Coronavirus - how is it/has it affected you?

[Russ_D]

Wife is finding out today whether or not she is required to continue teaching. She is classed as a key worker but because she has two young children she is hoping the non parent teachers will be able to step in. Otherwise my kids will have to go to a random school for the forseable future "somewhere in the area" and they may even be split and sent to different schools.
Once again, still no clarity from the government or councils on this.

 

[bluewolf]

They are objectively low skilled.

However one small cog in a clock stop turning, the clock is broken.

Some of the jobs may not require as much skill as other roles, but there is a habit of equating "unskilled" with "without value". That needs to change.

 

[Hacker Khan]

I can see where you’re coming from in regards to their importance, imo the term “unskilled” is still somewhat valid Though. It doesn’t make them less important, but literally anyone can be taught how to stack a shelf. Let’s be honest, nobody really aspires for that career choice and I don’t think this pandemic will change that.

Doctors, nurses, emergency services etc. They should Certainly be paid better as they are skilled. But from an economical POV if we suddenly said that shop staff were misled jobs and paid them let’s say £20 an hour whole business models would crumble.

Whilst not wanting a further collapse in economic confidence, a realignment of a late stage capitalism (copyright Big Randy) system that relies increasingly on zero hours contracts and paying the minimum possible whilst the difference in pay to those at the top is ever increasing, may not be such a bad thing.

 

[Hacker Khan]

Wife is finding out today whether or not she is required to continue teaching. She is classed as a key worker but because she has two young children she is hoping the non parent teachers will be able to step in. Otherwise my kids will have to go to a random school for the forseable future "somewhere in the area" and they may even be split and sent to different schools.
Once again, still no clarity from the government or councils on this.

Is there any indication whatsoever that they will be split up other than uninformed internet panic posting??? You can't expect schools or the government or councils or academies to know within a few hours of the announcement which schools will be open and how it will all work. As a chair of governors I can assure you that schools are working bloody hard in very trying circumstances to sort this out in what is a very rapidly moving situation. With the priority being to try and stop granny and grandad from dying.

 

[Russ_D]

Is there any indication whatsoever that they will be split up other than uninformed internet panic posting??? You can't expect schools or the government or councils or academies to know within a few hours of the announcement which schools will be open and how it will all work. As a chair of governors I can assure you that schools are working bloody hard in very trying circumstances to sort this out in what is a very rapidly moving situation. With the priority being to try and stop granny and grandad from dying.

Erm, yes from my kids school. Also please note i used the word "may" in my post as it is a possiblilty, not confirmed and by no means "uninformed internet panic". I am fully aware how hard the schools are working, I'm married to a highly respected teacher at one ofthe leading grammar schools in the country and she works very hard. My kids are in pieces as they cant see their grandma or grandad for quite some time

 

[Hobbit]

Some of the jobs may not require as much skill as other roles, but there is a habit of equating "unskilled" with "without value". That needs to change.

I remember working back one evening. The cleaner came into the office. She apologised for having to come in. My reply, "I can't do my job if you don't do yours. You are important to everyone in this office." It was so sad to hear her say, "no one has ever told me I'm important before."

I've always believed that an organisation is like a clock. Take any cog out and it doesn't work properly. We're all equal...

 

[Slime]

I remember working back one evening. The cleaner came into the office. She apologised for having to come in. My reply, "I can't do my job if you don't do yours. You are important to everyone in this office." It was so sad to hear her say, "no one has ever told me I'm important before."

I've always believed that an organisation is like a clock. Take any cog out and it doesn't work properly. We're all equal...

Unfortunately we are not, not even close.

 

[Papas1982]

Whilst not wanting a further collapse in economic confidence, a realignment of a late stage capitalism (copyright Big Randy) system that relies increasingly on zero hours contracts and paying the minimum possible whilst the difference in pay to those at the top is ever increasing, may not be such a bad thing.

And that is exactly what is wrong with the country, people still can't appreciate what some are doing to assist others. Maybe Tesco and Asda should be paying £20 an hour and let these people have a better quality of life, maybe they should decide £100 billion profit is a bit greedy, maybe they should be paying a fair price to farmers etc. Business models should adapt not crumble.

