A Dundee physiotherapy business has asked staff to reduce their wages as trade has halved during the coronavirus crisis.
Heal Physiotherapy employs 14 people from its premises at Dudhope Street and has seen a dramatic reduction in footfall.
Director Lynne Falconer said she has struggled to find out what help, if any, her business qualifies for from the Government packages.
She said business support has to be extended beyond the hospitality and retail industry.
“Most of what I’ve seen so far relates to the hospitality and retail sector but there are lots of business that rely on face to face contact that don’t fall into those categories,” she said.
“We need to make decisions now and would take advantage of any Government help offered.
“I’ve had to ask our staff to reduce their wages but by the end of next week we’re going to have to decide whether we will make redundancies.
“One of our members of staff has reduced their hours and another has taken unpaid leave.
“Others are negotiating their home finances to come back to us.”
Heal remains open for business and is also offering classes and consultations online.
Ms Falconer she had faced long waits and little help from the Scottish Government helpline set up to respond to the crisis.
More information about the mechanisms of which businesses are eligible for grants of up to £25,000 are expected early next week.
“If I knew we would qualify for loans and grant it would mean I can make the correct decisions and we would jump on all of that,” she said.
“We have invested heavily in the business – more than £300,000 on our premises. We’ve taken on staff but we don’t have huge cash reserves.
“We continue to be open for business and have slashed every outgoing we possibly can.
“We have enough wages to pay this month but I’m not sure if we would make April.”
Meanwhile the Scottish Chambers of Commerce has set out its demands for Government support.
It has asked for employee support grants that would see a 100% contribution towards employee wages or self-employed people for three months.
It also asked for upfront business costs including rates, VATE, PAYE and National Insurance to be suspended and for all businesses in Scotland to have quick access to grants.
Alison Henderson, the chief executive of Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce, said: “We are working tirelessly with our members to minimise the business and economic impact of the coronavirus but as you are aware, the scale and pace of the impact on businesses is like nothing we have seen before.
“Urgent action is needed now from the Scottish and UK Governments to support businesses and protect jobs in our local community.
“We have welcomed the financial assistance announced by both Governments but as we have entered into an escalated stage of the coronavirus, businesses require additional support, specifically immediate cash support.
“After engaging directly with our business members, via a business panel in Dundee and Angus, we have submitted the attached business asks coordinated through the Scottish Chambers of Commerce.”
