Coronavirus Thread (Off Topic, Politics) (9 Viewers)

[shmmeee]

I do find it funny the so called "all in it together left" become cosy middle class "Im alright Jack" when it suits

Hourly paid serfs go and do the dirty work while I order a cappuccino and croissant and pick my kids up and still get paid more than the oiks actually working

I find it funny a Tory wants to tell business leaders that government knows best how to run their businesses or that business owners are too stupid to do what works for them. Why on Earth you’d want to force extra expense and a limited talent pool on business is beyond me.

Not entirely sure how clogging up their route to work each morning helps the “oiks “ either.

 

[shmmeee]

Do we have mandatory tests for any other illness that we can live with before we do anything?

What illnesses are you thinking of that have rapid testing available for? Generally I think the idea of not mixing in crowds when you’re ill is a good one.

The only reason not to test is because you don’t want to avoid whatever it is if you’re ill as far as I can tell. Like all the people I saw over Christmas who refused to test the week before and spread it around.

 

[Deleted member 5849]

I do find it funny the so called "all in it together left" become cosy middle class "Im alright Jack" when it suits

Hourly paid serfs go and do the dirty work while I order a cappuccino and croissant and pick my kids up and still get paid more than the oiks actually working

Not really, is it. It's a practical 'what's the point of going in if there is no point?' I mean, your original point was perfectly reasonable (among the whinging, nobody can actually say what they're being stopped from doing in this country just atm, which suggests that they're just self-centred pricks really if they complain about having to wear a mask around vulnerable people who, well, *have* to go into work). I'd also count the 'need to see people as otherwise I'll go mad' as a reason why somebody *can't* wfh.

What we should really stop doing, however, is taking for granted people like checkout assistants, carers etc. and value them as they should be.

 

[Deleted member 5849]

What exactly is it people are wanting to do that they are being prevented from doing with the current rules in place?

It's the question people refuse to answer, while being stuck, tedious, egocentric records...

 

[Sky_Blue_Dreamer]

A lot of people do not like it - I think FP said he would leave his job if he had to carry on without colleague interaction - its causing a lot of issues at my old company in the staff areas and a lot of animosity with the hourly paid who have to work in the building - some staff are now demanding to not have meetings that effect their ability to take children to their schools. Others are saying they have to WFH or would have to re-instate child care and want compensating.

There's so many benefits to WFH (if possible) that it would be madness to go back. The people I know who have been fortunate enough to be able to do their job like that love it. More free time, not sitting in traffic while not being paid...

Of course, those that don't have that luxury should be compensated, for example being paid for travel time as well as work hours. Those that like daily interaction could always work in a job that required an office setting, or regular meet-ups.

Apart from the obvious benefits of work/life balance, there's the environmental and health impacts of congestion from traffic as well as a future opportunity to reallocate things like business parks as residential, allowing much needed housing to be built without paving over yet more green areas. Some of the offices *may* even be able to be converted into apartments.

As far as I can tell the main people who are against WFH are those who are, or have friends/donors, heavily invested in commercial property. It's got nothing to do with what people want, or what is best for them, it's to do with what they've got money in.

 

[Deleted member 5849]

A lot of people do not like it - I think FP said he would leave his job if he had to carry on without colleague interaction - its causing a lot of issues at my old company in the staff areas and a lot of animosity with the hourly paid who have to work in the building - some staff are now demanding to not have meetings that effect their ability to take children to their schools. Others are saying they have to WFH or would have to re-instate child care and want compensating.

If they refuse to attend a meeting during their core hours, then that's nowt to do whether they're wfh or not, that's them being a self-centred bellend.

 

[fernandopartridge]

There's so many benefits to WFH (if possible) that it would be madness to go back. The people I know who have been fortunate enough to be able to do their job like that love it. More free time, not sitting in traffic while not being paid...

Of course, those that don't have that luxury should be compensated, for example being paid for travel time as well as work hours. Those that like daily interaction could always work in a job that required an office setting, or regular meet-ups.

