Key Workers

[Mr Ripple]

My missus is a key worker, working at the DWP at the moment. Not only has it lost a lot of staff to self-isolation, they've also sent a lot of people home because the offices can't adhere to the 2m social distancing measures with a full compliment of staff. So skeleton crew and yesterday was the single busiest day ever for fresh claims, mostly from the self employed who in desperation are claiming Universal Credit because the government haven't unveiled any plans to help them. I just hope that when/if Boris annouces something to help the SE they will be able to extracate themselves from UC and claim the new package instead of being tied into UC forever.

It's good to see the DWP being responsible and adhering to the rules.
Given the current news about sports direct and the construction industry etc I'd be keen to hear stories of peoples companies that think they should be still trading but really shouldn't.

 

[ObiWanVaponi]

Whenever I see the pictures of the crowded tube and then hear people moaning about the people on I do wonder how many of them are actually legitimately going to work. There's a massive swaithe of people that are needed that I don't think people realise. Postmen, delivery drivers, warehouse workers, civil servants, and the people that work in power plants and water works, along with all the builders that are meant to be working like the emergency plumbers etc. I'd be amazed if shutting down all the building sites in the country would make much difference to the tube. The powers that be obviously haven't thought through the travel situation, they either need to put many many more tube trains on or shut it down completely.

It's good to see the DWP being responsible and adhering to the rules.
Given the current news about sports direct and the construction industry etc I'd be keen to hear stories of peoples companies that think they should be still trading but really shouldn't.

I agree. I'd also like to see staggered opening hours at supermarkets etc. They all seem to open at 8am so you have everyone travelling for the same start time. Its all very well for the gov to say travel outside rush-hours, but the people that can do that are probably the people who can work from home in the first place.

 

[Mr Ripple]

Whenever I see the pictures of the crowded tube and then hear people moaning about the people on I do wonder how many of them are actually legitimately going to work. There's a massive swaithe of people that are needed that I don't think people realise. Postmen, delivery drivers, warehouse workers, civil servants, and the people that work in power plants and water works, along with all the builders that are meant to be working like the emergency plumbers etc. I'd be amazed if shutting down all the building sites in the country would make much difference to the tube. The powers that be obviously haven't thought through the travel situation, they either need to put many many more tube trains on or shut it down completely.

I agree. I'd also like to see staggered opening hours at supermarkets etc. They all seem to open at 8am so you have everyone travelling for the same start time. Its all very well for the gov to say travel outside rush-hours, but the people that can do that are probably the people who can work from home in the first place.

I've and I'm sure everyone else will have a different opinion on the term "essential workers".
I mean if it really came down to it and we were lets say only talking about 12 weeks could we strip it back further?
How long could a pharmacist and a supermarket maintain trading without needing an electrician or fridge engineer?
Could they strip back all non essential staff for three months to reduce the level of exposure?
If we really knuckle down do we really need anything more than supermarkets and pharmaceuticals along with the supply chains that feed them?
Could we reduce or limit the amounts of the big four supermarkets that are allowed to open in any given town?

Yada yada yada.

 

[ObiWanVaponi]

I've and I'm sure everyone else will have a different opinion on the term "essential workers".
I mean if it really came down to it and we were lets say only talking about 12 weeks could we strip it back further?
How long could a pharmacist and a supermarket maintain trading without needing an electrician or fridge engineer?
Could they strip back all non essential staff for three months to reduce the level of exposure?
If we really knuckle down do we really need anything more than supermarkets and pharmaceuticals along with the supply chains that feed them?
Could we reduce or limit the amounts of the big four supermarkets that are allowed to open in any given town?

Yada yada yada.

The thing with that is all the dickheads have stripped the shelves. We've got to go shopping again tomorrow because we haven't been able to buy enough food to see us through til the end of the month even though we went saturday. (We usually shop monthly). If they could shut everything except supermarkets, they would still need warehousemen and delivery drivers. And IT for the tills, banks for change, security guards, cleaners. And people would definitely need TV indoors otherwise the boredom would drive them outside, so thats people at broadcasting house pushing buttons and queueing up repeats of Dads Army. And power plant etc etc etc. Its a massive effort just to 'go dark' as it were.

