CLEVELAND, Ohio -- When downtown Cleveland was picked two years ago as the site for the Republican National Convention, many predicted that downtown businesses would be forced by the Secret Service to shut down, or limited to vital personnel only.



That's not quite how it's playing out.



In fact, no large employers in downtown Cleveland have been told they must limit their workforce during the week of the convention, which starts July 18.



However, because of numerous road closures, security perimeters, congestion from 50,000 visitors and possible unrest, many major employers have encouraged their employees to work at home that week or, even better, take a vacation.



At KeyCorp, one of the nation's 20 largest banks with its corporate headquarters in downtown, the company started planning months ago for alternate arrangements for its 2,400 downtown employees in case the bank was required to limit workers or if the company just wanted to make life easier for the staff.



Its downtown offices and branches sprinkle the security perimeter. But all will be open as usual during the convention, said spokeswoman Drez Jennings. Some downtown employees are based out of Key Tower on the northern side of Public Square; others are based out of the Higbee building. It also has branches at Tower City and Key Tower.



"Given anticipated traffic congestion and limited parking, Key started connecting with employees on ways to limit the convention's impact on their daily routines," Jennings said. Employees have worked with the managers to decide where they'll work that week -- downtown, from home or another Key location outside of downtown. Key has a large facility at Tiedeman and 480, as well as nearly 100 branches in Greater Cleveland and Akron.

"We are working with employees to be sure they have an alternate work site," Jennings said. "Employees are able to work from home or other alternate locations."

About 60 percent of the downtown employees will work at alternative locations that week, she said.



Arrangements haven't been quite as easy at Medical Mutual of Ohio. The health insurer has about 1,000 employees at its downtown office, which is on the northern border of the security perimeter, at E. 9th and Prospect.



Because many employees may deal with or have access to customers' health insurance records, the company can't allow employees to work just anywhere. Most employees can work only on secure, company-issued computers. About 540 people, or 53 percent of downtown workers, have company-issued laptops and can work at home that week with approval from their manager, said spokesman Don Olson.



Like other companies, Medical Mutual long ago encouraged people to schedule vacations during that week. But for those who aren't off and can't work at home, the company is making special arrangements, Olson said.



One of the garages used by Medical Mutual employees, Gateway East, will be off-limits that week. The other will have restricted access because large sections of E. 9th St. will be closed. To combat the traffic and parking headaches, Medical Mutual has arranged to shuttle employees from locations in Beachwood and Strongsville. There are five staggered departure times in the morning from each location. Same thing with return trips in the afternoon. So far, about 135 workers have signed up for the shuttles.



In addition, if employees choose to take public transportation that week, Medical Mutual will reimburse them, Olson said. For those workers who normally park at the Gateway East garage, the garage is providing parking at the Municipal Lot on the Shoreway at no cost, and will be running trollies to the Gateway area.



Huntington Bank also has a regional headquarters and operations in the heart of the RNC madness, with its regional office on Public Square and two branches, at Public Square and E. 9th St. and Euclid.



The offices and branches will be open for business as usual, said spokesman Brent Wilder. When possible, the company's 200 downtown employees will be allowed to adjust their schedules to avoid traffic. In other cases, "workers who can work remotely can do so, but it won't be required," he said, adding that there were "definitely no limitations imposed on us by the government."



Both of the downtown branches, however, are expected to close a little early, since much of the RNC activity will be in the evening. The hours haven't yet been determined; ATMs will still be open 24 hours.



Sherwin-Williams Co.'s corporate headquarters is on West Prospect, on the western security perimeter, just across from Quicken Loans Arena. Some employees will be working at the headquarters office, others will work from other Sherwin-Williams locations and still others will work from home that week, said spokesman Mike Conway.



The story is much the same at Fifth Third Bank. The Cincinnati-based bank has its regional headquarters on Superior Avenue -- a couple of blocks north of the security perimeter, but in the heart of the mess because it's right in between Quicken Loans Arena and the Huntington Convention Center.



Some of Fifth Third's 150 downtown employees will work that week from branches or training facilities, said spokeswoman Laura Passerallo. In addition, the downtown branch will close at 1 p.m. every day that week.