COVID-19 has impacted populations, businesses and the economy worldwide. It has changed the way we live and the way we work.  Facial coverings, social distancing and hand washing have become a way of life.  Working from home has, for some, become the 'new normal'.  Others, however, are still waiting for their companies to re-open. 

The Coachella Valley of inland Southern California has been impacted especially hard.  With tourism being a primary industry, hotels and restaurants have yet to begin to recover. Businesses who rely on the 'snowbirds' were devasted by the pandemic.  Since the closure orders, non-essential businesses have had time to develop plans to establish disinfection and sanitation protocols to keep clients and employees safe. For the most part, business owners have taken the safety precautions seriously and have made the necessary investments for both the short and long term. 

Entrepreneur and business owner, Holly Lassak, owns three Massage Envy franchises in the Coachella Valley – Palm Springs, Palm Desert, La Quinta – of Southern California.  Despite updated sanitization and disinfection protocols, her businesses are still restricted from opening.  "I just don't understand.  We have protocols of the highest standards.  In fact, during the two short weeks that we could re-open, we had a client who informed us after a massage that she had tested positive for COVID-19.  We followed our procedures, sent our people in contact with her home and ultimately found that our procedures worked.  Our employees ended up safe from the infection.  While our processes are not foolproof, this was a strong indication that we have the right protocols in place. We want to get back to work. We know our clients appreciate and need our services. Our employees want to do what they do best – help people feel their best. We just need to be allowed to reopen," she stated.

Ms. Lassak's story is one of hard work and dedication. She opened her first location in Palm Desert in 2006 and expanded to La Quinta in 2008 and Palm Springs in 2012.  She has created a video to explain her story, her concerns about not being able to re-open and is asking for help in getting the attention that small businesses deserve.  "Business owners are mature, responsible people. We know how to run our businesses. If we didn't, we wouldn't be in business.  At some point, the government needs to trust that we know what we are doing and that we can keep people safe," she said. 

Her story can be found at: https://youtu.be/m4fc2czwM5E.  Contact Ms. Lassak at:  MassageEnvyDesert@Gmail.com