 

[Mr Ripple]

The thing with that is all the dickheads have stripped the shelves. We've got to go shopping again tomorrow because we haven't been able to buy enough food to see us through til the end of the month even though we went saturday. (We usually shop monthly). If they could shut everything except supermarkets, they would still need warehousemen and delivery drivers. And IT for the tills, banks for change, security guards, cleaners. And people would definitely need TV indoors otherwise the boredom would drive them outside, so thats people at broadcasting house pushing buttons and queueing up repeats of Dads Army. And power plant etc etc etc. Its a massive effort just to 'go dark' as it were.

The supermarkets are pretty much back to normal now round here with only the odd items out of atock.

As for IT and such like services they don't need to mobilise until needed.
In most trades these days there are general routine checks that are normally done that can stop for a few weeks without issue.

I've just found out my company (pest control) are continuing as if nothings going on and still trying to do routine pest inspection visits to closed non food department stores.
We are probably classed as essential workers but there needs to be a line drawn as to what work is classed as essential.
To add there is a travel ban in place for all non essential travel accross the uk and in many instances unless it's an emergency and business critical for businesses that need to remain open to support the Coronavirus fight we should not be travelling.

 

[ObiWanVaponi]

I absolutely agree @StrawberryRipple

(and I hope you're right about the stock levels)

 

[mick brown]

Whenever I see the pictures of the crowded tube and then hear people moaning about the people on I do wonder how many of them are actually legitimately going to work. There's a massive swaithe of people that are needed that I don't think people realise. Postmen, delivery drivers, warehouse workers, civil servants, and the people that work in power plants and water works, along with all the builders that are meant to be working like the emergency plumbers etc. I'd be amazed if shutting down all the building sites in the country would make much difference to the tube. The powers that be obviously haven't thought through the travel situation, they either need to put many many more tube trains on or shut it down completely.

I agree. I'd also like to see staggered opening hours at supermarkets etc. They all seem to open at 8am so you have everyone travelling for the same start time. Its all very well for the gov to say travel outside rush-hours, but the people that can do that are probably the people who can work from home in the first place.

I agree with staggered opening hours. It's all very well being open at 7 , 8 or whatever in the morning so people who aren't working can rush there and get first pick but what about those that are still working. By the time they can get to the shops in the evening or weekend, the shelves are nearly empty again.

 

[ObiWanVaponi]

I agree with staggered opening hours. It's all very well being open at 7 , 8 or whatever in the morning so people who aren't working can rush there and get first pick but what about those that are still working. By the time they can get to the shops in the evening or weekend, the shelves are nearly empty again.

It is ridiculous. Most shift work I know runs as 6am - 2pm, 2pm - 10pm, 10pm - 6am. opening at 8am helps no-one. If I was a cynic I would say they get staff in at 6am to stack shelves ready for 8am because if they got them in earlier they would have to pay them unsociable hours rates.

 

[MrsAshy]

My missus is a key worker, working at the DWP at the moment. Not only has it lost a lot of staff to self-isolation, they've also sent a lot of people home because the offices can't adhere to the 2m social distancing measures with a full compliment of staff. So skeleton crew and yesterday was the single busiest day ever for fresh claims, mostly from the self employed who in desperation are claiming Universal Credit because the government haven't unveiled any plans to help them. I just hope that when/if Boris annouces something to help the SE they will be able to extracate themselves from UC and claim the new package instead of being tied into UC forever.

My sister is exactly the same, she is at bits this very minute ranting on our family whatsapp as shes had such a bad day with timewasters not checking the 80% details and just ringing and ranting in a panic, then on call back going 'oh its ok /i sorted it' Update your claim info then it knocks it off the system, then!

 

[ObiWanVaponi]

My sister is exactly the same, she is at bits this very minute ranting on our family whatsapp as shes had such a bad day with timewasters not checking the 80% details and just ringing and ranting in a panic, then on call back going 'oh its ok /i sorted it' Update your claim info then it knocks it off the system, then!

Milady Vaponi nodded deflatedly reading that. Sounds too familiar.
She also said people are phoning in asking for an advanced payment because they've spent all their money on toilet roll. And some have even asked when the £1200 corona stimulus check will be paid! Thats America Moron!