Apart from the obvious benefits of work/life balance, there's the environmental and health impacts of congestion from traffic as well as a future opportunity to reallocate things like business parks as residential, allowing much needed housing to be built without paving over yet more green areas. Some of the offices *may* even be able to be converted into apartments.

As far as I can tell the main people who are against WFH are those who are, or have friends/donors, heavily invested in commercial property. It's got nothing to do with what people want, or what is best for them, it's to do with what they've got money in.

Your last paragraph is utter horseshit

 

[Sky_Blue_Dreamer]

Your last paragraph is utter horseshit

Really? Tell who the main advocates for going back to the office are. And then tell me that they don't have some sort of financial gain to be made from it happening.

 

[Deleted member 5849]

Really? Tell who the main advocates for going back to the office are. And then tell me that they don't have some sort of financial gain to be made from it happening.

tbf, fp is one of them...

 

[SBAndy]

A lot of people do not like it - I think FP said he would leave his job if he had to carry on without colleague interaction - its causing a lot of issues at my old company in the staff areas and a lot of animosity with the hourly paid who have to work in the building - some staff are now demanding to not have meetings that effect their ability to take children to their schools. Others are saying they have to WFH or would have to re-instate child care and want compensating.

No denying that it doesn’t work for some. I do think companies *should* be accommodating for those who do with to go in but there’s no reason it couldn’t be optional. Unfortunately there’s always going to be those who miss out - the answer, in my opinion, isn’t to force everyone into offices purely for that motivation. It serves no purpose to a huge chunk of the population in service-based jobs.

The childcare point is daft. If you have a job that you’re contracted to work through school drop-off/pick-up times then your primary responsibility is to your employer. If they agree that you can have the time to drop off/pick up accordingly then brilliant.

 

[Earlsdon_Skyblue1]

Hong Kong seizes hamsters from pet store for mass cull

A pet shop outbreak in "zero Covid" Hong Kong will result in the euthanasia of 2,000 small mammals.

www.bbc.com

"And any new pet owners who bought a hamster since 22 December, perhaps as a Christmas gift, will need to hand the animal over to authorities for euthanasia."


Disgusting. This pandemic has really brought out the worst.

 

[OffenhamSkyBlue]

Johnson now claiming that "no-one told him" the drinks party at No 10 wasn't within the rules. He presided over a government that, following advice, set the fucking rules. He then told the country precisely what we had to do to follow the rules. He's either a lying c**t or he is utterly incompetent. The two are not mutually exclusive so i suspect both.
He has to go after this - ignorance is no defence in law!

 

[Kieranp96]

I could have guessed at the figures. Let’s assume:

Most of the deaths covid contributed to them where there was a positive test
Covid has contributed an additional number of deaths
The increases transmissions and cases led to more death than if it hadn’t happened

So I’m pretty sure that there were about 1500 a week for the last 2 weeks so an annualised figure of 80,000 so somewhat more than an heavy annual flu season

Hence the question

Flu season dont last a whole year + covid will be burnt out way before summer so look at around 1200 a week for 4 months, im not sayingnits a good thing but as someine who has had covid 4x now im about over it i seriously can't go on any longer having to stop onside if i have a cold, im missing half the shit, i went from 170kg to 90kg and past year i gained bsck upto 126kg, covid has done nothing for me apart from pointing out i have a heart defeft that nearly killed me,

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

Flu season dont last a whole year + covid will be burnt out way before summer so look at around 1200 a week for 4 months, im not sayingnits a good thing but as someine who has had covid 4x now im about over it i seriously can't go on any longer having to stop onside if i have a cold, im missing half the shit, i went from 170kg to 90kg and past year i gained bsck upto 126kg, covid has done nothing for me apart from pointing out i have a heart defeft that nearly killed me,

All good points

 

[fernandopartridge]

Really? Tell who the main advocates for going back to the office are. And then tell me that they don't have some sort of financial gain to be made from it happening.

I am, I know if plenty of colleagues who are the same. Imposing home working on people without consultation is not on.

