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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

ordering non essentials online - supporting jobs/ businesses or endangering others?

9 replies

anothernotherone · 08/04/2020 09:52

I'm on the fence.

IMO the ethics are not clear cut.

Courier services and post people are delivering without breaking social distance.

Businesses would in some cases go bankrupt and / or employees would lose jobs without customers.

Delivery drivers are often self employed and paid per parcel.

A lot of people on very low wages have no savings won't make ends meet on a reduced furlough wage or if their company goes under.

A lot of high street businesses have creatively problem solved and started selling online locally and obviously want/ need custom.

On the other hand

Some businesses are not ensuring safe working environments including maintaining distance between employees or are not sympathetic to employees from households where someone else is shielding.

Some people working in warehouses and delivery would rather be furloughed due to childcare or similar reasons.

Deliveries mean more traffic on the roads, slightly increasing the odds of an accident (which obviously is always true but more of an issue due to trying to keep ambulance services and hospital beds free).

Really it would be useful to have multiple voting options covering the difference between ordering from small businesses and Amazon, or takeaways and board games or whatever, but as it is:

YABU - it is unethical to order non essentials online atm
YANBU - it is perfectly acceptable to order non essentials online atm

OP posts:
AmelieTaylor · 08/04/2020 09:56

After eleventy billion threads on this, I'm still undecided. Many people working for these companies have posted and they have had opposing opinions.

I don't think there is 'an' answer so just do what you feel is right!

SlipSlidin · 08/04/2020 09:58

Please read all the other threads on this, what makes you think your one will result in any more clarity? Make up your own mind.

Calic0 · 08/04/2020 10:01

Yep, I’m on the fence too and I think you just have to do what you think is best.

Personally, we are supporting small local businesses by ordering stuff for delivery and, I suppose being potentially naive in assuming (hoping) that employers are doing right by the people who work in their manufacture / supply chain.

I also think the definition of “essential” varies massively from person to person. I’ve started a weekly delivery of milk, eggs and butter which I regard as absolutely essential but clearly, for any vegan would be absolutely not. Where do you draw the line?

ACupOfTeaSolvesEverything · 08/04/2020 10:01

My husband is an engraver working from home and selling online. There’s just him so he always wfh he has a workshop in the garden. My work has vanished and I have to wait until June for any state support. If people stop ordering from him we can’t pay bills.

anothernotherone · 08/04/2020 10:02

SlipSlidin I haven't seen a thread with a vote just on this, only people shouting at each other about it on threads where it's only part of the thread topic. Presumably we all see different threads according to our cookies/ metrics...

There's no danger to the public in unnecessary thread creation, so scroll on by if you're not interested or bored by the subject.

OP posts:
Ferfooksek · 08/04/2020 10:02

I’m still working in a warehouse. Two people and the work load is higher than ever.
It’s shit, especially as The customers have been told we have put in place strict measures which is bullshit as it’s impossible in a warehouse.

I’m hoping for a stronger lockdown

SlipSlidin · 08/04/2020 10:07

So you think your thread and your vote is the “big decider”, sheesh I’ve heard it all now 🙄

anothernotherone · 08/04/2020 10:14

Ferfooksek I work in adult social care and obviously can't socially distance at all at work, in fact with all the residents anxious and 14 of them cooped up together 24/7 I often feel swarmed by t least 8 people within my 1.5 square meters social distancing vacinity. The residents aren't going out except on accompanied walks but obviously they're in contact with all the colleagues who go to supermarkets and are in contact with whoever they're in contact with in their households etc. Added to that we have people off sick and are covering the hours the residents would usually be at work/ day center so we're all working more hours.

So I feel your pain!

I definitely feel eye rolly when family members and acquaintances who live further away insist that we all have lots of time on our hands atm!

Having lots of time on your hands sounds nice, but wouldn't be if you couldn't pay your rent/ bills...

OP posts:
anothernotherone · 08/04/2020 10:15

SlipSlidin are you enjoying being the thread police? Does it make you feel fulfilled?

OP posts:
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