NEW YORK 20 August 2017: Monday (21st August), rare total eclipse of the sun will occur.
Rare – that is – for the United States. It is the first time since January 11, 1880 that a total solar eclipse will occur exclusively over continental US.
It will be visible in other countries – but will be partial. No other country will see the total solar eclipse.
Unfortunately, the heavenly spectacle will not be visible from the UAE. UAE residents only chance of seeing the eclipse is if they are in – or visiting – North America on Monday.
The skies would get so dark that planets and stars will be visible. Some 14 US states are expected to see the total eclipse.
Costly Spectacle
However, there will be a cost to the event.
The total solar eclipse is projected to cost US employers $694 million, according to an analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data by global outplacement and executive coaching firm, Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc.
Challenger estimates that workers will need approximately 20 minutes to gather their viewing equipment and find a spot to watch the two- to two-and-a-half-minute solar event, said Wam.
Using average hourly wage data and the number of full-time employed workers 16 and over, the cost could hit almost $700 million nationally.
The cost to states and metro areas directly in the path of the eclipse, where traffic is expected to increase substantially, could see almost $200 million in lost productivity combined.
In fact, considering only Chicago, the cost to employers could hit $28 million.
“That is not to say employers need to board their windows and keep employees locked up in conference room meetings until the eclipse ends. Rather, looking for how to turn this lack of productivity into a way to increase morale and strengthen the team is a much better use of the eclipse,” said Andrew Challenger, Vice President of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc.
”It’s going to be pretty difficult to get people to keep working when the solar eclipse is happening, and preventing employees from viewing it will probably do more to harm morale than to increase productivity,” he added.
By Eudore R. Chand