proposal is that most companies don’t have the option of enabling employees to work from home. Logistics, manufacturers and retailers are just a few examples. 50 to 65 year olds comprise roughly 1/4 of the workforce and if they stay home it’s going to have a dramatic impact on the economy. We’re already looking at a likely recession. Keeping that many people home would make a fairly garden variety recession into a downturn that would rival 2008 or possibly be worse.

Sure, work from home if you can. Employers that can’t should do everything possible to pay employees stricken with COVID-19. But a sweeping directive that all 50+ people stay home would make the cure worse than the disease.