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Original poster

Please give me examples of "non essential" jobs that you or friends/relatives are expected to do because those jobs can't be done from home ...

91 replies

ChicChicChicChiclana · 24/04/2020 19:18

A car wash was open on my high street today (London, most hard-hit borough).

I understand that the workers there want to carry on working because they are getting cash in hand and the business is probably not registered in any way (so they can't be furloughed).

They had customers. WHO??? If I can live with long straggly greying hair, I can live with a dirty car.

So, the people who are still working outside of your home - and aren't seen as a key worker - what is your job, what are you having to do?

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 24/04/2020 20:06

Oh and don't lick the boiler obviously

Or the person fitting it Grin

Waxonwaxoff0 · 24/04/2020 20:08

I've seen loads of requests on our local spotted page from people wanting jobs done in their homes. A pregnant lady posted the other day asking for a carpet fitter to come and carpet her baby's room ready for the baby arriving!

compassunreliable · 24/04/2020 20:08

A gas boiler can silently kill you if it's not functioning correctly (or loudly kill you if it explodes). Part of the annual service is to make sure it's still safe. I can understand why people would still want it serviced.

Original poster
ChicChicChicChiclana · 24/04/2020 20:09

Cleaners.

Cleaners are not essential in all cases.

If they work somewhere that has to stay open through the pandemic then sure.

If they work for someone who is disabled or incapable of cleaning, then yes of course (although my 88 year old Mum is doing without hers for now because she is worried about being infected by her).

But all the cleaners who work for households/shops/restaurants/offices that are closed ... then they must be furloughed also?

OP posts:
DrMadelineMaxwell · 24/04/2020 20:10

I'm 'essential' when I do leave the house as I'm on the rota for covering the hub school and had a lovely thank you today from the NHS worker saying thanks to us for making it possible for him to go to work.

But DH is full of chagrin as he makes parts and boards in a factory, including often the parts for airline panels (but it's not an aeronautic business) and yet they are still open, filling back orders or stocking stuff up for when demand lifts again. They have furloughed the other part of their factory, so he's annoyed he's still going to work while they aren't.

AvocadoPrime · 24/04/2020 20:10

Well my partner is a playground inspector. The playgrounds are all shut but apparently they still need daily safety inspections.

BarbaraofSeville · 24/04/2020 20:11

Some factories are still working. Certainly any related to food manufacturing, transport, packaging or distribution and there's more than you might think.

Lots of construction and similar still working, eg landscaping or similar. You don't necessarily only need to be on actual essential work, only to not be able to work at home. I know a new build housing site still working and someone in landscaping. Both unlikely to get help if they don't work as there's also far more gaps in the self-employed schemes than you'd first realise and that's without those who have fiddled their taxes. Lots of victims of big companies forcing people to be 'self employed' rather than committing to employment rights and employers NI.

Plus there's the factories making PPE and other medical items of course.

ivykaty44 · 24/04/2020 20:13

Gardener is still working, he works solo & doesn’t come into contact with his clients, appointments donr by phone and payment electronic.

It’s not breaking any rules or putting anyone in danger

compassunreliable · 24/04/2020 20:14

It's not about essential or not essential though so why keep repeating that?

Original poster
ChicChicChicChiclana · 24/04/2020 20:14

Worra

If it's ok to have someone in your house doing non-essential maintenance work then you might as well have someone in your house doing non-essential drinking tea and eating cake. Don't you think?

OP posts:
QuestionMarkNow · 24/04/2020 20:15

DH factory is still open and building - automotive industry

I suspect quite a few of those cleaners are SE

PineappleDanish · 24/04/2020 20:16

Surprised anyone would have a non-essential boiler service just now.

We have no-one in the house in a vulnerable group. We had an email from the company before the engineer to explain their policy and ask that we keep our distance. The engineer arrived, I opened the door while he stood back, explained where the boiler was, I went back into the house into another room and in he came. Once he was set up I went to the kitchen door to speak to him. I was never closer than 10 feet. (Although close enough to smell the godawful Lynx he had sprayed around liberally).

