Coronavirus (COVID-19)

[Gaz]

I'm in Kwik-Fit the noo and there's this old boy in who's wearing a mask, but every time they ask him a question he's pulling it right down to shout the answers. Wheezing and coughing away, puffing on a cigarette as he walked up.

What is it with old c***s that we've pretty much locked down the entire country to keep them safe and so many of them don't seem to give a f**k?

EDIT: he's sitting in the waiting room the now and keeps pulling his mask down to wipe his mouth.

Edited March 1, 2021 by Gaz

[Gaz]

9 minutes ago, Michael W said:

Employers also have in many cases a huge financial incentive to bin off expensive office space. Shareholders and the board alike must be seeing the pound signs. 

Trains and the rest of it are incidental to them. 

Employers also have pensions that are heavily tied up in commercial and office property.

If anyone doesn't think most employers will be ganting on getting folk back sitting in the office at a desk for 40 hours a week they're pretty naive.

Edited March 1, 2021 by Gaz

[Dons_1988]

3 minutes ago, D.A.F.C said:

Drives a BMW and attends meetings all day type post

 

I don't but:

People report into me and I report into people. Some of them are decent, some of them are c***s.

If somebody who attends meetings upsets you, I'm afraid that's your problem.

[Bairnardo]

I'm in Kwik-Fit the noo and there's this old boy in who's wearing a mask, but every time they ask him a question he's pulling it right down to shout the answers. Wheezing and coughing away, puffing on a cigarette as he walked up.
What is it with old c***s that we've pretty much locked down the entire country to keep them safe and so many of them don't seem to give a f**k?

ANYONE CAN GET IT!!! You must have missed the BBC stories about that lad in his thirties (who appeared to count only every third year) or the young lad in his twenties who was a bit tired for a week or so

[Hillonearth]

19 minutes ago, djchapsticks said:

It's the gall to claim that folk are missing the daily city centre grind and getting out for a haircut or coffee at their breaks.

I mean, I'm sure most folk would forego a fucking Starbucks if it meant having to avoid catching 3 or 4 subway trains to and from work in a mad 90 minute each way dash across the city every day at a personal cost of thousands of quid a year.

I'm lucky in that my own office is a 15 minute drive from my house but I certainly don't want to be going back to it any more than 2 days a week, simply because I don't need to. I can work with 100% efficiency from my own home and really only should be needed in future for meeting purposes (which I don't have many of).

These people don't actually live in the real world. The benefits of WFH outweigh the office 10 fold.

The vested interests that are agitating for reinvention of the wheel may well have to endure quite a lot of disappointment I reckon...almost everywhere I'm hearing about seems to be moving forward with a mix of WFH and maybe a couple of days a week in the office. Things were almost certainly moving towards that kind of mode in the medium to long terml, but having by and large made it work it seems to only be a fairly small minority - about 15% in my place going by a survey that was done - that want to turn the clock back to the way things were before.

[Left Back]

3 minutes ago, Gaz said:

Employers also have pensions that are heavily tied up in commercial and office property.

If anyone doesn't think most employers will be ganting on getting folk back sitting in the office at a desk for 40 hours a week they're pretty naive.

Don't think that's true.   Employers have pension schemes that are typically run for them by pension companies.  The employer has no direct say in how the money is invested in the scheme.  It's normal that the employee can choose various options as to how they want their money invested within the scheme (risk appetite, ethics etc) but the employer has no direct say.  they govern the scheme to ensure the pension company aren't robbing the money but that's different from determining what it's invested in.

[Michael W]

I'll also buck the trend a bit here - I can't wait to get back into my office. I enjoy leaving to get my lunch (there's nothing nearby at home) and also like the people I work with. But the cat is out the bag here - it has worked pretty well for a lot of people and even those that haven't enjoyed it as much like myself have gotten by. It can be done. 

My own viewpoint is based around my set up. It's OK, but not optimal and I do find it tougher to switch off given that the place I rest is now also my workplace. Going back to the office will help in that respect as I find the short journey home gives me some time to unwind. I may feel differently about this once I've moved house and have a dedicated space. 

