The passengers are BACK!

[whole diary]

[Lee]

IMHO^▸ (in my humble opinion) looks like the WFH^▸ (Working From Home) and face mask law, or guidance, will come back in a few days or so:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-59011321

Sooner the better re: masks, and let's hope it's rigorously enforced.

If people don't want to wear one (as opposed to having a legitimate medical reason not to), fine, but equally be prepared to respect and stay away from others, and make other arrangements re: travel, shopping, social life etc.

While not wanting once again to get into the longer-term civil liberties aspect of this, i do continue to absolutely agree with TG about the health imperative of these measures at present. Over here in France we have never ditched mandatory mask-wearing in indoor public places or on public transport, and nor are we likely to anytime soon, certainly not over the coming colder months.

I also find interesting having previously said on here that the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) would probably be better off introducing Vaccine Passports sooner rather than later, the various press suggestions that they could be imminent now that "later" has arrived.

[TaplowGreen]

Interesting figures........

[Lee]

Interesting figures........

Obviously, there is a disconnect with what's being asked regarding Vaccine Passports in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) poll, which is for large indoor and outdoor events, and the Vaccine Passports over here in France, which are also required for bars, restaurants, art galleries, cinemas etc, and there is a feeling over here that the comprehensive nature of the Vaccine Passport has made a real difference.

What is the percentage of people in the UK who would be in favour of Vaccine Passports if their coverage was as comprehensive as is the case in France, or have the polls not really asked that question?

[Bob_Blakey]

If people don't want to wear one (as opposed to having a legitimate medical reason not to), fine, but equally be prepared to respect and stay away from others, and make other arrangements re: travel, shopping, social life etc.

As long as the same conditions are applied to those who decline vaccination for non-medical reasons I wouldn't have a problem with that.

[Red Squirrel]

They are interesting figures, aren't they!

There seems to be a bit of cognitive dissonance here. The biggest breeding ground for COVID is schools, with pubs and restaurants a close second - but people want them to stay open.

Bus, van and lorry drivers, carers and shop and factory workers never had the option of working from home, so presumably the people who want to be told to stay home are mostly office workers. They may have a point; many of them work in poorly ventilated buildings which they knew were 'sick' before COVID.

Interesting that people want to be told to wear face masks. I'd welcome that as I find it a bit embarrassing wearing one when no-one else is. I always wear mine on trains and buses, to protect others. My understanding is that they offer little protection to the wearer, so to characterise people who should wear them but don't as 'morons' as some have done on this thread is wrong: inconsiderate or selfish, perhaps, but not moronic.

[Bmblbzzz]

I wouldn't put it down just to cognitive dissonance. The closure of schools probably has more effect on more people's lives than any of the other things listed, making work difficult for many parents: either they need to arrange child care or somehow cope with work in a poorly adapted environment while simultaneously educating, distracting and not being distracted by their kids. Plus of course it's hugely disruptive to the children.

The closure of pubs and restaurants might be less disruptive, unless you work in one, but restrictions need to have a reward in sight to be borne, and for many people eating and drinking out is one of life's rewards.

But I agree with you about the need for rules. It's the rules, or lack of them, that show cognitive dissonance IMO^▸ (in my opinion). Being told "you ought to wear a mask but it's free choice" is a total cop out on the part of government. Either tell us we have to wear them or tell us they're not needed, not that they are needed but we don't have to wear them!

[TaplowGreen]

They are interesting figures, aren't they!



Interesting that people want to be told to wear face masks. I'd welcome that as I find it a bit embarrassing wearing one when no-one else is. I always wear mine on trains and buses, to protect others. My understanding is that they offer little protection to the wearer, so to characterise people who should wear them but don't as 'morons' as some have done on this thread is wrong: inconsiderate or selfish, perhaps, but not moronic.

Let's hope good sense prevails, everyone does the right thing and that semantics are our biggest problem in the future! 

[ellendune]

 A number of employers are already moving back to "work from home unless you have a business need to go into the office" policies. 

[ellendune]

English local health chiefs urge extra Covid measures in break from guidance

Extract below

Helen Lowey, the Bolton DPH, is backing other protective measures. She wrote on Twitter: “We can’t rely only on vaccines. It’s test when have no symptoms, wear face covering more often than not, give people space, work from home when can, vaccines, isolate when symptoms, ventilate etc.”

