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Original poster

Not everyone works in offices

69 replies

Toomboom · 04/05/2020 18:18

I am getting annoyed by the media and news channels saying how social distance could work once we get out of lockdown. Everything seems to be showing offices and how they will be doing things, not sharing pens, putting screens up etc. Even watching BBC news they are only talking about people in offices and how it will work for them.

What about the rest of us that don't? There are thousands of us out there that won't be able to implement the 2 meter social distance rule, what about us? I work in a very busy school kitchen, there is no way we can social distance. What about people that work in the fast food trade, hairdressers, factory workers, other catering staff, hotels and anyone else that can't social distance easily?

I do wish that people would realise that there are many of us out there that don't work in offices 9-5. We need to know how to stay safe too.

OP posts:
Willow2017 · 05/05/2020 17:04

I think unless your job is relating to life or death it may cease to exist if it can not be performed from over 2 metros distance to another person.

You win the internet today!
Do you really think we will be social distancing for the rest of our lives?
What a ridiculous suggestion. How the hell are all the people who have commented on this thread supposed to just stop working?
Oh well suits me, lets shut up all the supermarkets and stop online deliveries tomorrow shall we?

No more discussing when schools can go back, close all the hospitals now save the trouble later (you dont think there will be PPE for every single NHS worker forever do you?)
No more clothes shops, shoe shops, anything shops really.

Or is anyone here saying they would return to a job where they were not wearing PPE and were not able to socially distance?
What about those of us who have been doing this for months already?
Christ on a bike, how would the country run with probably 80% of its work stopped?

How the hell did humanity ever recover from previous pandemics without us all still living in our mud huts not going out ever but living on dust and bugs and stark naked?

Or am I missing something? Errrr...probably.

DateandTime · 05/05/2020 17:05

NHS workers' children are already in school and so are the staff caring for them. Supermarket staff have been working.

If the choice is to work or lose your job, I think most people would prefer to support their family. What do you see as the alternative?

Itoldyouiwasill · 05/05/2020 17:10

Willow use sound very upset
Shops are already planning to function using social distancing once they open.
I didn't go nearer than 2 metres to anyone in Sainsbury's yesterday.
If employers can't manage social distancing for employees they will need to make them redundant.
No I don't think this will go on for ever but I do think it will last a couple of years or so.
And you didn't say whether you will allow your child to return to a school where they would definitely be within a 2 metre space of a teacher.

Rowgtfc72 · 05/05/2020 17:11

I work in a factory and have not stopped working during lockdown. No you cant socially distance properly in a factory. Yes i am well within 2m of other people.
We have perspex screens where we can, canteen is two to a table with screen in between, shifts have been altered so there are less people around at the same time. And we sanitize sanitize sanitize san.......

It's more being sensible than worrying about someone being within your two metres.

Couple of hundred on my shift and so far (touch wood) we're all good so far.

Rowgtfc72 · 05/05/2020 17:14

Would just like to to add, if we weren't safe we wouldn't be allowed to stay open and if we didn't feel safe I would expect lots of people to vote with their feet. You dont take risks when you're only getting minimum wage.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 05/05/2020 17:14

Just imagining the new Army uniform with camouflage face masks and disposable gloves..

Or prison officers doing searches with long sticks...

A nursery worker getting a baby to change its own nappy...

A hairdresser using long scissors

A plumber in a chemical warfare suit (or biological warfare suit) to do a gas safety check

PickAChew · 05/05/2020 17:14

So let's see...

Bus driver. Not life or death.
Teacher. Not life or death.
Hair dresser. Not life or death.
Delivery and installation of heavy furniture. Not life or death.

These things cannot cease indefinitely.

Itoldyouiwasill · 05/05/2020 17:16

Row that's your decision and, of course, we all still on the whole have free will.
It sounds as if your factory are putting in place socially distancing as much as is possible. I do think though that it will all change after one employee dies and that persons family attempt to raise a health and safety issue. ( can't think
Of the word for when a person dies at work as a result of employer mal practice)

Itoldyouiwasill · 05/05/2020 17:19

Bus driver. Not life or death. All the drivers I've seen recently are behind Perspex glass

Teacher. Not life or death. I think
It's unlikely that teachers unions will allow them to teach in the way they were before. What I mean is maybe there'll be half classes or something.
Hair dresser. Not life or death. I can't see how they'll open
Delivery and installation of heavy furniture. Not life or death. Easy to maintain a 2 metre distancing.

Itoldyouiwasill · 05/05/2020 17:20

Zooey that was answering Pick

Itoldyouiwasill · 05/05/2020 17:20

Sorry

StoorieHoose · 05/05/2020 17:28

What do you do as a job @Itoldyouiwasill?

Willow2017 · 05/05/2020 17:29

Willow use sound very upset
Shops are already planning to function using social distancing once they open.
I didn't go nearer than 2 metres to anyone in Sainsbury's yesterday.8
8If employers can't manage social distancing for employees they will need to make them redundant.
No I don't think this will go on for ever but I do think it will last a couple of years or so.
And you didn't say whether you will allow your child to return to a school where they would definitely be within a 2 metre space of a teacher.

