Forum Topic

Removal of Covid Restrictions and Testing.

How many of those desperately wanting this to happen aren't actually working amondst those thry are so anxious to put back to work in risky circumstances.  Many people are working from home or with a better home:work balance.  "Going back to work" does not make sense.  Perhaps there are some effing executives who ought to go and see what's actually happening for themselves?  With such fragmented and siloed management and work practices and lack of teamwork it's no wonder that productivity is lower than it could be.https://theconversation.com/covid-lifting-the-remaining-measures-is-a-dangerous-and-senseless-move-expert-view-177389?

Philippa Bond ● 1675d26 Comments

Fools like you who have not seen through the planned attack on humanity are the real threat to society, as we see again here.

Michael Brown ● 1675d

Never let a good pandemic or war go to waste!

Philippa Bond ● 1675d

Or mass shooting for that matter.

Anne England ● 1675d

Great news That people can get on with their lives, really important for offices to open again for so many reasons but mostly for those starting their careers they need coaching, mentoring, collaboration and team working which can not be achieved remotely. Working remotely is lonely for a lot of people and they don’t have the space to achieve work life balance. Well done vaccines let’s pray any future mutations are even milder 👏👏👏👏👏

Jayne Thorburn ● 1675d

Also seems to mean that a large number of the poorer paid have to go to work - care home workers, Uber drivers, delivery people? even if they think they are ill, as they won't get sick pay and can't freely get a test even to know themselves if they are spreading this disease to more vulnerable people.  Whitty and Valance seemed quite seriously concerned.

Vivienne Cox ● 1675d

It’s a balance, surely ? Many people have got used to working from home and can work efficiently without a sometimes expensive commute etc. I think the more enlightened organisations will offer a flexible arrangement whereby one can work two or three days at home and the rest in the office.

Stewart Jones ● 1675d

Yes, and all to keep those party donors happy.So many people who are already in work and still needing to use the food banks.

Philippa Bond ● 1675d

Yes, and all to keep those party donors happy.There are so many people who are already in work and still needing to use the food banks and won't be able to take time off when they are ill either.

Philippa Bond ● 1675d

But I'm thinking about those who cannot do that,  Firemen, shopkeepers, hospitality places, postmen, binmen, nurses - huge numbers of people have to go to a place of work to do that work - and they are usually the lower paid.

Vivienne Cox ● 1675d

Boris seems to forgotten his history.  I think the Titanic had two lookouts in the Crow's Nest and still hit an iceberg.

Philippa Bond ● 1675d

How will Govt know that there is another variant if they aren't doing any testing?Fewer people have died this winter because sick people have not been going to work!

Philippa Bond ● 1675d

Quite right, Vivienne. This was a decision made, not in the interests of society as a whole, but out of self-interest, and in particular Johnson's need, at this perilous moment of his premiership, to retain the support of his right-wing headbangers. I'm not surprised by the forum cheerleader for the policy - she's already demonstrated in a number of callous posts that she puts economic revival ahead of public health. What she fails to see is that the two objectives aren't mutually exclusive.

Robert Fish ● 1675d

Won’t they test people who get sick and visit  their GP?  I’m assuming surgeries will keep a supply of tests . It’s the new equivalent of blood tests to determine a diagnosis.

Maggie Dodge ● 1675d

I agree with you,Vivienne. There seems to be an assumption that if you work in an office environment  then choosing to work from home implies that you’re slacking.

Stewart Jones ● 1675d

Vivienne, very strange comments all the people you refer too have been working throughout the pandemic. Clearly based open some comments people rare retired, enjoy it, we need to keep the economy going to pay your pensions amongst other things……people are very happy to get their lives back and go into the office, they have missed their colleagues we should be celebrating that the vaccines have given us back our lives. Many companies will operate a hybrid model where practical and pay for tests. Many countries have charged for test throughout the pandemic Australia is one example, let’s be more positive. Russia is a much more pressing matter to be concerned about.

Jayne Thorburn ● 1675d

For me it's about trust.I would love to think the decision has been made in the best interests of England and maybe it has but because Johnson and his pals have shown themselves to be less than honest I can't help wondering if they are rushing their fences for political advantage.Have we come so far only to fall at the last? Would it not have been better to wait for the better weather?Let's hope all goes well both at home and abroad.

Adrian Irving ● 1675d

People may have been working all during the pandemic but that does not mean that they are earning enough money to cover the costs of testing before they visit anyone who is vulnerable or is time rich enough to search for them.  You seem to conveniently forget that there are very many workers who need to use food banks,  When there are shortages of workers in various jobs they can end up working longer and often unpaid hours for the care, safety and well being of those they are looking after.  This makes it harder for them to take time off when they are ill.  It isn't as simple as personal responsibility and where are the arrangements for NHS staff?  It seems like yet another attack.

Philippa Bond ● 1675d

Who exactly do you think should be paying all this sick pay? Many in the Company I work for have taken full advantage of a hot summer on furlough and then regular weeks and days off with suspected Covid but eventually the cash does run out despite what left wingers believe

Paul Fisher ● 1674d

Paul some people think there is some magic money tree 😂😂😂😂😂 some people have no clue about how an economy works, we the taxpayer fund everything. Taxes are rising for a reason millions enjoyed being paid furlough to do absolutely nothing it’s time to get back to work. Most people are not completely stupid and will take responsibility for their own behaviour. Companies will support and take a responsible balanced approach. People want to get back to work and normal times. Some people are just totally negative whatever a government does, we need more cheer and positivity. Then some people just love to moan thankfully most of us take a more balanced approach to life.

Jayne Thorburn ● 1674d

Regarding Covid, there are tablets available now.

Janice Evans ● 1674d

We will continue with masks, gloves etc., when out you have to do whatyou feel comfortable with.

Janice Evans ● 1674d

Totally agree with Adrian, Vivien and Phillipa.

Claire Moran ● 1674d

But not with Janice?

Brian Joseph Coyle ● 1672d

"..the planned attack on humanity.."You mean the one set off by Putin ?

Richard Greenhough ● 1672d

We will still be being careful as will many of our friends and family.  Why risk everyone's health by pushing those who are ill into offices when they can work better from home?  That is poor management and there seems to be a lot of that in the UK.  "Money trees?" We heard all that cr@p from Prime Minister May when she was asked by the nurse who had not had a pay rise for years on Question Time.  There are definitely money trees available when ideology allows eg for paying for some things like the vast amounts shovelled towards PPE contracts which more prudent management of all risks would have avoided so much need for. If more people were paid a decent living wage and there was proper progressive taxing there would be more tax coming in to pay for a fairer lifestyle for all.

Philippa Bond ● 1671d

".... millions enjoyed being paid furlough to do absolutely nothing it’s time to get back to work" ?"Enjoyed"??? Where people are sent home, worried about whether their job will still be there to back to (and I known some whose job was not).That's- - Patronising;- Based on prejudice, not evidence;- And frankly sickening, in a country where 2.5 million people rely on foodbanks, worry sick each month how they will pay their rent or mortgage, and whose position will be made worse by the extrodinary rise in the costs of energy, and this government's failure to adequately manage and regulated the energy market."... some people have no clue about how an economy works", immeadiately following a reference to "some magic money tree" shows a failure to understand even basic macro economics, or how "an economy works".And "... we need more cheer and positivity" sounds rather like a cat-calling builder shouting out "cheer up love".  We have a government that is failing us all, and so it's our fault for not being more cheerful? God help us all.

T P Howell ● 1671d