Lori, 33, Restaurant Manager
1. How do you make a living?
I am a Manager in a restaurant.
2. Has your career been impacted by Covid-19 and if so, how?
The restaurant is closed indefinitely. Entirety of the staff have been furloughed. We are basically on temporary redundancy.
3. How has that impact made you feel?
It was very stressful when we had no one coming to the restaurant but we were still open. No one knew what was going to happen. Then they decided to close the restaurant, and were told we would be on unpaid leave, it was really upsetting.
The government announced furlough a few days later, but half of my income is service charge and we don’t think that will be included in our payments.
Now I’m very concerned about rent arrears after this is over.
4. How are you safeguarding your career during this time?
This time has made me realise how insecure my job is.
I have worked for the same company for 6 years but had the government not offered furlough I would have not been getting paid at all. So many others I know that work in restaurants got outright fired.
It has really made me think about my future in London and in hospitality.
5. Will you change anything about your way of living when things go back to normal? If yes, how?
I have an underlying health issue (endometriosis). I never realised how much the stress of my job impacts my health in this regard. I have no choice but to listen to that now.
I have also realised the value of security and that the rental charges in London are completely unrealistic.
6. How are you maintaining your wellbeing during this time?
In the beginning I thought I would try and be as productive as possible and not waste time. I realise now not doing this is the only way to get through this.
7. If you were to recommend one thing to do in lockdown - what would it be & why?
Reconnecting with people you have fallen out of contact with or don’t make enough time for. It has been very rewarding for me.
8. If a helping hand could be given to you now, what would it look like?
They’ve spoken about mortgage breaks and landlords unable to evict tenants, but my income is made up 50% service charge, which I don’t think will be covered. It will be 9 months to a year before my previous income will return to a normal level. By which point I will owe my landlord thousands of pounds.
I think that the government should be doing more to protect people from debt.
It’s not like I’m choosing to not get paid.
9. If you were to spend lockdown with a famous person, who would it be and why?
It would have to be a singer, particular someone that plays the guitar!
In fact, I would choose The Tallest Man On Earth. He’s also super lovely :)
10. What excites you most about post-lockdown life?
I can’t wait to travel again - and I really want to visit my family and friends.
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