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Deaths everywhere, yet we are still going to work this morning. Why?

532 replies

TwirpingBird · 21/01/2021 06:56

I am sitting here watching BBC breakfast with another harrowing video of ITU nurses at breaking point, ambulances lined up outside, 1800 dead yesterday, and headlines of 'lockdown isnt working', 'people arent complying' blah blah blah. Its all 'you need to follow the rules, you need to stay at home. I am seething.

My husband is leaving for work in an hour where he will enter 5 houses today to do completely non essential work because the government deem him a 'key worker'. My best friend will go to work in her office in a interior design company because she is a 'key worker'. Her husband will go to work giving quotes for kitchens in people's houses because his boss deems him a 'key worker'. None of my friends are on furlough. We are all seeing nobody outside of work. We are all sticking to the 'rules'. But how could we possibly expect the rules to work when everyone is still getting in their cars this morning?

I am raging angry. I am SICK and TIRED of being told 'follow the rules'. WE ARE!!! The rules make no bloody sense. And people are still dropping like flies, and experts are saying the lockdown isnt working, and the public are still being tarred as 'lacking empathy' because we are killing people. We are going to work! Kids are still in school! And then we come home and we do what we can but its never going to be enough. I am starting to wonder why I am bothering to hide myself away, managing a 2 year old and a newborn alone 5 days a week, naively thinking I am helping to manage transmission, when in reality its not helping at all because people are still at work.

OP posts:
Moondust001 · 21/01/2021 09:11

If all these jobs are so non-essential, then you'll be perfectly sanguine when their bosses agree - and make them redundant or close the businesses? In which case, you may as well do them a favour and resign now so that you don't all have to go to work. Unemployment benefits (if you get any) are definitely cheaper than furlough.

After a year of restrictions and lockdowns, we simply cannot continue, as a nation or as businesses, to have people sitting at home being paid to do nothing.

And some of us never even had that choice - not that I would have wanted to be furloughed because there is too much work to do - because our employers aren't allowed to furlough in the first place.

MNnicknameforCVthreads · 21/01/2021 09:11

I'm also trying to tell myself that if we weren't "locked down" then numbers of cases and deaths would be even worse and there would be even more horrific scenes in the hospitals.

The hardest thing for me personally is having the DC at home. God. Give. Me. Strength

ims0rrydarlingg · 21/01/2021 09:11

Exactly this.

I’ve been working from home since March and my employer has no desire to bring us back into the office anytime soon.

My husband works in IT for a big company in their head office. First lockdown he was working from home until June. His office is deemed ‘covid safe’ but guess who tested positive for a few weeks ago? He did and so did I after. They have a temperature sensor machine at his workplace but he never had a temperature so it was never detected. He worked from home whilst positive but they want him back in today.

I find it frustrating because I’ve been working from home and don’t go anywhere, which sometimes seems futile when he has to work in an office and comes in contact with many many people.

gamerchick · 21/01/2021 09:12

@gongsr

I've been waiting for months for that answer also perplexed by the "be more like China" cries
I know! Millions of mobiles went silent in China during the first lockdown. Where have all those people gone when they were sealed up in their houses?

I never stopped working, in fact had my hours increased. Husband hasn't stopped working either. I could do with a bit of a holiday at home, I'm ruddy knackered.

I do agree OP that the constant guilt tripping is a pisstake. Nice if you can stay at home but stfu about people not able to imo.

GambasPil · 21/01/2021 09:13

A lot of people are completely unable to see anything beyond the prism of their own experience.

Some people can’t afford not to work. They can’t work from home, don’t have a safety net like savings and aren’t entitled to company sick pay. They live from one pay day to the next; they can’t stock up on food from the supermarket nor do they have a free choice of where to shop (due to cost). They shouldn’t be castigated for going to work.

Allispretty · 21/01/2021 09:13

How come no one at all is thinking of the bigger picture and after effect of all this? What will you all be saying when our economy is on its knees and that's through only shutting down hospitality/retail etc?

I've worked in the leisure industry for years, 2 years ago I'd say my job was one of the most secure you could have support role at HO for a large fitness company. Fast forward and we have been severely impacted and redundancies will happen all across the business. I've taken a new job in healthcare (support/admin role) the expectation is I'm on site because all their hospital staff are and therefore I'm a support to them. What should I do tell them absolutely not because my role can be done from home? Then await redundancy in 6 months time from my current role?

