To think that since covid happened some businesses have 'got lazy and stayed lazy'

[Ilovechocolate87]

DH and i used to have an expression a couple of years back 'because covid' which we used when we thought a company was just using the virus as an excuse for not doing something properly or making unnecessary cutbacks.

But even now it seems that this is STILL continuing, but for no legitimate reason!

Some examples include;
-Our local bank shutting at 3pm...every day of the week.Crap for 9-5 working people like DH!

• No fireworks display at center parcs, which is a shame as it was really good and atmospheric over the lake.
• Soft play at our local sealife centre sitting there unused and wasted...such a shame as there is nothing wrong with it.
• Fitting rooms have been scrapped at sainsburys and asda (maybe elsewhere too?) so there is nowhere to try on clothes, resulting in either having to order online and have the expense and bother of posting it back if its not right (which it often isn't) or travelling to return it, neither of which are very good for the environment either, with all that plastic packaging and fuel!)

Has anyone else noticed that it just seems like SOME businesses/companies 'can't be bothered' anymore and are just doing the minimum possible? And the most frustrating thing is that as usual, they make the cutbacks, but the prices keep on going up!!

They can't get employees - sad state of affair but workers have become lazy and few want to work for minimum wage. 😞

I know coffee shop owners who are having to pay close to £20ph to get staff....

The wondering "well shouldn't that also mean less pressure on services". Not really.

They were also generally younger and less likely to use health services. Far more likely to work in the NHS than use it.

Hotel chains like Travelodge, Premier inn, holiday inn, all cut room cleaning on multi-night stays, "because our customers told us they don't want cleaning staff to pass COVID on" - that's right, blame customers!

They surreptitiously put a notice on rooms saying you had to hang the pink swinger on the door handle if you wanted your bed made, bin emptied and clean towels. They have now continued to not offer that service, it must be saving them £MM as I expect they shed loads of cleaning staff, saved money not having to change towels and don't give coffee/tea on day 2+ unless you ask for it.

On the other hand, the Western world has become used to a standard of living that was undoubtedly wasteful and now see value for money has been cut to the bone. It's hard to see the things we've taken for granted taken away, and being lied to by big corporate as if they think we're stupid. There are some products and services I will continue to support but there are others I've voted with my feet and stopped using them as I feel so strongly that they've taken it too far.

Why should people want to work for minimum wage if they can get a higher paid job elsewhere?

Then why do ALL the banks have queues?
Online is fine but anything you have a question about is better in branch.

Not just businesses, customer services levels have fallen through the floor everywhere, particularly HMRC, local council, university, NHS, etc., where WFH has been enthusiastically adopted by the staff, leaving the "user" with a much poorer service/experience.

It really, really annoys me when I finally get through on the phone to someone, only for them to be distracted by dogs barking, children crying, "someone at the door", or whatever other lame excuse they provide for me having to keep repeating myself because they're not concentrating on the job they're being paid to do, usually followed by them not actually doing what I asked them to do, meaning I have to phone again a few days later to ask them yet again, usually with the same lack of concentration.

And if you're lucky enough to get someone who's not got distractions, then the next excuse is usually that they can't access "that part" of the computer system, or their internet is slow, or whatever.

The only people who think WFH works are the workers themselves who enjoy being able to do a wash, avoid childcare costs, avoid dog sitting fees, etc., whilst they "pretend" to work more efficiently at home. It's efficient for them, not their employer nor customers/service users!

Don’t people just use soft phones now via MS Teams etc? I thought that became the norm during covid.

They can't get employees - sad state of affair but workers have become lazy and few want to work for minimum wage. 😞

People not wanting to work for minimum wage is hardly a new thing. You just didn't notice before because they didn't have enough choices for it to impact on you.

Maybe what you say is true and employees in demand have the luxury of choosing to continue to wfh if that suits their individual circumstances, regardless of the impact on their customers or clients. But if that’s true, then at least own it.
Just seems strange to complain on Mumsnet that they can’t effectively wfh while insisting that they do still need to wfh.

I haven’t RTFT but I think it’s the Recession. Also Brexit.

I also work for a University, and all of our external calls come through Teams onto our Surfaces whether we’re at home or at work. Works really well.

I have lost count of the number of times I've rung big companies etc this year where the conversation has been interrupted by the employee's barking dogs, screaming children and front doorbell. How professional.

Until they age! The valuable immigrants who we wanted to come the UK in the 50s, 60s and 70s are mostly still here and now require (as is their right) health care, social care, etc. Today's immigrant workers will likewise require (and deserve) health and social care in a few decades' time. Increasing immigration to "pay" for today's older generation is just a ponzi scheme that will get worse.

For some WFH is very efficient - no office politics/chats/trying to have a call in an open plan office whilst someone chats about love island on the next desk.,I get a lot more done at home.

