Small businesses around the country have felt perhaps more than anyone, the impact of their state’s shutdown orders. Business owners rely on their stores to make a living and when the government makes it illegal to operate because of a virus, are they causing more harm than good?
Maybe this is what Oregon Salon Owner Lindsey Graham was thinking when she decided to remain open despite her Governor’s stay at home order. In response to this, she was fined $14,000 by the Oregon Occupational Health and Safety Division (OSHA) for remaining open to support herself and her family.
So Graham, who runs and owns the Glamour Salon in Salem, has filed a civil rights suit against Oregon Governor Kate Brown. She is seeking $100,000 in damages after her business was shut down due to OSHA’s fine.
“By shutting down private businesses, which in turn caused Oregonians to lose their jobs and their ability to support their families, caused greater negative health effects on Oregonians in the form of increased stress, anxiety and depression,” Graham stated in the lawsuit.
According to Yelp, well over half of all small businesses closed due to Coronavirus shutdowns have resulted in permanent closures. Not only that, statistics from the last several months since the pandemic began have shown a sharp increase in severe stress, depression, drug use, and suicide.
Were these COVID shutdowns worth the consequences?
