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?

Exactly @Pugdoglife . OP, the point is, your health and safety officers have been able to implement the social distancing recommendations that the Government propose in order to keep going. You haven't been told that it's not possible, so you should just be prepared to assume the risk without precautions.

@Enterthewolves they need to get on with it then

Not hard to imagine that different jobs have different risks. I must have missed all the young children running round on construction sites

multivac
BMA council chair, Dr Chaand Nagpaul is very political/critical of the government generally;

archive.bma.org.uk/news/media-centre/press-releases/2019/november/bma-calls-for-guarantees-that-nhs-is-excluded-from-future-trade-deals

archive.bma.org.uk/news/media-centre/press-releases/2019/november/incredibly-disappointing-health-spending-in-conservative-manifesto-does-not-meet-levels-needed

I'd suggest the reason you aren't seeing complaints from e.g. construction, and if adequate social distancing measures aren't being implemented in those areas, it is because construction isn't very effectively unionised, so there aren't effective mechanisms in place to ensure the protection of workers.

Rail workers are effectively unionised, work in the private sector, and their unions are extremely keen to ensure that their workers are adequately protected when train use increases.

@mywayhighway need to hand my notice in? Nope, you might like me to. But I have no need to. Plus with a severe shortage of workers in my area I dont think anyone really wants me to. Again, as I said...talking without any understanding.

BMA council chair, Dr Chaand Nagpaul is very political/critical of the government generally

Your point being?

The guidance is “where possible” in regards to social distancing.

And if you can't maintain 2m, what then? Is the advice to seat yourself faced away from colleagues, wear masks and consider if your job could possibly be done remotely?

Or just say hey ho, what the hell?

I work in outpatients, we are desperate to get our patients seen, our patients have lifelong needs so care is ongoing from when we get them referred until they pass or move away. We have made huge changes to enable us to do as much as possible remotely. We have continued services for those who are at risk using all possible measures to keep everyone safe. We are not alone, almost every department is doing anything it can to, safely, continue care of those most in need.

I think you are too removed to see what is being done - which isn't a criticism, if you read any paper you would be led to that conclusion. It is exceptionally frustrating however we have seen/assisted/cared for around 5000 people since lockdown and we are a tiny department (info can easily be verified via FOI request). Don't believe everything you read, everyone has an agenda right now.

they need to get on with it then
Er, isn't that what the unions are trying to do?

My DH is private sector and has worked throughout, just got on with it despite having asthma, he is at work now.

Yesterday all employees received an email that furlough now may be an option depending on how long this goes on.

So you are wrong OP

Well one of the big differences is that in the private sector they’re spending money.

Altering premises, hiring staff, providing equipment...

Agree OP. The Unions are circling, and are going to escalate the disharmony within the public sector. Absolutely no doubt about that.

Sorry that should have said PUBLIC! Duh!

Why do you feel the need to make this public v private sector? There are large parts of the public sector, that have been quietly getting on with it throughout, as I'm sure there have been in the private sector. No one hears about those on either side. Teaching does have some unique difficulties to overcome that make it more of an issue, although I do agree that it would be nice to see less panic, and more of a problem solving mindset.

I am public sector and have been working all through this and so has my DH. Neither of us have moaned about having to work, in fact it is the opposite. I am grateful that if I or my DH gets symptoms and we have to self isolate that we won’t have to worry about pay. My DH is public facing so at quite considerable risk, especially as he is a police officer and there are a fair number of people spitting at the police. My work environment is huge so although we are social distancing as best we can I am still in contact with a large number of people when I am unable to work from home. We are both just getting on with it.

multivac
BMA council chair, Dr Chaand Nagpaul is very political/critical of the government generally. Your point being?

He generally sends out as many anti-government (and anti-Brexit) letters, articles and press releases as he can.

OP you must be looking forward to a no-deal Brexit and a subsequent bonfire of employment and health and safety regulation! I mean why were these stupid rules brought in anyway? Ridiculous. You didn’t hear people complaining in the olden days, they cheerfully went up chimneys, got caught in looms, fell into machinery and off buildings! Going to work and being poisoned or burnt was just part of life. People today are such snowflakes!

Public sector are working. Some like the police can’t social distance. Some work with adults and children they can’t distance from.

Private sector are working and the same applies.

From what I see the people on public transport going to work are predominantly men. Almost 100%.

Why do you feel the need to make this public v private sector?

Because that's the story being fed to people via the media. It's deliberately divisive. Look at the thread title "Why have we not heard complaining from..." Where are we 'hearing complaining'? On the front pages, and in the broadcasts, that's where.

@Peggysgettingcrazy but you can do that now. Meet your child's friends at 2 meters.

I can't as my children are too young to meet solo with a friend - we would have to meet in a group. At least four of us as each child would have to be accompanied by an adult in the park.

But there are huge problems with some schools opening and not others. Some kids getting an education and not others.
But this is exactly what is happening now - those without chromebooks and online lessons and some with.
At least with school openings, the vulnerable kids are targetted to return to school and get some education and normality in their lives.

And I'm not saying schools should just open for social purposes, I'm saying that we shouldn't under estimate the social purpose of schools.
I'm not expecting full-on academic education when the children return.
It's also as important for the children to be educated about what is happening around them and for them to be able to talk and discuss with peers and teachers about it - share experiences, etc.

Hope this clarifies my points for you.

The government did a fantastic job of frightening everyone into staying in but now they need reminding that the purpose was to flatten the curve so the NHS could cope, it was never to stop infections happening at all. The time is approaching where we need to accept a bit of risk, carry on and get the country going again. We're not being sent to war, we have it easy in comparison to generations past. The economy is going to be completely destroyed if this is allowed to continue for months on end. That will cost lives too.

It’s not as black and white as you make out OP.
DH works in the private sector but in an industry deemed as key/essential so has worked right through. There have been huge levels of dissent and lack of co operation from staff despite what seems to me to be a really well co ordinated response by the company to instigate social distancing and employee safety. Approx 30% of the workforce are off ‘sick’ and not with COVID.

I’m a nurse. My service has been hit hard by COVID and we have had huge numbers of our existing caseload die. We are now working damn hard to get a ‘new’ service up and running so that we can meet the needs of non covid patients AND care for those who will inevitably become infected. Every single member of our multi disciplinary team from physios to OTs to speech therapists is doing the same.

Out experience with school and support for home education has been woeful. It’s no surprise to me that our school is vociferous in it’s opposition to reopening but it’s already heavily unionised. My nephews and nieces attend a school 4 miles away. Totally different, collaborative approach.

I can't as my children are too young to meet solo with a friend - we would have to meet in a group. At least four of us as each child would have to be accompanied by an adult in the park.

My point being that you said you feel schools and families should be able to make their own risk assesments. So do that, make a risk assesment and meet one of your child's friends and parents at a park.

Yes children are receiving unequal education now. But recieving unequal education whole increasing risk isn't any better.

I dont think schools shouldn't be open. But I cant see how it can happen and still be low risk.

You shouldn't be expected to risk your life, to fulfil your employment