To Work or Not to Work? That is the Question.
It is painful to watch the division within our membership. Some members have chosen to interpret Item 20, 24, 26 and 30 of the
Essential Workplaces List in a way that allows them to work and others have chosen to stay home. There is unfortunate, unneeded and unhelpful shaming coming from both camps.
To complicate and confuse matters, some municipalities have announced they will not be charging lawn and landscape maintenance companies, while others have said the opposite.
As the weather improves it will become even more frustrating because clients are pressuring those that have chosen to stay home and are threatening to hire those that are working.
Every attempt at official clarity is met with the government position that individuals must make their own interpretations of the Essential Workplaces list. This is why the Landscape Ontario Task Force continues to reiterate the following position. We want you to protect yourself.
"In light of our ultimate safety responsibility, member companies are advised to not work, unless you can cite specific government permission based on your interpretation of Section 20, 24, 26 and 30 of the Essential Workplaces list, upgraded safety protocols are in place and you have confirmed insurance coverage."
Under this cloud of uncertainty, conflicting information, fear and confusion is there a way to bring peace to the family? We believe there is. It is time to put aside our entrenched positions and focus on what we know to be true.
Unity is better than division. It is time to remember that Landscape Ontario is built on a foundation of empathy, mutual improvement, mutual benefit and mutual respect. This is our frame and our core value. It does not mean you can’t disagree. It means that the disagreement is within the frame.
We have an unprecedented opportunity for our entire membership to mobilize our considerable communication potential in a common effort to tell our “essential” story to the government, to our clients and the public.
We have never had a bigger stage to shout out the benefits of what we do for a living. We are bolstered by the news that Quebec, which had the most severe “stay in place”order in the Country just announced that the Landscape and Garden Centre industry could open as of April 15. Please see
this link.
As the COVID crisis is beginning to show signs of improvement now is the time for a common message. Now is the time for every member to contact your MPPs and your clients to remind them that our profession is absolutely essential. Here are some of the elements of our common message.
- The world needs our profession more than ever. We are one of the most essential professions.
- Few other professions can deliver the environmental, aesthetic, life-style, therapeutic, economic, mental health, physical health, spiritual, legacy and many other life enhancing benefits we collectively offer.
- We make people happy.
- As a profession we are responsible. We are able and willing to be innovative in our operations and processes so that we can protect ourselves, employees, clients and the public from COVID 19. Safety is first.
- It is much easier to mitigate risk in our workplace because we are outdoors. Social distancing is easier.
We are in the midst of developing an organized public and government relations campaign. There is a role for each of you to play in getting these messages across. We need you to be active, speaking with your local MPP and all your customers. Be authentic and be passionate. Take responsibility to do your part in keeping COVID contained and make a case for the benefits you provide.
As an association we will collectively deliver a unified message that is truthful, passionate, authentic and effective. Together we are stronger.
