To think some people are ‘enjoying’ the pandemic

[Flynnqwer]

I’ve noticed an attitude amongst some people where they’re nothing short of praying for a new, more lethal, variant.

I’ve noticed it amongst people I work with and people I do a hobby with. Any discussion about going back to our workplace (we can work from home but not easily or particularly effectively) once the Government ends the restrictions on waiting from home, or back to our hobby in real life instead of on Zoom (the hobby is controlled by a central board who are following the WFH advice until it is lifted) are met with cries of ‘No! We can’t do that! It’s dangerous!’ and it anyone points out that, thankfully, it looks like the vaccination programme is working and Omicron is less severe, they come back with ‘but what if there’s a more lethal strain that appears and kills millions?’

My workplace has one element which has legally got to be done in person. I have had emails today from managers begging us to cancel said work thing and do it online. We cannot do it on line lawfully (it’s along the lines of witnessing signatures). We have told them no, we must go into the building for an hour to fulfil this function. They are saying that that is breaking the working from home directive, that it’s unsafe, and what if a deadly variant is discovered? Then we’d have to find a way around the law.

AIBU that some people are actively hoping that the situation worsens and we are locked back down? Why would anyone want this to happen?

@Franklin12 most of your comment is about companies cutting staff. My company has cut staff. Guess what, the people left cant do as much as when we had more staff. We do the best we can. So if things take longer, they take longer.

@WhiterShadeofPale3 you are not obliged to be friends with anyone.

It is likely there will be another pandemic of some kind anyway. If this was leaked as is suspected then there's nothing to stop other things being leaked. No one seems to talk about the elephant in the room because the country is so painfully powerful that no one dare do anything about it. When people visited and tried to investigate the source of the pandemic they were threatened and literally chased away.
There's been genocide happening there for a number of yeras and it's barely spoken about on the news...

Really those off sick with long term depression (that was given as an example) managed out

Very much depends on who you employer is ….

And self isolating is not long term just more that a few have managed to notch up months self isolating since March 2020

@BrightYellowDaffodil

YANBU. Some people seemed to really enjoy lockdowns because they didn’t like to socialise but didn’t like to feel left out, so they were happy to see everyone stopped from socialising.

I get that there’s an element of some people genuinely still being scared but there’s also others who just seem to like the endless drama of it all, presumably because it gives them some focus in their little lives.

I think that is a pretty nasty thing to say.

I am not a social butterfly at all, I like staying in and going to big events brings me out in a cold sweat.

But I feel for people who love to socialise, they should be out having fun, my adult kids should be out having the time of their lives not stuck indoors.

Just because I hate going out doesn’t mean I want others to be stuck indoors.

[quote AllThePogs]@chaosrabbitland so her GP just signs off her sick for the fun of it?[/quote]
gps are not going to refuse a sick note to a patient who is milking it for all its worth , she just walks in there lays it on a bit thick and he prints it for her , its either that or a row which she has told me shes had before as well when he wouldnt produce a letter she wanted
and once you have the note ,you dont need to go back to get it extended for say another 3 wks , you just phone up the surgery and tell the receptionist that you need another 3 and then go and collect it when its done
which is standard in my surgery as well , theres signs telling patients do not ask for an appointment for a sick note extension , so its all made very easy for people like her taking the piss for all its worth

meanwhile iv had to do her work plus my own over the whole of chistmas which is what she wanted off ,with a sodding chest infection , and feeling like shit whilst shes chilled away at home .

There are probably some people who enjoy almost anything. But most people who express pessimism and fear are probably just genuinely frightened of the pandemic. Some people are clinically vulnerable or have relatives who are; some work in high-risk jobs; some are generally health-anxious; some are just sensitized by two years of a pandemic that keeps coming back in different forms. So they understandably consider that 'better safe than sorry'. Less rationally, but quite commonly, some people half-believe in a sort of secular version of the evil eye, and feel that if they express any optimism, they will cause disaster to happen.

@chaosrabbitland okay it sounds like you have a bad employer who is very poor at managing people. In my workplace, she would be gone.

In fact, most workplaces are very strict about sickness and have strict sickness management procedures. I personally have worked when too ill to do so because I need my job.

Just because I hate going out doesn’t mean I want others to be stuck indoors

That comment wasn't directed at you then was it.

I enjoy some aspects - I'm disabled and I can finally WFH when seemingly it wasn't possible before. I'm not much of a sociable person either. Quite happy with a book and netflix.

I don't like fucking masks though and the hassle of going on holiday. I don't like not being allowed to see family although I do understand about transmission etc.

I also don't like the jealous key workers. You choose that profession but you don't like being asked to do it? All those health workers who never thought something serious would ever hit? All those teachers who suddenly don't like germy kids? Grow up or get another job.

