Covid Enquiry

Dinahmo " We're heading back to the days when workers turned up to a particular place and then would be either given a day's work or sent home. This is wrong and we need a change of work methods."

My grandfather in the thirties and forties, after being gassed in WW1, worked as an outside house painter. They had to turn up for work in all dreadful weathers, and stand around until someone in a nice warm dry office decided whether it was a good day to be putting on paint. If it wasn't, they were sent home with half pay, but only after a set time, by when they were drenched and frozen, (The employers' motive behind this was that it was then too late for them to go elsewhere to find casual work for the day, so they were kept tied to their job. If they just stayed away and risked finding work somewhere portering or something, and, if they were lucky, to earn a full day's pay, they got no pay for that day and could find when they returned that they had no job at all).

He had bronchitis every year, but still stood in sleet for hours so as to be sure of his half pay to feed his family (until one year the "bronchitis" turned out to be lung cancer).

Progress in work conditions has been fought for and painfully won, but it can be lost in an instant.

Light duties for a Queen isn't the same as having to go to work for a full shift when you don't feel well but are not allowed a test. And she has loads of staff to cook and clean for her. If free tests are stopped all kinds of infected staff will be at work ready to infect vulnerable customers and co-workers. Johnson is reckless with our lives, especially those with underlying morbidities.

Casdon

I think the reason we’ve been told that the Queen is doing light duties is that if we’d been told she was resting the media would have gone into meltdown that she was much iller than we’d been told, was on her deathbed etc. light duties is not fanning those flames.

I think this is probably nearer the mark - the media would be in a frenzy if told the Queen had been advised to rest - we’ve all seen the media feeding frenzy with regard to Ukraine. The president of Ukraine was appealing to the press to moderate their language and stop aggravating the situation - it would be exactly the same if there was even a suggestion the Queen had taken to her bed.

MaizieD

ayse

I’ve never been a fan of people turning up to work with coughs, colds etc. and then sharing them round everyone. I believe people should be able to stay away from work if they are likely to spread disease. Anyone with Covid should remain off work.

Unfortunately those on zero hours contracts are not in a position to be able to do this and the current ethos continues to be come to work and share your germs! Employers tend to expect their employees to come to work whatever.

It needs a change from this ethic to protecting others from ill health. I can’t see it happening.

The message from the Palace, that the Queen continues to undertake 'light duties' (whatever that might mean) while having covid, hasn't helped much, has it?

It's been trumpeted across the RW press as HM showing us a fine example of soldiering on while ill.

If HM can do it, so can everyone else, then?

Yes if you work from home and have very mild symptoms, and wish to work what is the problem. You can sign off sick also. Some people seem to want to make a mountain over a molehill.

I think the reason we’ve been told that the Queen is doing light duties is that if we’d been told she was resting the media would have gone into meltdown that she was much iller than we’d been told, was on her deathbed etc. light duties is not fanning those flames.

ElaineI

Will wait and see what Scottish Government decide. Won't be dropping my mask and will keep testing meantime. DD2 was pinged as a close contact by test and protect. Message said to self isolate and get PCR. She is a nurse and when she looked up guidance, she doesn't need a PCR or to self isolate. She has to do daily lateral flows for 10 days and go to work (health and social care staff). When you read further the same advice is for everyone unless you have symptoms. It is really so confusing now!

My son in law was pinged. Did LFT’s which were negative only to do a pre holiday PCR and tested positive.

Unless its an independent inquiry and not done in house by Bojo's circus of crooks and incompetants it will be another waste of time and public money

the trouble with c sections is that people don't appear to comprehend it is a major operation!

I did similar after a c section with regard to looking after my oldest. A work ethic was drummed into me from a young age and sometimes that makes me do things at work that arent sensible.

Galaxy

Sorry Jane reading back I now think you werent aiming that question at me. I have confused myself so just ignore me

you are no more confused than me

No, I see it as bad too. It really isn't good for your heart or health to go into work and do a physical job if you have the flu. I'm actually guilty of making myself ill by going back into work too quickly (and then I was so ill I had to have weeks off) and I was young

Sorry Jane reading back I now think you werent aiming that question at me. I have confused myself so just ignore me

No Jane I mean in general. That its heroic to work till your 95 etc. Its almost impossible to express these things because people think you are having a go at the Queen, which I am not. I understand what you mean Maizie.