Emergency service workers have never been appreciated in this country and never will be. Pay is absolutely dire for a job that is proven to curtail and shorten life expectancy.

I think sometimes emotion needs to be taken out of the scenario. i doubt before this anyone can honestly say they felt shelve stackers were vital or warranted a massive wage increase. Yes people were against zero hour contracts and minimum wage has been rising and even including a living wage, but You also need to think of the consequences of said wage increases on career aspirations.
£20 an hour equates to 40k a year. Realistically one of the main driving forces for career aspirations is how you think it’ll reward you. If you can get 40k to stack shelves. How many kids would settle for that Instead of looking for a carrier that would generally pay that (or less).

If a shelf stacker is worth 40k a nurse then becomes 100k. That’s all well and good, how are said nurses paid. We‘d increase taxes and then all of a sudden the 40k shelve stackers earn is no better to them anyway as they’re taxed more heavily.

As to others earning too much, that’s simply supply and demand in most cases. Or what added value they can bring. A ceo will earn a crazy amount of money, it they’ll also have massive responsibilities. Without guys at the top, lots below wouldn’t know how to make a business function. Anybody who works for a company, is working for an entity someone had the idea to start. Without rewarding these is No progress.

 

[Orikoru]

We got a take away last night. It was a bit odd the guy none of his normal hand shake at the door , understandable completely

Wasn't sure if to tip as most have requested card payments to reduce handling of cash

I think all that is a bit daft. People having 'contactless delivery' where the guy leaves it on the step and walks away - he still touched the bag with his hand and you still pick it up so what's the bloody difference?

 

[Deleted member 16999]

I think sometimes emotion needs to be taken out of the scenario. i doubt before this anyone can honestly say they felt shelve stackers were vital or warranted a massive wage increase. Yes people were against zero hour contracts and minimum wage has been rising and even including a living wage, but You also need to think of the consequences of said wage increases on career aspirations.
£20 an hour equates to 40k a year. Realistically one of the main driving forces for career aspirations is how you think it’ll reward you. If you can get 40k to stack shelves. How many kids would settle for that Instead of looking for a carrier that would generally pay that (or less).

If a shelf stacker is worth 40k a nurse then becomes 100k. That’s all well and good, how are said nurses paid. We‘d increase taxes and then all of a sudden the 40k shelve stackers earn is no better to them anyway as they’re taxed more heavily.

As to others earning too much, that’s simply supply and demand in most cases. Or what added value they can bring. A ceo will earn a crazy amount of money, it they’ll also have massive responsibilities. Without guys at the top, lots below wouldn’t know how to make a business function. Anybody who works for a company, is working for an entity someone had the idea to start. Without rewarding these is No progress.

Why does a Nurse deserve 2 1/2 times a shelf stacker, maybe all jobs simply need an honest decent wage so regardless of profession they are not living in a constant state of worry or anxiety.

A decent fair wage at the lowest level shouldn’t be the guage for what everyone else is paid.

The biggest problem is the gap between the top and bottom.

Look at how Home & Bargain are dealing with their staff compared to Virgin. Sometimes it’s more about feeling valued.

 

[Deleted member 21784]

I think all that is a bit daft. People having 'contactless delivery' where the guy leaves it on the step and walks away - he still touched the bag with his hand and you still pick it up so what's the bloody difference?

Sorry but every little helps

Think of it from the flip side. Say I have the virus and I'm self isolating very contagious

I order a take away and he leaves on door step

That take away driver avoids any contact with me.. so HE/SHE doesn't risk spreading it to other customers

Little measures like this may sound stupid but surely it's better than doing bugger all?

I wipe down my desk with wipes before every shift .. prob does bugger all but if it stops me maybe getting a lesser Illness that could be confused to be the virus making me have to miss work and them pay out overtime to cover me, then to me I think it's a good thing

People have tunnel vision on the virus and are completely missing the big picture

 

[bluewolf]

Why does a Nurse deserve 2 1/2 times a shelf stacker, maybe all jobs simply need an honest decent wage so regardless of profession they are not living in a constant state of worry or anxiety.