[quote AllThePogs]@chaosrabbitland okay it sounds like you have a bad employer who is very poor at managing people. In my workplace, she would be gone.[/quote]
its hard , she was on the brink of them getting shot of her , so agreed to come back ,worked 3 days and then something happened which she did genuinally need to be off for , that was in august and now thats getting done for all its worth , in2019 shes worked about a month , this is a person that then complains she feels forgotten about like shes not there anymore !! i struggle to hold my tongue and say well thats because your not , totally selfish with an im alright jack attidude and fuck everyone else , thats why im judgemental about it

i meant since 2019

I have enjoyed WFH. I'm totally open and honest about this. It's so much better for my work/life balance and financially . I only work 5 hours per day but have an hour's commute . WFH means I have practically the whole afternoon to do as I choose. I kind of like the idea of one day in the office as a social aspect - but I know I wouldn't get half as much work done on that day as I do at home .

However that doesn't mean I think that everybody should be made to work at home or locked down . DS has worked out of the home all the way through and I know the activity and social aspect this have him were both vital to his physical and mental health. Also having observed his girlfriend seek into depression during the months when her workplace was closed - she's a different person now she's back out and working again.

gps are not going to refuse a sick note to a patient who is milking it for all its worth

Often they do. And that's if you can get to see your GP in the first place, which in these Covid times is often difficult.

I think those who are off sick long-term usually ARE genuinely ill. After all, it's usually to their disadvantage long-term: they are in danger of being 'managed out' and certainly not given any promotions that are going. And it will be more difficult for them to get other jobs: referees are usually asked how much time the applicant has taken off with illness.

Skivers are far more likely to be those who take lots of short absences, and have 'the flu' every other Monday or Friday. Right at the moment, I'm sure that some people use Covid or 'been exposed to Covid' as an excuse in that way - and are likely not to be picked up on it, as most people would rather risk taking up extra work to cover for a skiver than risk getting Covid. Though there are certainly too many employers who are so desperate or so greedy that they will make people come in with Covid, and that is one of the reasons why it spreads so much.

I think people have realized the folly of working and therefore the consequences of the 'Way' we administer and carry out work.
WFH has released some people who prefer to keep work as a separate entity in their lives.

Although there are those who seem to relish the state of lockdown or even the feeling of restrictions. There are motivations for this attitude, the reasons are broad.

@StellaGibson118

It is likely there will be another pandemic of some kind anyway. If this was leaked as is suspected then there's nothing to stop other things being leaked. No one seems to talk about the elephant in the room because the country is so painfully powerful that no one dare do anything about it. When people visited and tried to investigate the source of the pandemic they were threatened and literally chased away. There's been genocide happening there for a number of yeras and it's barely spoken about on the news...

Yes, totally agree

Yeah, my DH would very much like to return to WFH so did secretly hope omicron would be more severe. I told him he was a selfish twat and he knew he was really. I personally detest lockdowns, they destroyed my MH and I’m still having weekly counselling to get through it.

I think these people are genuinly scared.
There are surely people who enjoy some aspects of life with pandemic restrictions but this doesnt sound like its the case.

@katepilar

I think these people are genuinly scared. There are surely people who enjoy some aspects of life with pandemic restrictions but this doesnt sound like its the case.

I think the people who are scared and are not leaving their homes are the people who can wfh and have enough income to feed their fear.

Meanwhile for the rest it is business as usual because if you don’t turn up to work you don’t get paid or you don’t have a job

Prepare for the worst and hope for the best is an excellent maxim surely.

I find the combative use of the phrase "back to real life" odd - life is real during the pandemic whether in lockdown or not, unless you believe it's a simulation or something. Its all equally real...

I've never been able to work from home at all because my job is in healthcare and hands on to its core, absolutely people would die if we weren't physically present. Despite that I'm 100% in favour of homeworking rights being enshrined in law for those whose jobs can be done from home regardless of whether there's a pandemic. Presenteeism and commuting are not good things to insist upon unless there's a genuine need. DH is more productive from home and around in the background just in case for our teenagers - there's no need at all for him to be in the office every day, once per fortnight is ample. Yet pre pandemic his employer didn't allow homeworking as there are security constraints on the work he produces. The pandemic incentivised his employer to find ways to make homeworking possible within the security regulations, and it wasn't that hard after all...

There have been benefits to the pandemic in reducing commuting (environmental and time benefits) and forcing innovative solutions to working from home. Equally there have been downsides especially for people who live alone or within abusive relationships, obviously.

@Kennykenkencat I can WFH, am not high income and yes am genuinely fearful for good reason. My work has also had covid run through it twice so my manager thinks it is best to keep me WFH - because it's safer for me and also because it leaves me as someone who won't be off sick!

@Kennykenkencat you are wrong. A friend has cancer and works. She is scared, she just doesn't have any choice but to go out to work. She tells no one except those closest to her that she is scared as she is afraid of being mocked.

Oh yes I work with a lot of those types. Some of them actually ganged up on management and refused to go back when restrictions first lifted and one person even threw a tantrum and quit because she wasn't allowed to permanently WFH. I loved WFH but I knew it couldn't last forever (it wasn't practical in terms of working effectively) and I got my arse back to the office when I was told to.
I also think the pandemic has been most enjoyable for the curtain twitchers.

Yes lots of people enjoy wfh, that is not the same as enjoying lockdown or covid.