It is madness, hospitality, leisure, retail etc will be taking very large chunks of support from the government in ways of furlough and business loans etc so what would the impact be if absolutely everywhere in the private sector closed? This money does not grow on trees, us and our children will be paying for years to come.

Some form of the economy has to keep running, the cases are dropping and the fact we are at this amount of deaths is not because people are running about going to work it is yet again the inability of our government on making a decision fast enough

gongsr · 21/01/2021 09:14

What will you all be saying when our economy is on its knees and that's through only shutting down hospitality/retail etc?

Apparently the people who were furloughed should pay for it all 🤔

sociallydistained · 21/01/2021 09:14

I agree, my partner and I both go out to work. I work for two families nannying in the same day so I go from one family home into another. I have to take the kids out to exercise and do shopping for my work families plus for myself. Nothing seems to of changed for me except more boredom. I have a friend who is the exact same as me, two families in one day and another who cleans for multiple clients and nannies in the afternoon.
I'd happily be furloughed again and stay at home day in day out but its not really possible and I do understand why.

QualityRoads · 21/01/2021 09:17

During last year's lockdown, government briefings showed slides of falling numbers of people using public and private transport. Why is that information not being shown now? Because many, many more people are back in the office and at non-essential places of work. What is the point in having detailed and wise advice from eminent scientists and doctors, only to allow self-serving employers make the actual decisions about who can work from home? If it was possible to work from home last year then it is possible this year. If your job wasn't essential then, it isn't essential now. If you are made to go in your employer should be fined very heavily for breaking the law. Too many decisions are being left in the hands of those least qualified to make them. We need a stronger government.

Allispretty · 21/01/2021 09:19

@poorbuthappy

Ah I love it when the quit your job force come out. Quit your job - find another job - i assume these people are lucky enough to be sat on a pot of cash somewhere which will pay their bills and feed their family for a year.

If your employers tell you to go to work you have to go to work. Otherwise you will lose your job and there's people queuing up to replace you.
What don't people get about this?

Exactly! What kind of stupid mentality is this! You can bet as well if a thread came up saying I quit my job for the greater cause of lockdown but now need advice on how to get money there would be outcry's and people telling them how stupid they are in the current climate...the hypocrisy on this forum sometimes is unbelievable

bigmistake1 · 21/01/2021 09:19

[quote CornishTiger]@lovelemoncurd

I hope your husband doesn’t have that attitude. A child with SEN in pupil referral unit needs teachers who will champion them not judge their parents.[/quote]
Exactly. Unfortunately I strongly suspect that her DH shares her ignorant views, hard to imagine a couple would be poles apart on such an important issue.....

Ignorance, ignorance, ignorance. God, that's made me angry. Your DH is in a privileged and powerful position over the families that need their DC to attend the PRU.

Prejudice PLUS power = OPPRESSION.

lljkk · 21/01/2021 09:20

Deaths today reflect transmissions many weeks ago.
Not what people are doing today.
New case counts are falling fast.
Most transmissions still happen within shared households or residential settings.

Sparklingbrook · 21/01/2021 09:20

I would say the roads are about the same as normal around here. Last lockdown there were very few cars (I have to drive to work).
Last lockdown I also saw police randomly stopping motorists to see where they were going-not seen any of that this time around.

Allispretty · 21/01/2021 09:20

@gongsr

What will you all be saying when our economy is on its knees and that's through only shutting down hospitality/retail etc?

Apparently the people who were furloughed should pay for it all 🤔

Well this is it isn't it...and the probability is 80% of them are minimum wage earners, our workforce certainly is!

rowmaccerd · 21/01/2021 09:20

Whats a hard lockdown?

Facebook post 10 minutes ago by Isle of Man Police. Thats a hard lockdown

"It would seem that some members of the public are still offering home collection on buy and sell sites. This is not permitted under lock-down stay at home provisions. Can this information be shared with any site admins to publish on their pages. Thanks.

Information from the Covid FAQ pages is below.

"Can people continue to buy/sell on facebook or other social media sites?

