The biggest professional challenge many of us faced a month ago was finding enough qualified people for all the work we had to complete. It was certainly a legitimate concern, but just a few weeks later, most construction is shut down in cities like Boston and Cambridge, and many of us are staying put in our homes trying to protect the health of our families and our company employees to slow the spread of the disease.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed our lives in the blink of an eye. All we can do is hope that it will pass quickly and that we can minimize its human and economic cost.

Both ABC Massachusetts and our national organization are doing all we can to support member companies during this difficult and unprecedented time. Just go to http://www.abcma.org/Membership/COVID-19-Resources, where you’ll find everything from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations to the latest government updates, as well as resources from expert member consultants and fellow contractors.  

It offers workplace resources that range from recommendations for contractors with projects that have been affected by COVID-19, to best practices for coronavirus on jobsites and frequently asked questions about construction bidding and COVID-19. You’ll also find an array of resources relating to unemployment insurance issues – something that seemed so remote when I was writing last month’s message.

I would also draw your attention to a series of coronavirus-related webinars coming from both our chapter and ABC national. You can see a schedule for upcoming webinars, as well as access several that have already been produced. 

As the title of one of our chapter’s webinars says, we are in this together. During difficult times like these, let ABC be your source for the best information about the pandemic and how your company should respond to it.

Most of all, I hope you, your families and your work families stay healthy throughout this ordeal. I hope we can all get back to normal very soon.

Joseph Camilo is the chairman of Associated Builders and Contractors Inc. -Mass. Chapter, Woburn and is the vice president / general manager at Tocco Building Systems, Billerica, Mass.