Detroit City Wire

A man who supports his Alzheimer's disease-suffering wife and a college student ineligible for a $1,200 stimulus check are among those workers currently furloughed in Detroit's often-overlooked parking and driving industry.

"I hope that we find a solution to this grave problem because I know that I am one of many people who will be negatively impacted in these times of trouble," college student Andrew Spak said in a statement to Detroit City Wire.

Christopher Jodway said in his own statement that he's still able - for now - to meet his monthly bill obligations but there's "no cushion" for purchases like extra food, car maintenance or emergencies.

Premier Parking has sustained hundreds of layoffs. | FreeImages - Jenny Rollo

"The burden of caring for my wife and her needs, worrying about becoming infected while I go to work sharing the inside of a trailer [our worksite] with one other co-worker, and then bringing it home," Jodway said. "Walk in the door, bag boots, remove all clothing and into the wash machine. Then straight into bath, bathing myself first and then my wife. Constantly wiping surfaces in home, car handles, steering wheel and shifter. The new normal."

The "new normal" set in for Jodway, Spak and hundreds of other Premier Parking employees furloughed over the last few weeks. Last week Premier Parking COO William Clay called for more help to his industry, hard hit by the economic freefall wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The phase III stimulus package, which included extended unemployment benefits, passed by the U.S. House and Senate last week, likely will help most of Premier Parking's furloughed employees but the company also is struggling, Clay said.

"We are asking that the parking industry [NAICS 812930] be recognized as an industry in need of assistance, and we are asking for business interruption insurance to be granted to our company [and others like us] in this time of great need," Clay told Tennessee Business Daily.

Premier Parking employs 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 are postponed or canceled, drying up Premier Parking's business as the company's potential customers are largely stuck at home waiting out the crisis. That has led to the furlough of Premier Parking employees nationwide.

The economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was starkly illustrated last week when the U.S. Labor Department reported that a record-breaking 6.6 million workers signed up for unemployment benefits.

The majority of Premier Parking's workforce are in field operations, including valet drivers at hotels, also shut down by the crisis, and shuttle bus drivers for hotel employees who also have been largely furloughed.

"Through no fault of their own, their lives have been turned upside down, Clay said."They lost a steady job with a reliable paycheck and are facing repercussions that may seem insurmountable for many.”

Jodway described his situation as "unique" because he already was working two jobs seven days a week. His Premier Parking gig was only part-time, a job he used for supplemental income.

He has been able to hold onto his full-time job at RHP Staffing/Bayshore Home Sales but that company recently laid off four of seven technicians and cut Jodway's hours to 35 a week.

Losing his Premier Parking job was financially painful but Jodway said he also lost working for a good company.

"I was extremely disappointed that I lost the job with Premier Parking," he said. "The management and company value their employees and it is justified considering the situation. I hope that once the economy recovers they offer my position again. They are a great company."

He staying optimistic and holding onto his faith.

"Under God's guidance we will recover and heal the land," he said. "It begins with love and sacrifice."

Spak's job at Premier Parking had been his only source of income and has left him - and millions of others across the nation - with an uncertain furture.

"My concern is that these layoffs will last far longer than some of us will be able to afford," he said. "I am currently a college student and finance my own educational expenses."

Not having a job could mean he'll have to dip into his college funds, which would endanger his ability to return to school in the fall, Spak said.

"Because of the situation I am in, I do not qualify for the stimulus check from the federal government," he said. "Even if I did, I am not sure that would cover my costs for the duration of this shutdown."