Is this really legal???

[umpteennamechanges]

I had a thread last month about the same thing but now we're in a March style lockdown I'm even more

My DH is doing a business coaching course, they meet once a month when 20+ people come from all over the UK for a day together in a room with the business coach. It's hosted in London in the Hilton.

Last month I was very unhappy about it since London was in Tier 4 and it seemed totally irresponsible.

I really complained about it to DH who very reluctantly decided not to go (he sulked for a few hours). I'm not CEV but am in the 'more vulnerable' get a free flu jab group. We have a 66 year old lodger and we were meeting his parents in their 70s for Xmas the following week.

Anyway...we've gone into lockdown now, the case numbers are crazy, the new variant is spreading like wildfire. It didn't even cross my mind that it would go ahead in person this month.

DH has just informed me that it is going ahead next week.

That the Hilton have advised that it's perfectly legal to have a business meeting with 20+ people coming on public transport from all over the UK.

This seems fucking crazy.

I can't see that it's on the list of exceptions on the Govt website?

Can anyone find how this is supposedly legal?

Because I haven't reported anything but if this isn't legal I'm going to report it TBH.

You are allowed to meet in groups for work I'm sure?

It's work.

That’s crackers.

I think it would probably come under "work or accessing education" but it could presumably reasonably be done at home via zoom/teams or something.

If your DH actually intends to go I'd be asking him where he plans to stay while he's isolating on his return.

I think this comes under the category of just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should. It’s a stupid idea.

I suspect it's because it's work related - that can cover almost everything. How good is the distancing once they're there? Masks etc? Can he cancel and get any money back? Could the sessions be broadcast somehow?

It's completely stupid I agree, but I strongly suspect it's legal sadly.

I’d say it’s probably not necessary rather than illegal.

Why can it not be done via Zoom? It seems like madness that meetings like this can go on.

@GlitterSandcastle

I'm just wondering how the 66 year old lodger has two parents in their 70s

Really?

The lodger is 66.

The DH parents are in their 70s.

That's not right. I work in a GP surgery and out of our rooms we have to wear masks all the time..we stagger coffee and lunch breaks to reduce the number of people in the staffroom. And have to be careful in reception..we are lucky our building is quite spacious.
As with all these things just because they are allowed doesn't mean Mr covid virus says "I'm not allowed in there"
We had an area wide work meeting last night by zoom instead of in a hotel...800 people on zoom and in the comfort of my living room. It can be done

Legal yes (I suspect with some caveats) safe....no.

Is is essential? I think its entirely unreasonable to do this if there are alternatives ways of facilitating this such as Zoom.

Legally if challenged would it be considered work or education? Are people paying or being paid? is this activity part of their employment?

As far as I understand the government have suspended f2f teaching and education except for specific courses such as medicine. Is this guidance or law? you'd have to check.

Do I understand correctly - your husband is training to be a business coach? So this falls under education.
I agree with you OP.
Given that children aren’t allowed to access education unless they are vulnerable or key worker, it seems crazy this business coaching class would go ahead. It should be online.
I would never normally report anyone, but I think you should. This class should not be taking place in person.

@BornIn78

I think it would probably come under "work or accessing education" but it could presumably reasonably be done at home via zoom/teams or something.

If your DH actually intends to go I'd be asking him where he plans to stay while he's isolating on his return.

This is currently where we're at.

I said he can, of course, decide to go but he'll need to find somewhere else to stay for 7 days afterwards.

Bear in mind that it can all be done online and all these people are self-employed.

@RafaIsTheKingOfClay

I think this comes under the category of just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should. It’s a stupid idea.

That was exactly the line I used from Mumsnet last month!

@GlitterSandcastle

I'm just wondering how the 66 year old lodger has two parents in their 70s

Sorry possible punctuation fail. We have a 66 year old lodger and we were spending Xmas with DH's parents in their 70's

@GlitterSandcastle

I'm just wondering how the 66 year old lodger has two parents in their 70s

Me too!

It's unbelievable that this meeting isn't being done virtually though. There's literally no need for it to be an actual physical meeting.

@Enidblyton1

Do I understand correctly - your husband is training to be a business coach? So this falls under education. I agree with you OP. Given that children aren’t allowed to access education unless they are vulnerable or key worker, it seems crazy this business coaching class would go ahead. It should be online. I would never normally report anyone, but I think you should. This class should not be taking place in person.

My husband is a personal trainer (self employed).

He has paid to take part in a six month business coaching programme which includes weekly Zoom calls and a monthly face-to-face day.

The coaching programme is about improving the business aspects of his personal training (he runs a small 121 personal training studio).

So they go through things like best practice in advertising, how best to manage the finance side, best practice on your website, etc.

All very easily done over Zoom.

I was another wondering what had gone on for a 66 year old to have parents in their 70’s!

YANBU at all. The whole idea is bonkers and it concerns me what else the Hilton is facilitating. They seem to be stretching that clause very thin, I thought it was so business meetings that may result in job losses/economic fall out could go ahead (aka rich corporation business) not training.

I am also a type of coach...I'm so bloody annoyed at his coach being so irresponsible.

DH apparently thinks it's okay this month because he isn't seeing his parents

Normally DH is very sensible but he really looks up to this business coach who is very well known in the personal training industry and we had a very rare argument in December when I said he was being a total dick.

I think conferences are currently not allowed nor is education unless in certain courses so pretty sure it can't legally go ahead, the hotel should be cancelling

There are so many ‘worthy’ / selfishly used / blanket used exceptions.

Work - where you can work from home you should.

Zoom etc is adequate for this type of thing given the worldwide emergency 😡

I’d be tempted to ask the Hilton on Twitter what their justification was for allowing this type of thing to go ahead.

@Cornettoninja

I’d be tempted to ask the Hilton on Twitter what their justification was for allowing this type of thing to go ahead.

Good call - off to do that.

I'm very hormonal and ragey today.

Totally agree with you @umpteennamechanges