In line with the stay at home provisions, unless it is to attend a place of work or to go shopping or another essential/emergency reason, we would not expect people to be travelling to other households to deliver or pick up items. Therefore we do not expect buy/sell to continue between private households as part of the lockdown circuit break."

covid19.gov.im/general-information/circuit-break-faq-what-you-need-to-know/

PortChee · 21/01/2021 09:20

You can bet as well if a thread came up saying I quit my job for the greater cause of lockdown but now need advice on how to get money there would be outcry's and people telling them how stupid they are in the current climate...the hypocrisy on this forum sometimes is unbelievable

Do as I say not as I do right?!

THisbackwithavengeance · 21/01/2021 09:21

So what's your answer? Everyone just stays at home until the virus magically goes away? Where's the money coming from for that? Are people really so obtuse that they don't see that if the economy collapses then society will collapse and it will be a thousand times worse than any pandemic? Think lawlessness, starvation, gang law and rioting.. that frightens me much more than this virus tbh.

Obviously, if people don't want to work in their jobs they are free to resign..

I know it's worrying and figures are high but the truth is most people who catch covid have mild symptoms. We can mitigate risk but total lockdown is not possible.

PortChee · 21/01/2021 09:22

[quote rowmaccerd]Whats a hard lockdown?

Facebook post 10 minutes ago by Isle of Man Police. Thats a hard lockdown

"It would seem that some members of the public are still offering home collection on buy and sell sites. This is not permitted under lock-down stay at home provisions. Can this information be shared with any site admins to publish on their pages. Thanks.

Information from the Covid FAQ pages is below.

"Can people continue to buy/sell on facebook or other social media sites?

In line with the stay at home provisions, unless it is to attend a place of work or to go shopping or another essential/emergency reason, we would not expect people to be travelling to other households to deliver or pick up items. Therefore we do not expect buy/sell to continue between private households as part of the lockdown circuit break."

covid19.gov.im/general-information/circuit-break-faq-what-you-need-to-know/[/quote]
So if we just stopped people picking up the odd thing from Facebook marketplace we'd all be fine by now?

user1487194234 · 21/01/2021 09:23

I go to work so I get paid
The only people I know that are staying at home are those on full pay to do so
I am not prepared to lose my income/ house

PortChee · 21/01/2021 09:23

Are people really so obtuse that they don't see that if the economy collapses then society will collapse and it will be a thousand times worse than any pandemic? Think lawlessness, starvation, gang law and rioting.. that frightens me much more than this virus tbh

And then we'd be subjected to thread after thread moaning about all that as well.

bookmarket · 21/01/2021 09:24

@QualityRoads

During last year's lockdown, government briefings showed slides of falling numbers of people using public and private transport. Why is that information not being shown now? Because many, many more people are back in the office and at non-essential places of work. What is the point in having detailed and wise advice from eminent scientists and doctors, only to allow self-serving employers make the actual decisions about who can work from home? If it was possible to work from home last year then it is possible this year. If your job wasn't essential then, it isn't essential now. If you are made to go in your employer should be fined very heavily for breaking the law. Too many decisions are being left in the hands of those least qualified to make them. We need a stronger government.
That information has been gathered and released. Movement is up this lockdown since Christmas period ended. That's why they think this lockdown is not bringing down cases.
TheKeatingFive · 21/01/2021 09:24

only to allow self-serving employers make the actual decisions about who can work from home?

You’re relying on those ‘self serving’ employers to generate tax revenue for public services and jobs, so you might consider letting them get on with it, huh?

An employees assessment of whether they can work effectively from home isn’t always the most accurate.

While I’m sure there are employers taking the piss, the bottom line is productivity often is better on site.

Better productivity equals more money generated equals keeping more people in their jobs.

gongsr · 21/01/2021 09:26

You can bet as well if a thread came up saying I quit my job for the greater cause of lockdown but now need advice on how to get money there would be outcry's and people telling them how stupid they are in the current climate.

That is so true.
One of my favourites is the response to complaining about schools being closed "that you shouldn't have kids if you can't look after them". However pre covid if you ever asked about wfh with dc at home you were lambasted!

MintyMabel · 21/01/2021 09:26

We still have people going in to our office because they don’t like working from home. Annoyingly, our director doesn’t deem it necessary to close our office he would rather leave it up to individuals. I’ve pointed out to them if those staff go down with Covid, I won’t be covering their workload.

MarshaBradyo · 21/01/2021 09:26

Your friend could wfh? Or is it the on site part she goes in for

The rest, furlough is for decreased demand