Lanesha Williams is one of hundreds of laid-off Premier Parking employees.
Lanesha Williams is one of hundreds of laid-off Premier Parking employees.
Only a few weeks ago, Lanesha Williams of Louisville was working full-time for a nationwide parking and driving company.
That ended April 3 when she was furloughed from her job as a Premier Parking valet driver at Jewish Hospital on Abraham Flexner Way in Louisville.
As with millions of others - approximately 24 million who have filed for jobless benefits since mid-March, overwhelming state employment security offices - Williams said she has not been able to secure any pandemic-related benefits.
"I have not received any funds," she said.
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 COVID-19 pandemic, Premier Parking employed more than 2,000 associates in more than 600 locations in more than 40 cities across the nation, in no small part providing services at concerts, sporting and other events.
Those events were postponed or canceled, drying up Premier Parking's business as the company's customers are largely stuck at home waiting out the crisis. Little to no customers have left Premier Parking with no choice but to furlough of hundreds of its employees. These 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.
April numbers are expected later this week but analysts say the news will be even worse with jobless claims expected to possibly reach 33 million.
Williams is trying hard to remain optimistic.
"I am very confident I'll return to work as soon as possible," she said.
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