I assessed it as low-risk for our family. Would do exactly the same again.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 24/04/2020 20:16

No one had said only essential workers are allowed to work though.

We've been told that we can go to work if working from home is not possible. So it's down to individual businesses whether they stay open or not.

SnugglySnerd · 24/04/2020 20:16

I've seen several people locally having skips delivered, windows cleaned and driveways laid. My friend is continuing to work as a gardener. All outdoor jobs with no contact with other people so I can see why they are continuing to work.

TabbyMumz · 24/04/2020 20:17

You have to remember that the classification "essential" was only given to people do as they could access childcare. Its absolutely not the case that you can only work if you are essential. Anyone can go to work if they cant work from home. So yes, cleaners can come into that category.

flowerpeaceful · 24/04/2020 20:19

laboratory based work. Friend is working for a big Pharma company which makes medicine. They can't work at home.

TabbyMumz · 24/04/2020 20:23

I think a lot of people think you can only work if your job is classed as essential. That's not the case. Anyone can work if they cant work from home. I know loads of people who dont have a laptop so are travelling to work as normal. Its allowed as long as social distancing can be done.

yerawizadari · 24/04/2020 20:29

I work in finance for an organisation that is part of the supply chain for protective clothing and various other things.

We have a seriously secure computer network. And I mean secure. I don't want my home broadband linked to it.

Original poster
ChicChicChicChiclana · 24/04/2020 20:34

tabbymumz
"I think a lot of people think you can only work if your job is classed as essential. That's not the case. Anyone can work if they cant work from home. I know loads of people who dont have a laptop so are travelling to work as normal. Its allowed as long as social distancing can be done."

Yes, I know. So I was asking for examples of those types of jobs.

OP posts:
Original poster
ChicChicChicChiclana · 24/04/2020 20:36

Waxonwaxoff

"No one had said only essential workers are allowed to work though.

We've been told that we can go to work if working from home is not possible. So it's down to individual businesses whether they stay open or not."

Indeed. And this thread is about businesses that are staying open because their employees can't work from home. Please add your examples.

OP posts:
OpthalmosVerde · 24/04/2020 20:37

Vets and support staff. Those supporting food production (farm and abbatoir work) are on the essential list but the rest of us are still soldiering on independently if our businesses can support us. Many are furloughed purely due to the economics of the situation.

Other people I know going to work are accountants and legal bods where WFH is not possible (mostly insufficient computer stuffs), post office worker (are they on the list though?), gardeners.

Really the only people not going out to work will be those where demand has dried up so there’s no work to do, or office workers of all flavours who have sufficient computer power to work from home. Everyone else surely is still going out to work.

TabbyMumz · 24/04/2020 20:40

I'm not sure why you need examples? It's fairly obvious isnt it?

WorraLiberty · 24/04/2020 20:44

If it's ok to have someone in your house doing non-essential maintenance work then you might as well have someone in your house doing non-essential drinking tea and eating cake. Don't you think?

Only if drinking tea and eating cake keeps the roof over their heads, pays their bills and keeps their children fed Confused

Deliaskis · 24/04/2020 20:48

Also it's supply chain that you need to consider. DH is an engineer and makes machinery for the food industry. He's not essential.... but he's working. There must be many many businesses who supply in some way to industries that are essential. From IT systems to office supplies to water coolers or whatever. The businesses that are keeping us all fed, and the utility companies, not to mention obviously suppliers to the NHS. That's actually a lot of people that really need to keep showing up for work.

HateIsNotGood · 24/04/2020 20:50

I think Car Washing is a good example of a job that can be done whilst adhering to Social Distancing guidelines.

Probably some Sports Training too. And probably Window Cleaners. Two Plumbers were needed to replace the Boiler next door - a major job completed in just one day - after 2 weeks of no hot water.

Maybe not so much Performing Arts although everyone and their Auntie seem to be uploading their Performances online at the mo.

And possibly photographers can find their hidden talents making photographs beyond their 'professional genres'.

See OP, lots of examples and you provided quite a few examples yourself.