needed? These are all questions businesses have to take into account if things continue to get worse.
Public transportation companies will also face difficulties. “Transit ridership was doing poorly before the crisis, declining throughout the country, while telecommuting and driving alone continue to grow.” (Kotkin) Already being on a decline, the use of public transportation may reach their lowest. Public transportation is an essential business and people are still using it now, but only those who so desperately need it. I can see a big drop of users in less concentrated cities. Cities like New York will always use public transportation because in a city like New York it is necessary. Even though New York has the most cases in the United States, public transportation will continue to prosper in a city like that.
Traveling by flight is pivotal in business. “Business travel could plummet, which may impact fares.” (Hoeller) Not only would this hurt businesses but the airlines themselves, tourists, travel plans, opportunities,, and so much more. This pandemic is globally going to cause damage to the economy and the lives of everybody involved in business. This pandemic and the aftermath will damage countries entirely.
“Those with more obsessive personalities, White says, might become hyper-avoidant in an attempt to construct a smaller, safer world for themselves. “Maybe they won’t go to certain social events. Maybe they won’t want to take the bus anymore.”” (Svoboda) The personality and preference of the human is what will be what makes the changes. That is still even the case while fighting the pandemic. If we want this virus to go away we must stay inside and limit interactions with others. At the end of it all, the changes to our lives will come from ourselves. The changes we make in our lives after this pandemic ends will affect everything around us including businesses, schools, etc.
Works Cited
Colarossi, Natalie. “10 Ways the Coronavirus Pandemic Could Change American Life as We Know It.” Businessinsider.com, Insider Inc, 26 Mar. 2020, http://www.businessinsider.com/how-covid19-could-change-american-life-as-we-know-it-2020-3.
Hoeller, Sophie-Claire. “Cheaper Flights AndCheaper Flights and Flexible Cancellation Fees Might Be Here for a While. Here’s What Air Travel May Look after the Pandemic. Flexible Cancellation Fees Might Be Here for a While. Here’s What Air Travel May Look after the Pandemic.” Insider.com, Insider Inc, 7 Apr. 2020, http://www.insider.com/how-coronavirus-will-affect-travel-future-2020-4.
Kotkin, Joel. “Outlook After the Pandemic.” Washingtonpost.com, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2020, http://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/03/20/what-will-have-changed-forever-after-coronavirus-abates/?arc404=true.
Svoboda, Elizabeth. “How The COVID-19 Pandemic Will Change the Way We Live.” Discovermagazine.com, Kalmbach Media, 17 Apr. 2020, http://www.discovermagazine.com/health/how-the-covid-19-pandemic-will-change-the-way-we-live.
English 802 Spring 2020 
Small businesses have been hit really hard, I know this especially because of my family’s small store that we work at. I see what you are saying with how people, companies, and even the government are going to dramatically change after this whole virus is over with and it makes for some interesting conversations with friends.
Take Care ~ Nelson N
LikeLike
I agree. The economic climate in a year’s time will be drastically different in my eyes. For years things like grocery stores have been working on with people who buy things as they need them for the most part. Currently, people are buying everything they need for a sizeable amount of time at once. While to the consumer it seems like a smallish change it’s going to completely change supply lines and how they work for many things.
LikeLike
I agree major changes will come very soon from business, but I worry for the changes of society as a whole. I think business plans may shift towards being more remotely online, at least for a while. It really all depends on how society takes the matter seriously. We definitely do need to continue limiting contact outside our homes, and take sanitation even more seriously. Great research on the business side of the economy, and I hope you do well on all your other classes. Take care.
LikeLike
I also stated that while moving forward , we need to make changes as a country. I agree with the whole small business aspect of your piece as well. It is easy to lose focus on what’s actually important and who is being affected the most. A lot of people are complaining out of boredom losing sight in the idea that there are people out there who’s businesses won’t be able to open after this because of the money that was lost. You made a lot of good points.
LikeLike
I liked this post it was very real and made sure to explain to people how we need to make changes in our country. I thought the photo for the post was extremely real and allowed a reader to immediately feel the tone of your post. I also think that another situation that’s currently going that not many people are talking about is the restaurant situation. I think some information about that would have fit nicely into your post and would have helped the reader understand the whole idea of the post better.
LikeLike