Why have we not heard complaining fro people working in private sector?

[mywayhighway]

You’d think the only people working at the moment were public sector. DH and I have luckily worked throughout the lockdown, DH is in construction, they have cracked on and found a way around every Covid19 related issue quietly and without fuss. Exactly the same in my workplace (manufacturing). Mainly it’s not rocket science. You don’t hear complaints from supermarket staff or smaller shops keepers.
I’m getting increasingly angry at sectors refusing to get back to work and it’s always public sector jobs where they have big unions and guaranteed wages and no threat of being laid off. Things need to dramatically change, people need to accept the risks and get back to work or hand their notice in. Schools are a prime example and next it’s going to be NHS therapies. Can’t they see they’re refusing to do their job is ultimately going to cause more deaths and have a much detrimental impact than Covid19 long term? Why are public sector workers so special?

A

Any minute now you'll be accused of "teacher bashing" and people will start posting daffodils and #solidarity

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Do you have young children not able to social distance in your manufacturing plant or on your DH's construction site?

A little unfair I think. Many public sectors are just continuing working under similar circumstances to yourself. I am one of them and none of us have complained or moaned.

There are some loud vocal people on Mumsnet but do not presume the represent the whole of that sector.

I do agree with you though teachers probably need to accept going to work even with the risks it brings. Poverty (caused by the impending economy collapse) will kill many thousands so anything to get the country working is vital IMHO

Aren't most in the private sector just beavering on wfh if they are able to?

If my DH was unable to do his full job wfh then, subject to measures being in place to protect him, he would go to work but would drive there.

My DH is in construction but not yet back to work as in Scotland. The housing development he was on before had 1 portaloo for 60 workers with cold water and no soap. If it's like that when he does back then yes you will hear me on here naming and shaming the company.

I've been furloughed from the charity I work for as will a lot of private sector workers and until they are back to work you won't get any feedback

Do you have young children not able to social distance in your manufacturing plant or on your DH's construction site?

I suspect most workforces have a large percentage of people who, for one reason or another, are not good at social distancing or maintaining the levels of hygiene currently required.

@myrtleWilson there’s been all sorts of issues we’ve had to overcome. You’d be surprised such as using a crane basket and other construction and manufacturing methods. They’ve been logically looked at and worked out. Everyone accepts there wil always be some risks (as usual) but are grateful they still have a job.

I honestly don't know why.

My company furloughed most. Put guidence and new H&S in place and now nearly back at full capacity. Last week we made 85% of what we normally would. In 4 weeks we should be up to over 100% and making a dent in the deficit from the march/April.

I support because our decisions were made in house and with the assistance of the HSE. Not by government, made for long term business reasons and the good of the employees.

We did have social media/piers morgan moment early on. Which is why we furloughed most staff instead of just the ones that couldn't work, socially distanced.

The plan was to keep people working who could, safely. Furlugh the rest while we sorted things. We had to change that because of the potential media backlash from people not understanding that no one said 'you can only open if you are an essential business'.

Our company is actually opening a new division at the request of our biggest customers. Provate sector jobs are not going to attract as much attention. Nor kick up as just of a fuss. Its not going to get the same sort of attention.

OP, you are missing the point if you think the arguments about schools going back are just about safety of pupils and school staff (very important though those things are). Bringing lots of children together in schools massively increases transmission routes for the virus, so a return too early will see infection rates soar, making the risks higher for everyone whose job brings them into contact with others, regardless of whether they have any connection with a school.

Teachers. Have. Not. Stopped. Fucking. Working.

HTH.

I was chatting to the bank during the week and could hear Peppa pig in the background... who cares, everyone is just cracking on doing their best

No because private sector workers can be furloughed. YABVU

And I say that as a private sector worker.

@multivac I’m referring to getting back into the workplace. Teaching from home indefinitely is not adequate, it’s been a solution for lockdown but we’re moving onto the next phase now.
@Peggysgettingcrazy I loved reading your post and hope others can be as successful as you.

Agree with you @mywayhighway, but it isn’t just public sector moaners. My husband has a private sector business where they are now allowed back to work. He’s got two members of staff (both healthy, under 45) who are refusing to come back because of “the risk”. He’s had all the offices deep cleaned, provided PPE, new policies for safety etc - and it’s not a particularly high risk area of work anyway. He says if they aren’t back by the date he’s set - 21 May - he’ll start HR proceedings the following week.

I'm not aware of any NHS staff who have refused to work. Where treatments/operations have been cancelled, it's because hospital management have made that decision as part of preparations for an influx of Covid-19 patients, not because individual staff refused to work.

But my point was that each workplace is different and the requirements and timeline for opening up places of work will be different and I don't think its a big ask for staff going into the work place to say - is this safe, will it lead to an increase in transmissions. Private sector manufacturing hasn't got it right always - am aware of a plant that has just gone into a voluntary shut down because of a plethoration of cases - so their health and safety/covid secure was not as effective as it could be.

If sectors are forbidden to open (travel, hospitality) I agree there’s nothing you can do and staff need to be furloughed. Likewise if you can work from home that’s a great solution.
But those who are allowed need to stop digging their heels in and work out how to make it work.

Not sure why you think public sector staff haven't been working. Bin day today here and the bin men have turned up and emptied the bins just as they have done every bin day throughout lockdown.

I agree a lot of companies put in place measures very quickly and continued to work.

But those who are allowed need to stop digging their heels in and work out how to make it work..

I think this is true to a certain degree.

But I have seen that attitude in private sector too.

However, I am still confused about how kids can all get into school recieved a decent education and keep the r rate down. Especially as teacher won't have to go in of someone in their household is shielding.

It is far easier in some professions than others.

If that's what you meant, OP, that's what you should have said, rather than stating "I’m getting increasingly angry at sectors refusing to get back to work" and talking about people "refusing to do their job".

It's not only misleading, divisive and insulting to describe teachers thus, it's also naive to confuse reopening schools with, for example, carrying on a construction business. The BMA has confirmed that the 5 tests for safe reopening proposed by the NEU should be met.

@ChippityDoDa I agree HR needs to step in. Same needs to happen in public sector.
@LilyPond2 just wait it’s about to happen my sister is a NHS therapist. They’re about to start refusing to do their jobs without unrealistic demands like schools. I’m much more scared of what’s to come than Covid19.

Couldn’t agree more OP. I’m public sector here, but still working as hard as ever. We’ve had massive redeployment to cover critical areas so those of us left are picking up more workload and having to find workarounds and be creative.
Exactly as it should be. We ALL need to do our part to get through this.

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