I was rather trying to draw attention to the sheer irresponsibility of holding the Queen up as an example to us all, soldiering on while ill, when we know that her 'duties' will be what you describe, maddyone, not struggling in to 8 hours in an office.

Is it just me who sees this as bad?

My comment about work?

I think most of the messages about the queen and work are very odd to be honest.

Signing a few papers is not the same as going into a workplace and working an eight hour shift. Staff bringing your beautifully cooked dinner is not the same going to the supermarket on the way home, picking up the dinner, and going home and cooking it. Someone else doing the housework is not the same as doing it all yourself.
Obviously at 95 the Queen wouldn’t be expected to do heavy duties any day of the week, but there is nothing particularly heroic in signing papers or doing a zoom call.

ayse

I’ve never been a fan of people turning up to work with coughs, colds etc. and then sharing them round everyone. I believe people should be able to stay away from work if they are likely to spread disease. Anyone with Covid should remain off work.

Unfortunately those on zero hours contracts are not in a position to be able to do this and the current ethos continues to be come to work and share your germs! Employers tend to expect their employees to come to work whatever.

It needs a change from this ethic to protecting others from ill health. I can’t see it happening.

The message from the Palace, that the Queen continues to undertake 'light duties' (whatever that might mean) while having covid, hasn't helped much, has it?

It's been trumpeted across the RW press as HM showing us a fine example of soldiering on while ill.

If HM can do it, so can everyone else, then?

I do get a bit irritated when this is discussed and people talk about going into work if you have gastro-enteritis or flu. If you have either of these, not just an upset stomach or a bit of a cold, you will not be trying to decide what is best, you will be at home. Just a bit of a pet peeve, when people say they had a couple of days off work 'with flu'; no you didn't it was a nasty cold. Sorry, as you were!

When I was working in London my job moved to Milton Keynes. I was offered the chance to re-locate but chose not to as we had just moved to Suffolk. My manager told me that had I decided to go they would have renegotiated my contract because of the amount of time I regularly had because of bronchitis - at least 2 weeks twice a year. I had no problem with this. I was too ill to go into work but had I been less ill I might have gone in and spread my germs around.

I would have been happy with their solution - it wasn't their fault that I suffered badly. However, I do think that something should be done about zero hours contracts. We're heading back to the days when workers turned up to a particular place and then would be either given a day's work or sent home. This is wrong and we need a change of work methods.

I was watching the news this morning and really felt for a lady who hasn’t been out of her house for two years because of severe lung problems. She’s been told by her doctors that Covid will likely kill her, and has no choice other than to continue shielding. Both she and her consultant say that they are alarmed at the restrictions being removed so quickly and without a single thought or any guidance issued for the CEV people who have been receiving emails for the last two years telling them how to stay safe.

I’ve never been a fan of people turning up to work with coughs, colds etc. and then sharing them round everyone. I believe people should be able to stay away from work if they are likely to spread disease. Anyone with Covid should remain off work.

Unfortunately those on zero hours contracts are not in a position to be able to do this and the current ethos continues to be come to work and share your germs! Employers tend to expect their employees to come to work whatever.

It needs a change from this ethic to protecting others from ill health. I can’t see it happening.

Will wait and see what Scottish Government decide. Won't be dropping my mask and will keep testing meantime. DD2 was pinged as a close contact by test and protect. Message said to self isolate and get PCR. She is a nurse and when she looked up guidance, she doesn't need a PCR or to self isolate. She has to do daily lateral flows for 10 days and go to work (health and social care staff). When you read further the same advice is for everyone unless you have symptoms. It is really so confusing now!

MayBeMaw

And?

And what?

fwiw re inquiry/enquiry I wasn't being an arse I was just interested which was correct and I've looked it up and Inquiry is formal process, enquiry is less formal