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WATERLOO REGION - About 1,000 employees with local restaurant chain Charcoal Group have been laid off because of the coronavirus pandemic.

"It's one thing if they (government) say we have to weather this for three weeks and how are we going to support everybody, but we don't know if it's three months," said Jody Palubiski, chief executive officer of Charcoal Group of restaurants said Wednesday.

The company operates eight restaurants in Waterloo Region and six in other cities including Charcoal Steak House, Wildcraft, The Bauer Kitchen, Beertown, Moose Winooski's and Sociable Kitchen. In the region about 650 workers are laid off until March 31.

Palubiski said he fully supports sending workers home, which he did Monday at 4 p.m., the day before Premier Doug Ford declared a state of emergency.

But these are precarious times for workers and he's grateful they can apply for employment insurance to help pay their bills.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced economic measures to support workers who can't work because of COVID-19.

Trudeau said the government's $82-billion aid plan will bring $27 billion in direct supports for Canadians, with $10 billion of it specifically for businesses to "bridge" the tough times. Tax deferrals of $55 billion are also part of the package.

"The hope is we that don't do half measures upon half measures and make this thing last longer than it has to be," Palubiski said.

His latest restaurant opened in Guelph 10 days ago and they were busy, but Palubiski said there was mixed emotions among staff who were thinking about the future and how the spread of the virus could impact their lives.

"I don't think any of us truly understand the impact," he said.

His managers are still working from home and were set to meet remotely Wednesday afternoon to discuss "cash flow projections" and how their businesses will endure the next few weeks.

"We are trying to do our best to gather information, talk to our landlords, suppliers and the banks," he said.

Palubiski said just after Ford announced a state of emergency, he received a message from one of his landlords to take all precautions during the pandemic, but reminded him rent was still due.

"Rents are still due and our principal payments, interest payments, utilities are they still due when they are supposed to be? We don't know," he said.

Palubiski said the restaurants have adjusted thermostats, turned off the gas and disconnected coffee machines in attempt to trim costs.

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Palubiski said his managers are trying to keep in touch with their employees, regularly updating them on applying for employment insurance and the latest news from Canadian banks on assistance with rent and mortgage payments.

He said a retirement home reached out to say they needed servers and cooks and he passed on the information to his workers at home.

Val Kennedy, a server at Proof Kitchen and Lounge in Waterloo, said she's at home and will be applying for employment insurance.

Kennedy said she also works part time at a retirement home and her husband works full time for a printing company in Heidelberg, so financially she isn't as strapped as some families with only one income.

"It's hard. You don't know. Everybody is trying to figure it out," she said.

But Kennedy, who's been a server at Proof for five years, said she makes good tips at the restaurant and the loss of income will impact her family.

"It's pretty scary," she said.

Art Sinclair, vice-president of the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce, said the organization is trying to update its 1,700 members daily.

They have received many inquiries about how to apply online for employment insurance and how businesses can apply for payroll subsidies.

"The small businesses need money ASAP," he said.

lmonteiro@therecord.com

Twitter: @MonteiroRecord