NAPLES — Starting on Monday, businesses and employees are going to make the tough decision about whether or not to go back to work.
What’s making that decision harder is that people and small businesses have had such a hard time collecting government benefits. So far, 38.4% of people who filed for unemployment in Florida have been rejected. That includes former Naples Red Lobster employee, Jackie Fluery.
That restaurant will not be opening its doors on Monday. It’s a decision made out of an abundance of caution, but it's also a decision not everyone has the luxury of making.
For the past month, Fleury has been living the quarantine life with her baby, Valentina.
“She keeps me busy all day long. She’s my sweetheart," said Fleury.
Caring for Valentina has become Fleury’s full-time job since getting furloughed at the Red Lobster.
“March 15th I filed for unemployment. I waited and waited and waited, and finally I got ineligible," said Fleury.
With a baby to provide for, Fleury looked for other options.
“I reached out to DCF. It was the first time I ever applied for cash assistance since my daughter was born," said Fleury.
DCF stands for the Florida Department of Children and Families. But after another round of waiting, she was denied again.
“I was literally in tears, devastated. I had really thought that they would help me. You know I did as I was told, I stayed home, I have a 10-month-old daughter. I needed the help. How else am I going to come up with the rent?” said Fleury.
While Fleury ponders that question, another restaurant across town is getting ready to open. Off the Rock Tavern has been waiting for more than a month for money through the Paycheck Protection Program, but it never came.
“There’s millions and millions of people out there applying for these funds, but they don’t have any access," said Off the Rock Tavern owner Frank Lacava.
Without that money, Lacava, and a lot of his employees, are going back to work next week in the middle of a pandemic. Fleury said, she will likely have to do the same.
“If it comes down to it, I desperately need the money. I’m going to definitely need to go back to work at the slightest opportunity, which really puts her at risk, because she’s so little, and it scares me, but there’s no choice in the matter," said Fleury.
When restaurants open next Monday, they will only be allowed to operate at 25% capacity. Fleury said the Red Lobster told her it wouldn't open until May 31st, so she will likely have to find another job in the meantime.
