The COVID-19 pandemic has caused the layoffs of hundreds of Premier Parking employees.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused the layoffs of hundreds of Premier Parking employees.
An Alachua County man furloughed from his job with a national parking and driving company weeks ago because of the COVID-19 pandemic says he's overwhelmed by his need to take care of his family and his own health issues.
"I was laid off and now I'm trying to take care of my kids with zero income," said Aubri Burgman, furloughed from his job in Premier Parking's Gainesville office said. "I'm about to lose my mind because I have asthma, I'm diabetic and my insurance is about to end."
Burgman is insulin-dependent and also requires shots to control his asthma but likely won't be able to get either medication once his insurance runs out.
"I'm not sure I will continue to function while this COVID-19 continues," he said. "I'm depressed, stressed and highly aggravated."
Premier Parking's future also is far from certain. In late March, after the company's nationwide furloughs started, a Premier Parking official described to a Tennessee news outlet the company's wobbly position and called for government assistance.
Before the pandemic, Premier Parking employed more than 2,000 associates in more than 600 locations in more than 40 cities across the nation, providing services at concerts, sports and other events.
Those events were postponed or canceled, drying up Premier Parking's business as the company's potential customers are largely stuck at home waiting out the crisis. Few to no customers left Premier Parking with no choice but to furlough of hundreds of its employees. These workers are among millions laid off in the U.S. because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Non-farm payroll employment fell by 701,000 in March alone, with leisure and hospitality jobs falling by 459,000, according to a report at the time issued by the U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics.
Burgman said he hopes government will continue to assist him and so many millions of others, to "give us an income to continue taking care of our households and kids until we are able to safely get back out there."
He added, most of all, he wants to get back to work.
"I'm on complete stay-at-home and this is driving me nuts," he said. This is my story, my true story."
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