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.

The bloke is being ridiculous! Is it a public fb page ? I’d fight it out with him on there , for all to see.

His attitude on the call was extremely aggressive in tone...ranting and shouting.

And then he proceeded to say that I must have an issue with him personally and have "attacked him" and "ruined his reputation".

I pointed out that perhaps he has some unresolved issues if he takes this as a personal attack since I don't know him enough to care about attacking him personally.

And also that the ruining his reputation thing was rubbish because I didn't mention his name on Twitter or publicly at all, only on the direct message.

Then his response to me saying the event was irresponsible was to say "what about supermarkets, should they close down?"

So obviously I pointed out that there is a specific exception in the legislation for supermarkets.

He then said it was legal under the legislation. I said it definitely wasn't (I have checked)...so he started the whole "how would you even know?" line.

So I pointed out that I'd read the whole thing word for word this afternoon and have a law degree so I got "oh well...good for you".

Basically he's kind of a dick.

I told him he was both unprofessional and childish.

I really want to publicly talk about this all naming him now because the way he has dealt with it has been so shit.

But I will wait and see where DH is on the whole thing before I do that.

I have told DH to let him calm down a bit and then speak to him explaining that he fully supports his wife having an independent opinion and taking actions in line with that but pointing out that he wasn't involved and didn't even know about it himself so why should he be excluded.

He said I was unprofessional for the original tweets to the Hilton...

So I was like...huh?

I wasn't acting in a professional capacity so how does that work ?

He has said in a message to DH "I don't want to talk to your wife ever again"

As if I want to talk to him.

Methinks someone doesn't like any kind of challenge at all and he thought I'd cry or something. Erm, no.

I really hope you out him.

Some people are dicks and this past year has definitely showed their colours.
He clearly doesn't understand what being 'professional' means as if he did he would have paid attention to guidance/law and taken the course completely online as he clearly could do.
My professional institute has since the first lockdown taken all our meetings, training etc online. It's had its teething problems and isn't the same as in person however when we did our end of the year board meeting roundup we were surprised quite how successful we were at providing services, events, support, training etc for members and the public and also running our various committees and boards.
We even found in some sectors we ended up with wider engagement than we usually get. We are a mix of volunteers and paid employees.

He sounds like a right bully posting to the group and asking the person who contacted the Hilton to come forward.

I’m impressed that you gave him your number.

You sound brilliant OP, I do hope that your DH doesn’t hold it against you though.

This DEFINITELY is not what they mean for 'work meetings can go ahead if essential'. That is for e.g. when massive legal documents for M&A have to be negotiated and signed; or something extremely confidential is being discussed. Even then I can not really think of any reasons why you'd need an in person meeting to be honest.

Right now, there is no way a business coaching session (which sounds like something you just sign up to right, not even mandated by his workplace) should be going ahead in person.

@GlitterSandcastle

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

Same here

Because its work it's allowed, but its taking the piss and why we will take longer to get out if this when people don't take responsibility

Lovely woman called from the Hilton to assure me that they know the regulations say only essential business meetings that cannot take place face to face are what they are opening for.

That they advise anyone booking meetings or that has booked meetings of this.

I asked how this one had slipped through the net...her words "obviously we can advise the meeting hosts of this and we do check with them that they feel they meet the guidance but we have to take them at their word".

Which is quite different to what the coach said which is "the Hilton said it was okay and legal and so I can go ahead".

@umpteennamechanges

Lovely woman called from the Hilton to assure me that they know the regulations say only essential business meetings that cannot take place face to face are what they are opening for.

That they advise anyone booking meetings or that has booked meetings of this.

I asked how this one had slipped through the net...her words "obviously we can advise the meeting hosts of this and we do check with them that they feel they meet the guidance but we have to take them at their word".

Which is quite different to what the coach said which is "the Hilton said it was okay and legal and so I can go ahead".

Sorry should say "only essential business meetings that cannot take place other than face to face"

Surprise surprise!

If it does proceed you should call the police on them.

Yes do...presumably him and all people attending are at risk of a substantial fine.

"This DEFINITELY is not what they mean for 'work meetings can go ahead if essential'. That is for e.g. when massive legal documents for M&A have to be negotiated and signed; or something extremely confidential is being discussed. Even then I can not really think of any reasons why you'd need an in person meeting to be honest."

Very sensitive negotiations such as works councils discussing redundancies. 99% of business meetings can be done online though.

So he lied to the Hilton? God what a cock womble

He's doing it online now (as he should have).

Of course it's my fault that he is apparently "losing thousands".

I suspect this is bollocks as most things like this at the moment have full refund clauses because everything is changing all the time.

Even if it isn't - he should have known this wasn't allowed. Even without reading the legislation it is bloody obvious that if kids can't have face to face teaching and people can't visit dying relatives then you can't have a totally non-essential day training like this.

is anyone else finding herself a little bit in love with the OP? This thread has everything - silly husband, cat involvement, meathead cheeky fucker bloke, shouty phone call, apologetic phone call, Xenia intervention, Xenia blown out of the water, I could go on...

I cut this bit to paste but since then it's just got better. I think the thread needs to go in classics as well as the Daily Mail.

"He knows about the tweeting. He doesn't mind - it's the sort of thing he's come to expect from me.

I did say I really wanted to complain to his coach, but I know it will embarrass him so haven't. He didn't say anything and just played with the cat as an awkward distraction technique/silence filler. "

Yep, OP is my ballsy hero.

How is he losing thousands? Is he refunding everyone? He's an unprofessional twat and his being in the top three is utter shit. This has all the hallmarks of a US style mentor who makes his living running useless courses.

Your husband is being a bit gullible and naive - he won't learn anything of real value from this cowboy. He would be much better off doing a basic marketing course, social media course and accounting course, and studying the real professionals. Not this cowboy.

I'm dying to know who it is and to watch their youtube vid

Not really covering himself in glory there, is he?