I am not upset just incredulous at anyone with half a brain would make that suggestion.
How do you think the country is going to run on half its workforce? Who will pay the living expences of the other half?
How do you think you will get your food and other necessities without staff? Or do you expect the staff to work twice as many hours to ensure everyone gets thier food or home deliveries?
Hundreds of shops have stayed open, and thousands of people have been working throughout this year and i dont see anyone complaining that they had food on the table because of them working, trains were running, buses were running, electricity kept working, water kept flowing etc etc.
And yes my son will be going back to school and college when they open, he cant wait, he has an education to get and goals to achieve.

Good for you in Sainsburys, try working in a supermarket for 8 hrs without going near anyone? Its impossible, customers dont move out the way, we have to, other staff are working too trying to keep shelves filled, and cleared, deliveries picked etc etc, there isnt the time in the day to cut the numbers by half. You have no bloody clue. Small independant shops may be able to SD staff because they dont employ many staff in the first place that wont work for large shops, long term.
If you think half the country can stop working for 2 years you really are kidding yourself.

Willow2017 · 05/05/2020 17:30

It's unlikely that teachers unions will allow them to teach in the way they were before. What I mean is maybe there'll be half classes or something.
Where will the other half of the class go?

StoorieHoose · 05/05/2020 17:31

How do 2 deliverymen delivering say an America fridge freezer and keep at a distance of 2m?

Itoldyouiwasill · 05/05/2020 17:42

It's very clear that what I'm saying isn't popular.
I think many people are in for a huge shock once redundancies start to be made.
To the person who asked what I did for a living. Why do you want to know? I think whatever I say I would be attacked. Can you imagine if I said I was a teacher, SW, owner of a small business ?!
I'll say though hat I have continued working as am an essential worker with a vulnerable group of society. We have managed to socially distance very successfully. It's hard on clients and it's hard on staff but we've managed to make it happen because we value our and our clients lives.

Where will the other half of the class go? No idea, I'm not in charge and this will need to be sorted with the unions and the government. I'm more worried that people are responding here as if they really believe schools will go back to a teacher and LSA with a class of 30 children with eight children around a table all through the winter months. It's. not. going. to. happen. And I'm shocked that any parent would think this would be OK

Itoldyouiwasill · 05/05/2020 17:52

How do 2 deliverymen delivering say an America fridge freezer and keep at a distance of 2m?

Actually that's a good point. You're right they couldn't socially distance so I suppose deliveries like this would need to stop. What person would put their life at risk breathing into the face of their delivery mate for £10 an hour? I'm in the process of moving and have already been told and have accepted that removal companies will
Only start working again once they can socially distance.

Willow2017 · 05/05/2020 17:56

What have unions got to do with it? They dont allocate school places. Where will these kids go? Who decides who gets taught and who doesnt? What about P.E. how will they do that or are kids to stand around for 2 years doing nothing? At playtime will they have to stand still in a line?
You dont seem to have an idea how the country will run with half of its workforce unemployed either. How do you think they will live? Where will the money come from when half the productivity of the country is gone, half the taxes, half the exports.
You havent answered one question with a real answer. You really cant come out with shit like this and not back it up with something, you have obviously thought about this as a great solution so you must have an idea.

It's hard on clients and it's hard on staff but we've managed to make it happen because we value our and our clients lives.

Oh and shove that ^ where the sun dont shine too. You are inferring that the rest of us dont value others or our own lives? How bloody dare you. Nobody else is going to pay to keep my kids in a home and fed and clothed but me, I dont have a choice in work matters, how dare you suggest that those of us who have been working all along value things less than you do.

StoorieHoose · 05/05/2020 17:57

We should just give up now then eh? No new fridges, no new build houses, no removal men

Willow2017 · 05/05/2020 17:58

I'm in the process of moving and have already been told and have accepted that removal companies will
Only start working again once they can socially distance.

You aint going nowhere then!

StoorieHoose · 05/05/2020 18:00

@Willow2017. I really hope Itoldyouiwasill is on the wind up

Itoldyouiwasill · 05/05/2020 18:07

Willow2017
You're sounding quite enraged and I don't think responding to you again would be in your best interests.
Please remember this is a public forum with lots of different points of view and lots of life experiences.

Oh and shove that ^ where the sun dont shine too. doesn't give your argument much weight!

Itoldyouiwasill · 05/05/2020 18:10

StoorieHoose I'm really not I promise you.

Devlesko · 05/05/2020 18:13

Because they like to tell us what we do, propaganda and conditioning.
I've given up watching Newstalk a long time ago, it's so artificial and not representative of what is happening at all.

Willow2017 · 05/05/2020 18:19

Itoldyouiwasill
Nah I am done playing with you for today.

From the moment you said Willow you sound very upset it was a no brainer.
Sainsburys, kids dont need school meals, essential job protecting the vulnerable its like MN bingo!
As you were.

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