Businesses are reporting major staffing issues amid a surge in Covid cases.
Tens of thousands of people have been forced to isolate in recent days due to rising Covid case numbers.
At least 75,000 people are restricting their movements after testing positive for the virus.
This number could be up to four times as higher once close contacts are taken into account.
Neil McDonnell, the head of small business group ISME, says many companies are struggling:
"It is becoming very difficult to get replacement staff. It is becoming difficult, especially in settings where people are looking after children, to get staff to be able to cover where a colleague has gone out. There are very significant levels of reporting of people who are isolating at the moment. The current Omicron does appear to be spreading extremely quickly."
