What a lot of posters on here are forgetting, whilst pointing the finger at the furloughed, is that many (including me) have applied to be fruit pickers, and the vast majority have been turned away. So it’s not just “not wanting to” by any stretch of the imagination, or the fact that it’s low pay or living in a caravan with strangers. We are not the people the farmers are after so they aren’t taking us on. For multiple reasons discussed multiple times on here, largely to do with wages, workers rights, lack of experience and most won’t be available for the whole season because, let me remind some people again, they are still employees for their job and will be needed back before the fruit season is out. It’s not just turning up with a basket.
It’s also very easy for someone not furloughed to say “Well if I was furloughed or if I get furloughed I will be out there working and volunteering straight away”. Oh will you now? Because it’s really easy to say it, the reality is very different. If you’ll allow me to explain my experiences over the last few weeks as an example, everywhere is different I know but I don’t think my area is that rare:
So since furlough, I have been instructed that I am still an employee of my current employer but can take on additional work (paid or not). However I must be ready to return when they need me. Notice could be minimal.
First thing I did was look for supermarket jobs. Have worked in one before, as a student and not. Lots of adverts for 4 week contracts and such to tide over the busy period. Sent off the ones on walking distance (so 5 supermarkets - jobs varied) Had one rejection letter “due to sheer volume of applicants” and the rest I heard nothing. Good friend works in one of the big ones, lower management level.
She told me they received tons of applications. The jobs went to the younger applicants, largely students as the minimum wage is lower. Delivery driver jobs went fast (more age spread however) generally to whoever was fastest at getting to interview and had a clean licence (well I can’t drive so that job was out of the question anyway)
Those temporary jobs are now done with as the mass panic buying has ended - people employed as such are mostly on zero hour contracts to be used as cover of sickness if levels rise. Long term positions generally went to unemployed rather than furloughed in case they had to leave.
Fruit picking? Discussed at length. Only one reachable and not even that local and wasn’t wanted.
Not much employment happening for obvious reasons around here.
So to volunteering. I, like thousands across the country, joined the volunteering hub for my local
Community. I put myself on the list to do other people’s shopping, collect prescriptions etc. There’s been about 5 occasions in the last 6 weeks where people have been asked to go out shopping. I think people are asking family and friends rather than the volunteers (I’ve done it for a friend - nothing to do with the community hub!) Nor is this area particularly badly hit (yet). So whilst I and many others are ready to help, it’s not yet been needed. This also goes for the care homes shopping etc
Food bank - I am a regular donator to the food bank - food when I can and I send a weekly direct debit donation. So I was sent a letter regarding the crisis. They needed drivers to drop food to houses rather than collection. Well I can’t do that. I put myself forward to sort food or whatever was needed but likewise, they needed drivers to go and buy food, and they were extremely nice about it but ultimately had enough people on their rota to pack and sort, but I’m on the list if needed. Social distancing prevents multiple packers at once. That’s fine, better to be turned away than them being short.
Care homes - let’s think about this for a second. Your average Joe out there has no experience with caring for people. Anyone with an ounce of common sense knows it’s not as simple as just giving them a cup of tea and walking them along a corridor.
Now consider, your parents in that care home. You’re possibly paying thousands for it, or loosing your inheritance for it. Do you honestly want them being cared for by furloughed people who have skills in different areas but no clue about how to care for Elderly people? No clue how to properly administer medication? No understanding of the early signs of a stroke? No true understanding of just how clean a home needs to be? No food hygiene certificate? No experience of getting someone dressed, cleaned up without hurting them and costing them their dignity? I wouldn’t know! Care homes want and need experienced carers, not furloughed staff who are normally serving drinks/sat behind a computer/ fixing roofs/cleaning windows/working at a child care facility / chefs / DJing - whatever - so many jobs out there!
Or if that’s not enough, think about it being you at the receiving end of this care!
And the normal volunteers are not wanted right now because it puts the residents at so much risk. Easy to say “in ya go! Go volunteer earn your keep!” and then complain, be devestated and threaten to sue when your loved one contracts the virus because so many volunteers were going in an out.
Likewise, do you want an inexperienced care staff member looking after you and your family if you get admitted to hospital? The hospitals want experienced care assistants.
So actually my volunteering around my area has come to a halt. The areas I’ve volunteered in for years are for children so are not currently running. If every furloughed person was out and about doing other jobs, and the kids at school, lockdown would be almost pointless. It’s also very easy to say “you should be out there doing your bit” when you’re not furloughed but working safely at home, unexposed to the risk. which I bet many pointing the finger are.
I’ve earned my keep thank you very much, and will continue to do so now and when I return to work.
I’m sure the loudest complainers also complain when they see anyone leave there house. It’s been on here enough - “my neighbour goes out everyday, not in uniform so she’s not a key worker! It’s disgusting I’m going to report!” Maybe they’re a furloughed volunteer???? Just a thought.....