Omicron variant creating new challenge for area businesses

St. Charles business owner Robin Massey is hoping that the current COVID-19 surge caused by the highly transmissible omicron variant is winding down.

Massey owns FYDOLAND canine activity center in St. Charles. Eight out of her 11 employees have contracted it.

“Of the eight that got infected, five were fully vaccinated,” Massey said. “Fortunately, all have recovered except for one that is out sick now.”

General Manager Rene Cota gets a dog hug from one of the FYDOLAND clients. Staffing levels at FYDOLAND, a canine activity center in St. Charles, have dipped due to a surge caused by the highly transmissible COVID-19 omicron variant. FYDOLAND has had to put limits on the number of dogs they can take for day care because of staff members being out sick. (Sandy Bressner - sbressner@shawmedia.com)

As of Jan. 16, about 85% of the COVID-19 cases in Illinois are estimated to be attributed to the omicron variant, said Michael Isaacson, the Kane County Health Department assistant director of community health. Massey requires employees test negative for COVID-19 before they can return to work and not show any symptoms.

As a result of her employees being out sick, she has had to cap the number of dogs that she can accept at the facility, which provides such services as daycare, swimming and training as well as boarding, bathing and enrichment.

“We actually had to shut down an entire week,” Massey said.

FYDOLAND was closed for a week starting Nov. 29 after two employees test positive for COVID-19. It reopened Dec. 6.

Most of her clients have been understanding of the situation.

Staffing levels at FYDOLAND, a canine activity center in St. Charles, have dipped due to a surge caused by the highly transmissible COVID-19 omicron variant. FYDOLAND has had to put limits on the number of dogs they can take for day care because of staff members being out sick. (Sandy Bressner - sbressner@shawmedia.com)

“Most of the regular customers are getting in,” Massey said. “It’s the ones that come more randomly that we’re having to put on a wait list because we don’t have the staff to take care of them.”

COVID-19 is providing another challenge to her business, which already is short staffed. That is a problem facing businesses nationwide.

“I have an amazing staff that has stepped up to the plate to help each other out to make sure that our clients are all taken care of and to make sure they’re helping out each other,” Massey said. “It’s a great team that I have.”

She would like to have at least three more employees. Prior to the pandemic, her facility would see an average of 50 dogs a day.

Dog Care Associate Kaileigh Jung plays with some of the clients at FYDOLAND.Staffing levels at FYDOLAND, a canine activity center in St. Charles, have dipped due to a surge caused by the highly transmissible COVID-19 omicron variant. FYDOLAND has had to put limits on the number of dogs they can take for day care because of staff members being out sick. (Sandy Bressner - sbressner@shawmedia.com)

“We’re now averaging about 31 dogs a day, based on what we have to do to cap the numbers,” Massey said. “I think that most small business owners are seeing a double whammy right now.”

Pollyanna Brewing Company, which has locations in St. Charles, Roselle and Lemont, has been seeing an uptick in employees out sick for the past couple of weeks.

“I would say right now we have about 10% or 15% of our staff out, but it really isn’t crippling us in terms of operating the business,” said Pollyanna co-founder, president and CEO Ryan Weidner.

In June, Pollyanna launched a new indoor concert series at its St. Charles location. Weidner said the concert series has been garnering a good following.

“I would never say on a Friday or Saturday we’re packing the place, which probably is a good thing, especially now,” he said. “But there’s a good local following.”