So that's effectively everyone who works in a pub, club, theatre or restaurant out of work for at least 12 weeks?

[DoubleAction]

Is it? Or am I misunderstanding something?

Most of those won't be paid if they don't work and there won't be any customers.

Unless I missed it there was nothing said about them or what support there will be for them

Mindproject it is interesting you say that. Last week there was huge criticism, including on mn, of the government for caring more about the economy than about people.

(And also a few lone voices pointing out that the economy is people, and in particular is employment and self-employment.)

They are relaxing the benefit rules so anyone who is not working due to this doesn’t need to wait six weeks and mortgage companies will give three month mortgage holidays. For businesses who shut they are going to find a way they can re open when it’s over.

Absolutely nothing in place for renters though. And yep, I'm sure new UC claimants increasing tenfold will mean the process will speed up

Some people refuse to admit they may have made the wrong choice in the elections, don't they?

Nothing in place for renters, nothing in place for self-employed who can't work from home, nothing in place to recognise that people want to work but physically cannot.

Apart from signing up to the dogshit system that is UC which already penalises those who're self-employed; I am apoplectic on my poor dads behalf.

Each day is different from the last in terms of what we are to do as a nation and today's advice for pubs, clubs, shops etc to remain open could be next week's forced closure. Let's try and sit tight x

There are calls in the States for a universal basic income. Right now they're floating $1k per adult, $500 per child for everyone for at least a month. And at least one moderate Republican senator indicated support, meaning it might be able to get past the Senate if it gets passed in the house.

It doesn't help the long term in the slightest. But it does help some of the short term crunch. There's also talk of grants for small, independent restaurants. I'm surprised the UK isn't talking more openly about it right now.

They let people get used to the idea for a day or two, then it becomes a hard measure. Once people have been told to not go there, it makes sense that the next step is "actually you must close", because anyone who goes is directly contravening advice. And if the pubs and bars close, it seems stupid that massive commercial centres are allowed to be open, and schools, so they close too. And then you start getting the scary messages from nurses in hospitals about overcrowding and choosing who to save. And that's when they tell you how you have to stay in your house other than for the shopping and it feels like you're living through a war. That's how it went in Italy 4 days ago.

My mortgage company isn't offering holidays

Canitreallybehappening - I must admit, my first reaction months ago was to stop flights coming to the UK. If we had done that, we may have prevented it for a while, maybe. I then thought it would be best to close the schools. But, in reality all this is pointless and I agree we should just all get on with living and let the vulnerable stay at home. It takes a while for the penny to drop and work out some of the consequences of our actions.

Let's just stick two fingers up to the virus and keep things going. We really need to focus our efforts on making sure we can produce enough food for everyone now.

As a restaurant manager the non forced closure is much worse than a forced closure.

Tomorrow I have 5 team members scheduled to work the day shift and 12 in the night. If I think it will be quiet ordinarily I'll call them all at the start of the day and ask if anyone wants the shift off. If they say no on a normal day, don't ever force them to have time off, just try to absorb the costs through the week. However if I try to give them tomorrow off in this climate, they will obviously all say no in anticipation of us eventually closing for good. So until there is a forced closure I will be paying 15-20 people a day whilst taking about £1500 a day in sales. I will take less and less in sales per day and my team will be less and less likely to take offered time off.

I work in a restaurant that is performing well and it is a massive concern for me. I cannot imagine how much worse it would be if my restaurant was not performing well. I currently enploy 50 staff and who knows what will happen to them.

Anyone notice the definite class divide here? Peopke being told to wfhwhen possible. This excludes most low paid jobs - cafes, bar staff, cleaners, theatre staff, construction, tradesmen etc.

I live in quite a MC area and most people have desk based jobs (lawyers, banking, consultancy etc) and already wfh certain days anyway. Lots of memes on fb - "keep calm and wfh/your grandparents were called to war, all you need to do is sit and watch netflix" etc
And lots of younger friends w/o kids shouting we need lockdown, close the schools. And Boris cares more about the economy than peoples lives - the 2 are inseparable. While they sit at their lap tops at home I will go to my workplace on public transport as long as I can to pay the bills and feed my children.

Agree @Pippitypong

And those of us in office jobs who can easily work from home are generally in the non-essential roles. We were saying today how long before we're drafted in to help - with what I'm not sure as we don't have medical skills or mechanical skills. We might be able to make tea and take the bins out?

The bigger problem I foresee is getting customers back in after this is all over. Many may well realise they can have just as much fun eating and drinking at home or with friends. Without the expense or even the taxi fares.
The whole social dynamics could well change.

@contentedsoul

I think once people can go out again a lot of people will want to go out.People will be nervous at first but if you deprive someone of something they tend to crave it.

I can see a boom in the future for pubs and cafes but right now it's tough for them andreally awful the Gov hasn't closed these venues as that would mean compensation

"And Boris cares more about the economy than peoples lives - the 2 are inseparable."

yes - that realisation seemed to be absent from lots of discussions about this until today (including some on mn!) i think the people who forsaw the implications for the lower paid, 'gig workers', etc were nervous to speak up for fear of being thought callous.

My job is pretty non essential (except to our family obviously) I can do maybe 10% from home but nothing that generates income.

My business has just gone down the pan thanks to this virus. I’ve just watched my full diary empty and I’m a lone parent so it’s desperate times . My teenage son is going to lose his job as an apprentice chef in a top restaurant as all their bookings are cancelling.. he’s devastated as left catering college to take the position after being head hunted by the head chef .. I’ve literally cried all day

today's advice for pubs, clubs, shops etc to remain open could be next week's forced closure

Yes they have been told to stay open, but people have been told not to go. So they might as well close. Thinking about my favourite cafe, where everything is cooked fresh, are they going to buy in all their usual lettuce, cheeses, bread, herbs etc when they have no idea if they can sell it?
Fortunately they have been extremely busy recently so I’m hoping they can ride this out.

If Johnson had said that everyone had to close then at least they would know what they were doing and manage accordingly.

I feel so much for everyone who looks like they might lose their job or business

@Spacecadetagain I haven't got any words of wisdom but I'm hoping things will be ok for you. Really tough times at the moment.

I don't think they were actually told to stay open in the press conf were they, more that they weren't told to close but Boris did say something about ''they'll act accordingly'"- it was a bit unclear tbh.

But presumably the aim is that people will follow the advice not to go to them?

I’ve been saying for the last week the Johnson won’t do anything for fear of harming the economy.
He does not give one fuck about people who wait tables, work in kitchens or pull pints so long as his investment don’t suffer.

This is his answer for low paid workers, self employed and gig workers.

WTF has the living wage got to do with it?

I feel for people in this situation. I was in a similar situation a few years ago and I totally understand how precarious it is.

He has no fucking idea what it’s like to be living from pay check to pay check.

My family run a hotel. Have done for years and years. But this is going to finish us. Its absolutely devastating 😥

@peoplepleaser1

Your comment Was anything said about non essential shops. DH works in luxury retail (ugh that sounds so ridiculous), should his store be closing?

I work in HR for a luxury retailer, all that can WFH are and everyone else is volunteering to come in but footfall has drastically reduced as you can imagine. We are crunching numbers for no sales for a prolonged period.

Preparing for a closure as we are non essential (always have been non essential 😂)

Self isolation and social distancing is all very well for people with nice houses, gardens and secure jobs that they can do from home.

Not so much fun for the homeless or those in vulnerable housing, or living in shared houses (as under 35s in receipt of benefit are expected to do)

Also no word on people with alcohol and drug additions, wouldn't they be far more at risk than a healthy, working 70 year old?