Other DPHs recommending additional measures in schools such as mask wearing include those covering Walsall, Calderdale, Trafford, Suffolk and Swindon. The Guardian understands that the DPH for Southend is considering recommending additional measures for schools after half-term.

Lancashire’s DPH is not recommending a blanket approach for schools but is recommending additional measures at specific schools that have shown signs of outbreaks. The DPH in Hertfordshire, Jim McManus, has recently encouraged residents of his county to work from home.

In North Somerset, the deputy council leader has expressed frustration that further mitigation measures are not being introduced and highlighted the particular struggles faced in the south-west after the Immensa testing fiasco, in which the results of 43,000 Covid tests were incorrectly returned as negative.

Mike Bell, North Somerset’s deputy leader and lead member for health, said: “I am also really frustrated to hear the government confirm that they have no plans to tighten restrictions in England. This situation must not be allowed to escalate. Lives must not be put at risk.

“We will soon enter the winter period which is always a challenging time for the most vulnerable members of our community and for our health and care workers. I would much rather action is taken now to protect people before case rates spiral and people become ill, and to ease the winter pressures on our hard-working care and health services.”

[CyclingSid]

Interesting figures........

Back to questionnaires and surveys.

If you ask drivers whether there ought to be more enforcement of speed limits on motorways the vast majority answer Yes. But are then likely to speed on the motorway. What these answers tend to mean is Yes, for everybody except me.

[TaplowGreen]

A number of employers are already moving back to "work from home unless you have a business need to go into the office" policies. 

I think that's very likely- with or without Government edicts.

Like a lot of businesses, we've moved to a "hybrid" model of 1 or 2 days in the office however some people still felt very uneasy being in the office/using the Tube/Train for their own sake and also those with vulnerable members of the family at home (one chap has a wife undergoing chemo) - we were conscious that some employees may simply refuse to attend (being honest, in some cases simply because they liked being at home every day, saving large amounts of money on childcare/transport etc).

Given most recent developments however I think "hybrid" will revert to "WFH^▸ (Working From Home)" pretty soon apart from operational necessities, unless Managers are prepared to dig in and have some very tricky and unpopular conversations.

[Sixty3Closure]

We were moving to the hybrid model with a phased return planned for most staff this month and next.

However, this has been delayed by a push back from staff in quite a few departments who want to keep social distancing. This means a lot of the desks that were going to be used for returning staff are still out of use while discussions take place. My own department's area was taken over by IT support last summer as they had to be in and needed space and they're showing no signs of giving it up!

There's also a lot demands for masks to be made compulsory again after they became optional a week or so ago. Certainly peer pressure is the opposite of public transport where you will get some harsh words for not wearing one.

[CyclingSid]

Follow up to my previous post

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/healthandwellbeing/articles/eightintenadultsthinksocialdistancingisimportantbutfourintenactuallydoit/2021-10-22

What we say and what we do are not the same thing.

[TaplowGreen]

We were moving to the hybrid model with a phased return planned for most staff this month and next.

However, this has been delayed by a push back from staff in quite a few departments who want to keep social distancing. This means a lot of the desks that were going to be used for returning staff are still out of use while discussions take place. My own department's area was taken over by IT support last summer as they had to be in and needed space and they're showing no signs of giving it up!

There's also a lot demands for masks to be made compulsory again after they became optional a week or so ago. Certainly peer pressure is the opposite of public transport where you will get some harsh words for not wearing one.

In our building each department/business has been allocated one day when they have exclusive use, and one day of shared use when you have to "book" a desk, so basically it's become a huge hot desking hub, with an empty desk between each two people.

Masks don't have to be worn at desks, but they do when moving around the building, in lifts etc.

It's working OK at the moment, but like you we're still in the phased return period, with a relatively empty building - once it's fully implemented, there will be a lot less space, and that combined with reluctance to travel on public transport will be a problem if the numbers are still as high as they are just now.

[IndustryInsider]

Little sign of reluctance with regard to the leisure market.  Another very busy week ahead - half term of course.  I am very surprised leisure has bounced back to near normal levels so quickly.

Let’s hope cancellations and short forms remain low as they are today.