The economic impact of the various closures due to the DeKalb water outage will depend on the business that a company is in.

Economists say that most companies that lose a day to an unusual event — like say, a snowstorm — generally just make it up during the next few days.

Two dozen workers are at the scene along Buford Highway.

However, some businesses simply cannot recoup the business lost. Restaurants, for example. Some customers who didn't come by today, might simply come back a different time, but no one is going to return and buy two meals.

And many workers, too, are out of a day’s pay.

Starting with those restaurants, where many workers — like waiters and waitresses — are paid by the hour and with customers’ tips. And the economy is increasingly reliant on contract workers whose compensation is wholly dependent on working.

Perhaps they can make up the time, eventually working the same number of hours. Otherwise, a lost day of pay is a lost day of pay.

MYAJC.COM: REAL JOURNALISM. REAL LOCAL IMPACT.

AJC Business reporter Michael E. Kanell keeps you updated on the latest news about jobs, housing and consumer issues in metro Atlanta and beyond. You'll find more on myAJC.com, including these stories:

Never miss a minute of what's happening in local business news. Subscribe to myAJC.com. 

About the Author

Keep Reading

In this December 2017 photo, passengers feel the effects of a massive power outage at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport as they endure long lines to claim baggage and ride shuttles. (Bob Andres/AJC)

Credit: Bob Andres

Featured

Scott Jackson (right), business service consultant for WorkSource Fulton, helps job seekers with their applications in a mobile career center at a job fair hosted by Goodwill Career Center in Atlanta. (Ziyu Julian Zhu/AJC)

Credit: Ziyu Julian Zhu/AJC