Boris briefing at 11am today

[Scottishgirl85]

More easing? Please 3 households indoor at a time so our holiday can go ahead!

@Dobbyssoc exactly, you can't please everyone all the time.

@TimeForLunch I feel responsible employers should give a choice to their employees.

Being back in work is fine in theory. Once you’re in an office with three other people all on different zoom conference calls it gets a bit annoying.

I really missed Whitty and Valence not being there. Whitty is the only one I truly trust.

I hate how Boris goes through the questions so quickly as if he’s above it all and it’s a waste of his time.

I think going back to work if it’s Covid secure when you can work from home and employer and employee are in agreement on it is fair enough, but I think lots of employers will now be expecting and pressurising employees to go in regardless. There is the potential here for a new way of working for many that can help work life balance and productivity as well as being better for the environment and I don’t think it should be discouraged.

Strange timing to do it as well, why not their usual 5pm?

@Dobbyssoc as do I. Isn't that the plan though, for employers to have flexibility on whether or not to have staff back in? Of course not all employers are responsible as is the case anytime, Covid or not.

@TimeForLunch unfortunately an hour after the briefing my employer sent round an email saying everyone to be back in the office from the 1st no exceptions.
It's a shame as it's worked really well from home

@Dobbyssoc that doesn't sound fair at all. I would have thought most companies would use the opportunity to continue wfh for some whilst using less office space for those needed or wanting to be in the office.

@Reastie

I really missed Whitty and Valence not being there. Whitty is the only one I truly trust.

I hate how Boris goes through the questions so quickly as if he’s above it all and it’s a waste of his time.

I think going back to work if it’s Covid secure when you can work from home and employer and employee are in agreement on it is fair enough, but I think lots of employers will now be expecting and pressurising employees to go in regardless. There is the potential here for a new way of working for many that can help work life balance and productivity as well as being better for the environment and I don’t think it should be discouraged.

Strange timing to do it as well, why not their usual 5pm?

Probably earlier so that Bojo can nip off to the country for the weekend as per usual

Lockdown was never intended to be permanent, although some would clearly like it to be

Its not lockdown we want, its more flexible working. Lockdown enabled employers (and employees) to see that WFH can be done.

WFH is better for mental health, for your wallet, for work/life balance, for the environment, for commuting etc.

Yes not every job can be done from home, and not everyone wants to work from home.

But employers need to be much more flexible and open than they were before and that's what Boris should have made clearer rather than enabling employers to pretend every job needs to be office based.

Seems sensible now they know it's airborne

WFH is better for mental health

For you maybe. The opposite is true for many.

Basically you can agree with your employer if you want to/ can continue to work from home. Work places should be covid secure of course.So do what you and your employer want

No for most people it will be do what your employer wants. That is what is proposed in the guidelines/regulations. People who are working perfectly effectively from home are being told to go into work even if shielding/caring for shielders.

Its nothing to do with people "preferring" working from home - some do some don't. The idea that the choice will be with the employee is laughable. And whilst employers will be expected to put a fig leaf of covid security in place they are under no obligation to take transport into account.
Its transport which will be a major issue both for current homeworkers and for thoses who have to work on site.

@FizzyGreenWater

It's like we don't actually have a prime minister

Frankly, we'd be better off!

who will buy the flats if the economy is on its knees?
people will buy the flats when the price drops to an affordable level, and that's what we want, affordable homes!

'And whilst employers will be expected to put a fig leaf of covid security'

Wtf is a 'figleaf' of covid security? Do you mean social distancing, staggered start times, staggered breaks, hand sanitiser available, face covers?

What would you suggest, everyone stays home until July 2021? Luckily for us the NHS, key workers and retailers are managing to put these 'fig leaves' in place isn't it.

Get to work, wash your hands and keep your distance.

@Stopyourhavering64

I'll have been shielding ( but working from home) for 5 months by time I return to work as HCP in hospital in August....feel like a lamb to the slaughter....after 33 yrs in NHS seriously considering retirement ...the government are reckless and clearly not listening to the scientific community

If you have been working from home, talk to your managers,they might see the value in retaining you in a WFH basis if losing you entirely is their other option.

As you're shielding, I think you'd be MAD to go & work in a hospital in August

Would you be ok financially if you told them to shove itretired?

Only those with money in the bank or very good job security buy property in a recession. Most people don't have the funds or confidence.

'Cheap flats will be bought by would-be landlords. Not those who need affordable homes.

Boris goes through the questions so quickly as if he’s above it all and it’s a waste of his time
I agree except that there's no 'as if', he really does think that he's above it all and that these boring details are a waste of his time

@crosseyedMary

who will buy the flats if the economy is on its knees? people will buy the flats when the price drops to an affordable level, and that's what we want, affordable homes!

Actually landlords will buy the flats and people will pay extortionate rents.

@IcedPurple

WFH is better for mental health

For you maybe. The opposite is true for many.

There is quite a majority who have preferred WFH, but yes, not all.

The whole idea of public transport and the opening of stadia is very concerning. It's as though they are inviting a second wave. We've all gone through so much already. Shouldn't we be going for eradication or as near possible?

@YonBonnieBanks WFH is extremely detrimental for my mental health personally, so that's not true for everyone!

I think the logic is we already have the worst death rate, so let's see if we can somehow keep things running and don't worry about the death rate

Or else they think that enough people will ignore them and follow the scientists line that they might just get away with it

@Keepdistance

Seems sensible now they know it's airborne

😂🥺

'think the logic is we already have the worst death rate'

www.statista.com/statistics/1104709/coronavirus-deaths-worldwide-per-million-inhabitants/

Belgium does. Although tbh these figures surely should be taken with a pinch of salt as it is reported that PHE have been over reporting. Why though, are they thick?! how can something as simple as recording the cause of death be open to interpretation.

One of the things that surely needs to come out of this is all countries must standardise how they collect data. I bet Germany haven't been recording someone who died of a heart attack 3 months after a positive test as a Covid death.