To ask if you think we should be social distancing?

[Lovetravellingalways]

I work as cabin crew for a major UK long haul airline.

We don't social distance on the aircraft as we can't do our job properly while social distancing.

Once we get to the destination we usually have a 1-3 night layover. During this layover we (the team of crew that are working together on the flight after the layover) usually go out for breakfast and dinner together and often sit around the same table closer than 2 meters like we would in normal times. A few staff in restaurants have commented saying we shouldn't all be around the table and then when we tell them we work together and can't social distance in work then they still say that we are behaving inappropriately and should social distance and we have had a few other quite rude comments.

Do you think we should be social distancing during the layover's?

@Wiredforsound

All you can do is manage the risk. None of this is perfect or easy, but anything that can be done to reduce the risk should be considered. My DS (12) is confined to his room for 10 days because he was in contact with someone at school why tested positive. It’s pretty horrible for him and us, but we’re doing what we can to keep each other as safe as we can.

Do you realise that you don't need to do this? There is devise on nhs website on how to reduce risk of spreading the virus at home but confining a young boy to his room is cruel.

@cherryblossomx3

yanbu. especially if you're allowed to form a bubble..some people have lost any sense of logic.

But it’s not a bubble. By the OPs own admission she can work with a different crew every few days.

Sounds like awful planning from the employer but actually means all the more reason to be super cautious when on the ground

@Lovetravellingalways

Not being rude, but I know I signed up to be a flight attendant but I didn't sign up to be away from my family and stuck in a hotel room and not being able to be with anyone else due to social distancing.

No one signed up for this

I think you should be social distancing. You can still have meals with others but sit further apart. It sounds like you're not even trying.

But it doesn't matter what we say - you just going to keep doing what you want to do I'm sure.

I think you should comply with the guidance in the country and establishment you are visiting, in the same way you expect passengers to follow your guidance when they get on your plane.

Restaurant and cafe staff are required to implement the rules of their country (and in some cases may be shut down if they don't). I wouldn't be making their lives difficult, and I would bear in mind that your airline's advice about forming bubbles with one crew after another is for their own convenience, and complies with no infection control guidance.

Bubbles are meant to be longer lasting that a few hours or days (despite the name ).

Seems your employer is doing a piss poor job of advising you.

YABU

It’s about minimising the risk by reducing the time spent in close contact

And you’re very rude for ignoring the rules of restaurants etc you visit and arguing with their staff.

@Lovetravellingalways

Not being rude, but I know I signed up to be a flight attendant but I didn't sign up to be away from my family and stuck in a hotel room and not being able to be with anyone else due to social distancing.

What a ridiculous comment. No one signed up to the pandemic. You have it a lot easier than many people. YABU you need to social distance outside of work. It’s irresponsible, and is putting people at risk. Yes there are times at your work you can’t social distance but you are wearing masks for the majority of it. You should bot be increasing your risk outside of this. Also can you imagine if the whole crew goes down with it and infects people on the plane, and were caught out at restaurants not social distancing?

When you are on your layover you need to comply with the local distancing rules in the country you are in and in hospitality venues. You are not special because of your job.

And actually surely the fact the nature of your job means you have to visit multiple countries means you need to be super cautious

@NailsNeedDoing

I think you’re fine to carry on as you are. I get that the ideal is that you social distance outside of work, but I’d include the layovers as part of work. You absolutely should not be expected to sit isolated in a hotel room when you have no symptoms and you’re doing your job, that would be ridiculous.

But a lot of people, my mum included, sits alone in her small flat after work. She has no symptoms. Really, what is the difference?

You are being unreasonable not to distance when a business you're a customer of have asked you to. Where I live businesses face fines of up to £20,000 if they're caught not adhering to the measures in place for them. Do what you want outdoors or in your hotel rooms but if you're in a restaurant or a bar then play by their rules.

Oh just to add, I wasn't counted as direct contact of a colleague I'd worked 8 hours in a restaurant with, as we didn't spend a solid 15 minutes less than 2 metres apart & unmasked in that time, and we were both constantly washing and sanitising our hands throughout. If I'd been sat beside her in a restaurant for an hour and a half I would have counted / been at risk.

Follow the employer's rules and the law of each country where you go.

Their restaurant, their rules. If you don't like it, congregate in someone's room and order room service.

I agree you should socially distance , wear a mask when possible and abide by the rules of where ever it is you are visiting.
What’s the point of Boris telling us to stay in social groups of six if you’re in a group of ten? Because someone will look at you and your party and think ‘well she’s in a group of ten, so I’m going to go out in a larger group now’ and so the rot begins.
Do you remember how the entire country lost their shit when Dominic Cummins decided he didn’t have to play to the same rules?

In this world it only takes one inconsiderate person to start a huge knock on effect. Don’t be that person op! Set the best example you can at all times during this pandemic.

as everyone else said - and applies to playdates as well

All we are doing is Minimising risk - not eliminating it .

So if when you don't have to work close together you do social distance you could be reducing your chances of catching it and spreading it by the percentage that you social distance .

Does that not make sense ?

I am in a bubble at work - but I still social distance and wear a mask when I am walking around .

@GlassLake

most 12 year old boys don't want to come out of their rooms (:

And they may have a CEV person living in the house so try and consider all situations before jumping to conclusions.

In situations like this common sense tells you that it is pretty pointless to social distance for a meal when you've been breathing all over them all day.

So I would then move 'mental health' to the top of the priority list as social contact will DEFINITELY have a beneficial effect whereas social distancing is LIKELY to be pointless.

By the way I get what everyone else is saying about minimising. I would be making sure those meals are situated where you can be in your group with no further mixing. But I cannot see the point of not going for your evening meal with the people you've already spend 10 hours with without social distancing and partly without a mask.

Your company are unfortunately happy to risk your health if it means them staying in business.

'In situations like this common sense tells you that it is pretty pointless to social distance for a meal when you've been breathing all over them all day.'

Why are are cabin crew different to everyone else?! So, by your common sense thinking teachers and nurses can now socialise together as they've been 'breathing over' each other all day?

Like it or not the restrictions are there to reduce contact and spread. That applies to everyone whether you work for Easyjet or Wetherspoons.

I work in the NHS; at times I am close to my other colleagues out of necessity. This doesn't mean that I can socialize with them outside of work.

This.

You'd only be a bubble if you worked with the same crew throughout. You can't form bubbles and reform another bubble every shift.

@NailsNeedDoing

I think you’re fine to carry on as you are. I get that the ideal is that you social distance outside of work, but I’d include the layovers as part of work. You absolutely should not be expected to sit isolated in a hotel room when you have no symptoms and you’re doing your job, that would be ridiculous.

Everyone else has to sit isolated after work. We also aren't meant to socialise at work.