 

[hill83]

@Otis

I’ve got that sore throat thing now. Never known a sore throat like it, can’t eat anything with even a hint of salt in it. Feels like it’s burning like I’ve necked a pint of boiling water.

But drinking and normal everyday swallowing, no pain at all.

Negative tests.

 

[CCFCSteve]

I am, I know if plenty of colleagues who are the same. Imposing home working on people without consultation is not on.

Also, whats happening/will happen is people will look at short term benefits ie save on commune time and costs, especially in London, which is understandable but then forget the benefits of working with a mix of people in office. The sharing of diverse ideas (wanted or not), the friends made, the learning from others, the wider interaction of people from other firms etc etc

I’m all for flexible working and think it should be actively encouraged but if you move too far in the opposite direction development of individuals and businesses will be stifled, especially in the young

Edit - just to be clear I’m talking about more normal times which we are hopefully move back to soon. Agree to keep WFH when transmission and hospitalisations are very high

 

[CCFCSteve]

@Otis

I’ve got that sore throat thing now. Never known a sore throat like it, can’t eat anything with even a hint of salt in it. Feels like it’s burning like I’ve necked a pint of boiling water.

But drinking and normal everyday swallowing, no pain at all.

Some girl once told me something similar

Seriously though hope it improves soon.

 

[Deleted member 5849]

I am, I know if plenty of colleagues who are the same. Imposing home working on people without consultation is not on.

I agree entirely. There's no reason, of course, to compel people to go in for no reason either, mind you.

I'd class wfh as possible to be, if you're capable of doing your job just as well from home, do it there. If wfh means your concentration / motivation suffers, then clearly that isn't doing it as well from home. There's no reason to *have* to be sat at a desk in a particular place answering emails, however.

 

[Grendel]

I agree entirely. There's no reason, of course, to compel people to go in for no reason either, mind you.

I'd class wfh as possible to be, if you're capable of doing your job just as well from home, do it there. If wfh means your concentration / motivation suffers, then clearly that isn't doing it as well from home. There's no reason to *have* to be sat at a desk in a particular place answering emails, however.

Do you have to change your house insurance for home working?

 

[Deleted member 5849]

Do you have to change your house insurance for home working?

I don't, it's covered in it. And yes I do know as I checked, given two of my three jobs have always been home working, anyway.

 

[Grendel]

I don't, it's covered in it. And yes I do know as I checked, given two of my three jobs have always been home working, anyway.

I did have to up mine. I did it for 14 years. I’ve seen so many cricket matches - bummer these days

 

[fernandopartridge]

I agree entirely. There's no reason, of course, to compel people to go in for no reason either, mind you.

I'd class wfh as possible to be, if you're capable of doing your job just as well from home, do it there. If wfh means your concentration / motivation suffers, then clearly that isn't doing it as well from home. There's no reason to *have* to be sat at a desk in a particular place answering emails, however.

I agree, to be clear I've always had working from home as an option yet seldom used it. I applied for this job knowing what the commute is and in general anticipation of office based work so couldn't really argue against compulsory office working if it came to that.

The choice should be there like others have said. I had the choice until March 2020 and it has been removed without consultation. I could lodge a constructive dismissal grievance

 

[Nick]

I agree, to be clear I've always had working from home as an option yet seldom used it. I applied for this job knowing what the commute is and in general anticipation of office based work so couldn't really argue against compulsory office working if it came to that.

The choice should be there like others have said. I had the choice until March 2020 and it has been removed without consultation. I could lodge a constructive dismissal grievance

Have they closed down the office that you were meant to be in?

Just turn up and pull up a chair and start working.

 

[fernandopartridge]

Have they closed down the office that you were meant to be in?

Just turn up and pull up a chair and start working.

Yes, office is now back in possession of the landlord!

 

[Nick]

Yes, office is now back in possession of the landlord!

That's shite.

It will probably see a fair few leave I guess so they can cut more costs? Wankers.

I wouldn't want to ever work full time from home either, probably for the same reasons as you. Routine, having a laugh at work etc.

I'd probably just eat so much at home all day as well.