A decent fair wage at the lowest level shouldn’t be the guage for what everyone else is paid.

The biggest problem is the gap between the top and bottom.

Look at how Home & Bargain are dealing with their staff compared to Virgin. Sometimes it’s more about feeling valued.

I think it would be difficult to justify a system in which a Family with 2 working individuals needs to be part subsidised by the State in the form of substantial Tax Credits, just to bring them up to a wage they can live on. And that's where we are now.

A nurse married to a shelf stacker can't earn enough to put a roof over their head and food on the table...

 

[Orikoru]

Sorry but every little helps

Think of it from the flip side. Say I have the virus and I'm self isolating very contagious

I order a take away and he leaves on door step

That take away driver avoids any contact with me.. so HE/SHE doesn't risk spreading it to other customers

Little measures like this may sound stupid but surely it's better than doing bugger all?

I wipe down my desk with wipes before every shift .. prob does bugger all but if it stops me maybe getting a lesser Illness that could be confused to be the virus making me have to miss work and them pay out overtime to cover me, then to me I think it's a good thing

People have tunnel vision on the virus and are completely missing the big picture

That makes some sense but they are marketing it as customers having to request the contactless delivery, implying that it's for their benefit. I agree with you, it's only likely to benefit the driver if anyone, so perhaps the companies should be mandating that they will deliver this way instead of asking customers to request it.

 

[Rooter]

Unfortunately we are not, not even close.

No its just some are more equal than others!! ;-)

 

[Deleted member 21784]

Why does a Nurse deserve 2 1/2 times a shelf stacker, maybe all jobs simply need an honest decent wage so regardless of profession they are not living in a constant state of worry or anxiety.

A decent fair wage at the lowest level shouldn’t be the guage for what everyone else is paid.

The biggest problem is the gap between the top and bottom.

Look at how Home & Bargain are dealing with their staff compared to Virgin. Sometimes it’s more about feeling valued.

Isn't it down to level of training and 'skill' required for said diff rolls

Shelf stacker how much training? Not saying they are low skilled not in that debate

A nurse is how many years training?

It would be very tough to work out

 

[Deleted member 21784]

That makes some sense but they are marketing it as customers having to request the contactless delivery, implying that it's for their benefit. I agree with you, it's only likely to benefit the driver if anyone, so perhaps the companies should be mandating that they will deliver this way instead of asking customers to request it.

We are already prepared for self isolation, we have parents who will shop for us. And we can leave porch open (or not they have keys) dump the goods in there . We take in then spray down the porch to remove our germs where possible

A lot of companies are pushing for cashless payments to stop that handling cash. That would help them and us for a bit

 

[Deleted member 16999]

I think it would be difficult to justify a system in which a Family with 2 working individuals needs to be part subsidised by the State in the form of substantial Tax Credits, just to bring them up to a wage they can live on. And that's where we are now.

A nurse married to a shelf stacker can't earn enough to put a roof over their head and food on the table...

Absolutely agree, I do (as probably most do on here) that people work hard in these jobs in big companies etc and deserve the rewards.

The problem for me is that we’ve lost some of the values in society that have led to us creating our own issues, we take far too much for granted and expect others to pick up the pieces.

Scum bags on benefits need just as much targeting as the greedy rich, it’s the average hard working people in the middle suffering.

 

[MikeB]

According to the news the other night train drivers are worth a 29% rise over 4 years giving them 67k, are they really worth x 2.5 nurses?

 

[Old Skier]

Sweet mother, stage 2 over here is tequila. ?

Plenty of sand there for everyone to bury their heads in.

 

[Jamesbrown]

No its just some are more equal than others!! ;-)

Our lass likes to say we are equal, if she keeps having to wake me up to zip up her dress in a morning I’ll argue against until she can dress herself.

Waiting for the list of “key workers”. We’re no help to fight Coronavirus but I’m hoping the government doesn’t require our services still in the event of a lockdown.
And with the brats off, many will need to be off for childcare. Which means I might have to do some actual work.