COVID Update: TRSA Releases First Business Pulse Survey of 2021

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc on various sectors of the U.S. economy, TRSA recently surveyed its members in the linen, uniform and facility services industry to get an update on how they’re holding up as the virus surges nationwide. A total of 75 companies responded to the survey, which included new questions regarding recent stimulus measures, rehiring and hiring new employees, and vaccination efforts, among others.

While 71% of survey respondents said they had taken advantage of the initial round of stimulus, including the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) and/or other programs when they were introduced last year, that number contrasted with the number of businesses indicating participation in the new round of stimulus as part of the package signed into law in December 2020. Only 44% of survey respondents said they would take advantage of the new stimulus packages this year.

Another new question asked, “Have you tried to rehire or hire new employees that have turned down the opportunity?” A total of 53% of survey respondents said yes to this question, with 47% answering no.

Several questions pertained to the COVID-19 vaccine currently being rolled out nationwide. 69% of survey respondents said that none of their employees had received the COVID vaccine, while three-fourths (75%) indicated that they didn’t plan to make the vaccination mandatory at their place of business. Only 35% of survey respondents had contacted customers, such as healthcare and other essential service providers, for assistance prioritizing their laundry employees to receive the vaccination.

The survey provided a snapshot of revenues lost from March 2020 when parts of the U.S. economy went into lockdown through the end of 2020 in each market sector:

Acute Healthcare: 37% of survey respondents lost between 11-20% of revenues; 32% lost between 21-30%; and 16% lost less than 10%.

Non-Acute Healthcare: 67% of survey respondents lost between 21-30% of revenues; 33% lost between 11-20%.

Food-and-Beverage (F&B): 25% of survey respondents lost between 51-60% of revenues; 25% lost between 31-40%; and 19% lost between 21-30%.

Hospitality: 43% of survey respondents lost between 61-70% of revenues; 29% lost between 71-80%; 15% lost between 51-60%; and 15% lost between 41-50%.

Industrial/Uniform: 50% of survey respondents lost between 11-20% of revenues; 44% lost less than 10%; and 6% lost between 81-90%.

Mixed-Plant Operators: 29% of survey respondents lost between 21-30% of revenues; 21% lost less than 10%; 14% lost between 31-40%; and 14% lost between 61-70%.

TRSA has surveyed its membership throughout the COVID-19 crisis to gauge the industry’s response to the pandemic and ongoing economic recovery. To review the results of previous Business Pulse Surveys of operator members, click the following links:

https://www.trsa.org/news/business-pulse-initial-survey-shows-hard-hits-hospitality-fb-sectors/ (March 2020)

https://www.trsa.org/news/business-pulse-update-industrial-operators-show-signs-optimism/ (April 2020)

https://www.trsa.org/news/business-pulse-operators-weigh-loans-industry-messaging/ (May 2020)

https://www.trsa.org/news/business-pulse-increased-hygiene-stressed-latest-survey/ (June 2020)

https://www.trsa.org/news/business-pulse-provides-industry-update-six-months-pandemic/ (August/September 2020)

TRSA also ran a pair of Business Pulse Surveys of supplier partners to the linen, uniform and facility services industry. To view them, click the following links:

https://www.trsa.org/news/business-pulse-suppliers-report-delays-cancellations-orders/ (April 2020)

https://www.trsa.org/news/business-pulse-suppliers-seek-financial-aid/ (May 2020)