A couple of points:

My employer does hybrid working and on my WFH days, my desk phone is diverted to my work mobile. So I am easily contactable. It’s not rocket science.

If I needed to pay cash/cheques into the bank on a regular basis, I would open a Post Office bank account, thankfully there still seem to be a lot of branches and at least that’s a way to get cash/cheques into the banking system.

Our GP surgery has the same amount of doctors as pre COVID. You can speak to a doctor on the same day if it’s urgent but I’m not convinced the whole phone call appointment system saves anyone any time? Interestingly the nurses, nurse practitioners, health care assistants and midwives are taking f2f appointments as ‘normal’

I also miss magazines in the hairdressers

And finally, my local gym still closes slightly earlier some evenings, due to COVID!

I thought there were no magazines on mine then noticed a code on wall and you can scan and read them online

Widespread staff shortages is giving low paid workers more choices, which is why we are seeing such a crisis in recruitment of staff like care workers and teaching assistants who are moving into less physical, less stressful admin jobs. Probably the same for things like retail and hospitality. Why work in a physically demanding job with irregular hours when you can get something better paid working from home?

Maybe what you say is true and employees in demand have the luxury of choosing to continue to wfh if that suits their individual circumstances, regardless of the impact on their customers or clients. But if that’s true, then at least own it.
Just seems strange to complain on Mumsnet that they can’t effectively wfh while insisting that they do still need to wfh.

The poster concerned couldn't return to the office more though, her employer has told her not to and there isn't a space for her to work. And for the part she can control, getting a second line, the 'why should I' is owning it.

A couple of points:

My employer does hybrid working and on my WFH days, my desk phone is diverted to my work mobile. So I am easily contactable. It’s not rocket science.

If I needed to pay cash/cheques into the bank on a regular basis, I would open a Post Office bank account, thankfully there still seem to be a lot of branches and at least that’s a way to get cash/cheques into the banking system.

Our GP surgery has the same amount of doctors as pre COVID. You can speak to a doctor on the same
day if it’s urgent but I’m not convinced the whole phone call appointment system saves anyone any time? Interestingly the nurses,
nurse practitioners, health care assistants and midwives are taking f2f appointments as ‘normal’

I also miss magazines in the hairdressers

And finally, my local gym still closes slightly earlier some evenings, due to COVID!

I agree, currently clinical staff still have to be off work if they have covid, they can't go in and infection everyone FFS. The person making the comment before is ridiculous, clearly no understanding of the pressures, covid and non covid.

I do agree with OP to an extent however DH works on hospitality and many places still haven't recovered from the huge debts of covid as well as the reduced number of people going out. Its not necessarily people off with covid anymore but the fact they simply can't afford more staff etc. Hospitality was properly stitched up during the pandemic.

And finally, my local gym still closes slightly earlier some evenings, due to COVID!

When in reality they have no staff who will work in the evenings.

Our GP surgery used to have an automated booking line and you could also book/amend/cancel on Patient Access. That disappeared when Covid arrived sadly and still isn't back.
So it's back to ringing and being x number in the queue and by the time they answer all appointments that day are gone try again tomorrow.

It really, really annoys me when I finally get through on the phone to someone, only for them to be distracted by dogs barking, children crying, "someone at the door", or whatever other lame excuse they provide for me having to keep repeating myself because they're not concentrating on the job they're being paid to do, usually followed by them not actually doing what I asked them to do, meaning I have to phone again a few days later to ask them yet again, usually with the same lack of concentration.

Ah, another one who thinks working from home must mean customer service.

But for those wfh roles that are customer service, the unpalatable reality is that as a sector, it's no longer paying enough to purchase sufficient staff who will pay for commuting costs, childcare and pet care from what are usually modest wages.

Exactly this less staff.

I was on a date night last night in an expensive pub.

Cue to just before 11pm but 10.45pm and a longish way from our table two staff were having a loud argument and swearing about the coffee machine, for at least 5 minutes. I had to ask for the bill and card machine and I told them off about the argument and asked where the manager was… didn’t seem to be an actual manager of the restaurant part around…. blank faces… from staff when I asked re manager. I also .couldn’t ring the pub as we were running slightly late.

just laziness and sloppiness in general. Customer service in some places is really dire. Not all places some places have gone and beyond but some just haven’t. They’d be wise to see we’re in a recession re customer services.

Changing rooms remaining closed really annoys me.

Especially when they're not even repurposed and were never staffed full time to begin with.

My local Asda never had staff on the changing rooms - just wander in and out. The changing rooms are still there now exactly the same, just with a closed sign.

I know that with changing rooms comes left clothes which needs a staff member - but for the amount of staff I see in Asda wandering around, 3 or 4 having a nice chat on the customer services desk etc, they hardly seem understaffed to me. Just poor management in not using the staff resources to the best possible effect.