Businesses say they’re proud of the work they have done to protect their workers from COVID-19.

But the omicron variant, more contagious and now making up 95 percent of cases, has tested those protections.

“Since the pandemic started, businesses have found ways around many walls, creating new paths by being innovative in how they provide their product,” said Chris Barrett, president and CEO of the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau. “This is just another wall put up, the omicron variant.”

While the variant appeared to peak Jan. 11, current daily case totals are still double what the state recorded during the previous surge in December 2021.

The effect of the variant depends on who you ask.

Barrett says that he’s seen success among the companies that are loyal to employees.

“Most of our employers up here, especially in hospitality, treat employees very well,” Barrett said.

The leader of a union representing 35,000 retail and food workers says that policies and procedures put in place during the early months of the pandemic continue to keep workers safe. Wendell Young IV, president of United Commercial and Food Workers Local 1776, represents workers in retail stores, state stores, meatpacking plants and nursing homes among others. He said none of those workplaces have been shut down due to the omicron variant.

“We’ve been focused and collaborating with employers to have the best standards in place. It’s helped mitigate the impact of what’s happening right now,” Young said.

Young said the companies that were willing to implement new policies to protect their workers have done better than those that maintained the status quo. He cited mandatory testing, staggered shifts and income security for workers who are quarantined.

“If an employee knows they are going to lose a week or two pay, they’re more likely to hope it’s not COVID, go to work anyway, and get everyone else sick,” he said.

Those policies come at no small cost to businesses. For the smallest businesses that have had their budgets stretched during the pandemic, they are simply not possible.

Chris Nelson, owner of the Beacon 443 Diner in Lehighton, said that the effects of the pandemic - increased costs for wholesale products, and a shortage of employees - are worse than it was when restaurants were still under restrictions from the state.

“It is worse than a year ago,” Nelson said.

Nelson said the restaurant doesn’t stay open as late as it did because its workforce is smaller.

She would rather an employee stay home if they are potentially sick, than to potentially come into work and infect others.

The Carbon Chamber and Economic Development Corporation works with businesses in all sectors. Kathy Henderson, director of economic development for the chamber, said that the variant seems to have hurt every sector of the economy. One exception which seems to be booming is construction, but she said contractors still are in the same boat when it comes to staff.

“People might be afraid that they will get it, and they don’t want to take chances if they have vulnerable people at home,” she said.

Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that workers who are isolated with COVID will be allowed to return to work after five days instead of 10, if they are symptom free. It’s based on studies which suggest that most transmissions happen within the first few days of someone becoming infected.

The Biden administration also tried to mandate vaccines for all employers with at least 100 workers, but the rule was struck down by the Supreme Court.

The majority of adults in the state wouldn’t be affected by a mandate. But many workers remain unvaccinated, potentially making worker shortages worse.

“Some companies I’m sure are looking at it as, ‘If I enforce this, employees will leave,’?” Henderson said.

Young said that a lot of large employers are in favor of mandating vaccines. He said some were awaiting the Supreme Court decision before committing to their own mandates.

“Even before OSHA did it, we were negotiating those provisions,” Young said.