A Business Plan for Protests
Some Firms in D.C. to Close Friday, Others Consider Telecommuting

By Neil Irwin
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, September 23, 2002; Page E01

Businesses are bracing for protests late this week that police warn could disrupt commerce in much of downtown, so much that a local business group is advising firms to let employees telecommute Friday.

The protesters, representing a wide range of causes, but who especially object to the way the International Monetary Fund and World Bank manage the global economy, plan to rally in an area west of the White House and try to shut down the annual meetings of the two groups.

The result, judging from similar protests in April 2000, could be severe disruption for many of the companies and organizations with offices near the IMF and World Bank Headquarters, particularly in the event of pepper-spray-laced clashes with police.

D.C. police officials said that roads into the District are likely to be clogged Friday, expected to be the day of the most intense protests. Security measures may make it difficult or impossible for some workers to get to their offices. Police are urging workers to carry business-issued ID cards, and for managers to reschedule deliveries. Authorities are urging commuters to use public transportation (Metro plans to run extra trains and buses Friday), but downtown traffic is still expected to be bad.

"If you can avoid it, avoid it. If not, be patient," D.C. Police Chief Charles H. Ramsey said.

The Greater Washington Board of Trade, a regional chamber of commerce, recommends that on Friday, companies experiment with letting employees work from home -- at least for those employees who cannot get to work via Metro.

"None of us would want to see on a regular basis a mere threat leading to a lot of people not coming downtown," said Robert A. Peck, the group's president. "But from the business side, we have to respect the police chief's call that this threat is credible enough to say you may have trouble getting to work in a car."

Peck argues that greater use of teleworking, even if workers only use it one or two days a week, might help alleviate the region's traffic woes and make businesses better prepared to operate in a weather disaster or terrorist attack. Indeed, the maker of the software package GoToMyPC, which lets people use their office computers remotely through the Internet, is offering free trials for companies that might be affected, and Communique Conferencing Inc. will give Washington businesses 300 minutes of free conference-calling Friday so workers at home can collaborate.

CarrAmerica, a real estate company on K Street NW three blocks north of the IMF and World Bank offices, said it will follow the advice to a degree. It has been experimenting with people working from home, said managing director Robert Milkovich, and this may be a good time for a test-run since it could be hard for workers to get to work.

Other businesses in the blocks around the IMF and World Bank headquarters that do not have the option of letting employees work from home are expecting a more severe impact.

Tony Boudouvas, who owns Tony's Place, a flower and convenience store on I Street around the corner from the IMF, stayed open during the demonstrations in April 2000. He sold lots of soda and water to protesters, and even a few flowers. But he was not taking any chances this time, and he plans to shut down.

"I've had surgery recently, and I just don't want to get in the middle of all that. I'll just stay home," Boudouvas said. "What really scares me is some of the bad people, the terrorists might try to do something."

Paul Lee, owner of Penn Grill and Cafe at 20th and Pennsylvania, said he is fairly sympathetic to the views of the anti-globalization protesters -- but may close on Friday anyway, worried about potential violence.

"Their slogan is not bad, but I worry about robbery and theft," he said. It certainly will not help that many of the office workers who normally eat lunch in his deli will not be there.

"Last time, people sat down here in front of the store blocking the door," said Grace Ahn, of D.C. Dry Cleaners on Pennsylvania Avenue. "I only pray there are no problems. My customers work over at the World Bank and IMF."

At the construction site that will eventually be the IMF building at 1900 Pennsylvania Ave., now a big hole in the ground, workers plan to stay away on Friday, said Benny Stevens of the Wrecking Corp. of America, which is doing excavation work on the site.

Some businesses that could close, though, are trying not to. Cassidy & Pinkard is a real estate service firm at the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue NW and 20th Street, a block away from the IMF. "We're hoping it's not going to be too bad," President Robert M. Pinkard said.

"We're going to have lunch for everyone in the office, so they don't have to go out once they get here, and we've made everyone aware of what to expect once they come in. We figure if people are informed, they'll plan accordingly."

But they are also experimenting with letting people work from home to save time spent in traffic.

"We just want to make sure people are able to work," Pinkard said.

Staff writer David A. Fahrenthold contributed to this report.