 

[Travs]

I now work full-time from home (although admittedly i spent today in the office... first day in office since November)

Has completely changed my lifestyle, and i would say my quality of life has increased significantly as well.

I imagine it may be different for someone younger and less experienced, who may need people around them in order to grow in their career... But i think that all things considered, the benefits for everyone far outweigh the drawbacks.

 

[fernandopartridge]

I supported the premise of lockdown in March 2020. However, this thread is mental and worrying given what an overtly authoritarian government we have.

 

[Nick]

This one made me laugh

 

[CCFCSteve]

I supported the premise of lockdown in March 2020. However, this thread is mental and worrying given what an overtly authoritarian government we have.

Its amazing (frightening !) how readily it was all accepted and encouraged

People arranging mass gatherings fair enough, a couple of mates walking in the park or two people having a relationship not allowed to see each other, really ?!

There’s probably far worse examples around the world as well. Was it in Spain they didn’t even let kids out to exercise ?!! I mean WTAF ?!!

 

[Earlsdon_Skyblue1]

Its amazing (frightening !) how readily it was all accepted and encouraged

People arranging mass gatherings fair enough, a couple of mates walking in the park or two people having a relationship not allowed to see each other, really ?!

There’s probably far worse examples around the world as well. Was it in Spain they didn’t even let kids out to exercise ?!! I mean WTAF ?!!

Without trying to cause an argument, this is part of the reason why myself and some others get wound up. Whilst a careful approach to covid is fine, there was clearly a lot of scaremongering and people at one stage were being encouraged to snitch on their neighbours etc. It is just wrong.

Problem is, staring at the TV all day during lockdown makes people worse. I'm going to the states with work in 3 weeks and my boss has been really off with any of the European team going. It was only yesterday when I spoke with him that it clicked as he admitted he was driving half way across the US to be there because he was too scared to fly. He doesn't want us to go (but it is above him) as he has been warped into thinking we are going to kill him. He has also been triple jabbed so at this point he probably isn't going to be any safer.

 

[Sick Boy]

I now work full-time from home (although admittedly i spent today in the office... first day in office since November)

Has completely changed my lifestyle, and i would say my quality of life has increased significantly as well.

I imagine it may be different for someone younger and less experienced, who may need people around them in order to grow in their career... But i think that all things considered, the benefits for everyone far outweigh the drawbacks.

Yeah I have worked at home full time since working for myself last March. You need to have a lot of discipline to be able to do it successfully.

 

[Sick Boy]

Its amazing (frightening !) how readily it was all accepted and encouraged

People arranging mass gatherings fair enough, a couple of mates walking in the park or two people having a relationship not allowed to see each other, really ?!

There’s probably far worse examples around the world as well. Was it in Spain they didn’t even let kids out to exercise ?!! I mean WTAF ?!!

In Italy we weren’t allowed out to exercise for a while.

 

[Nick]

Its amazing (frightening !) how readily it was all accepted and encouraged

People arranging mass gatherings fair enough, a couple of mates walking in the park or two people having a relationship not allowed to see each other, really ?!

There’s probably far worse examples around the world as well. Was it in Spain they didn’t even let kids out to exercise ?!! I mean WTAF ?!!

This is why people were scared into it so they did accept it and even grass others up. Thinking that a couple of people in the park was dangerous and could kill their nan.

Pictures of people in China collapsing in the street with people in Hazmat suits. It was all bollocks.

Then you had Piers Morgan on ITV every day telling everybody they are going to die (meanwhile he was still living as normal and so was his son).

 

[Earlsdon_Skyblue1]

This is why people were scared into it so they did accept it and even grass others up. Thinking that a couple of people in the park was dangerous and could kill their nan.

Pictures of people in China collapsing in the street with people in Hazmat suits. It was all bollocks.

Then you had Piers Morgan on ITV every day telling everybody they are going to die (meanwhile he was still living as normal and so was his son).

He was campaigning for harder lockdowns and then fucked off to Antigua in the middle of it. Complete hypocritical bellend. He wasn´t the only one either.