Then again, my commute is inexpensive and takes 20-30mins. I used to work in London before moving offices and were I still paying for that season ticket (won't disclose the amount, but it was eye-watering) then would I f**k be wanting to go back. There is a price I am happy pay for some variation in life, but it is nowhere near what my former commute cost. Ideally I will be in the office 3 or 4 days a week and have the rest at home. Perfectly comfortable with that. More frequent remote working will suit others better, I just hope that the options are open to accommodate preferences. 

Circumstances of work are another factor. I find that my days are at least an hour longer and that this isn't healthy. I don't work in the same office as my team does, but when in the office I haven't felt there is quite as much expectation to be "visible" online as there is currently. Not all people will feel like this, right enough. 

We still haven't heard how it's going to pan out. My firm gave up a few of its smaller offices and the employees are now employed remotely but not sure what will happen in terms of returning to the office otherwise. I imagine greater flexibility, but remains to be seen. Home working more than 1 day per week was historically frowned upon. 

[superbigal]

23 hours ago, superbigal said:

 

Daily Infections per 100K in 7 days Update:   Another hugely Significant 24 Hours for the whole of the UK. Cases plunge everywhere. Northern Ireland now below the 100 marker. Wales below 70. 

In Scotland we have a Mega 24 Hours as cases drop 7.36% and the infectivity rate plunges to 4.1%. We are down to 84.3 cases per 100K.

Cigars for many and in fact decent drops for 15 of the top 16 Councils.  The exception as pointed out is Stirling.  No one appeared from the woodwork with any excuses yet, but it looks very concentrated.

Scotland peaked at 301.9 for figures 29th Dec to 4th Jan,    Cases that day were 16,496 and test rate was 11.9%

Total cases latest 7 days from 20th to 26th February are down from 4971 to 4604. The positive test rate goes from 4.4% to 4.1%.  Cases per 100k goes from  91.0 to 84.3 down 7.36%

England 112.6 to 107.8  down 4.26% in last 24 hours.  Wales 74.1 to 69.3 down 6.48%  in last 24 hours , Northern Ireland 103.1to 99.6 down 3.39% in last 24 hours.   UK Average is now 109.6 to 105.0  down 4.20%  in last 24 hours.

In Europe the Czech republic is in freefall at 700, 

NHS FIGURES :  Forth Valley  171.9 to 160.4,  Lanarkshire 128.1 to 119.5, Greater Glasgow & Clyde 123.1 to 114.5,  Lothian 102.2 to 93.2,  Ayrshire & Arran  95.3 to 81.2,  Fife 62.9 to 61.0, Tayside 61.3 to 60.8,  D&G 36.3 to 35.6, Highland 32.6 to 27.7, Western Isles  29.9 to 33.7, Grampian 29.7 to 28.5, Borders  23.4 to 17.3,  Orkney 0.0 to 0.0 & Shetlands 0.0 to 0.0

Council progress in last 24 hours as follows.

Click cases by neighbourhood to see the spread on the geographical map. 

https://public.tableau.com/profile/phs.covid.19#!/vizhome/COVID-19DailyDashboard_15960160643010/Overview

Falkirk  189.6 to 172.2  9% drop so at last on the move

Stirling 153.9 to 153.9  Still no good news and could go top tomorrow ?  

West Dunbartonshire  154.1 to 138.3  Down over 10%

Clackmannanshire  145.5 to 135.8

North Lanarkshire  144.4 to 134.2  

West Lothian 142.0 to 132.7

 Renfrewshire 132.3 to 126.2  

Glasgow City 132.5 to 123.4

Midlothian  129.8 to 110.3  Huge 15% drop

East Lothian 117.7 to 108.3   

East Ayrshire 118.0 to 104.1   Prison free and surging back down charts another 11.77% day.

South Lanarkshire  110.8 to 103.6

East Dunbartonshire  90.2 to 88.4 

East Renfrewshire  96.3 to 85.8  Another plus 10% day.

NOW ALL BELOW SCOTTISH AVERAGE of 84.3

North Ayrshire  98.0 to 80.9  Another monumental day down 17.45%

City Of Edinburgh   79.1 to 71.8 Going the right way again down near  another 10%

Dundee City 65.0 to 66.3

Perth & Kinross   62.5 to 62.5

Fife  62.9 to 61.0  

South Ayrshire  66.6 to 55.9  Down 16% outstanding

Angus 53.4 to 51.6  

Inverclyde  57.8 to 51.4

Moray 42.8 to 36.5   Another 10% plus day.

Dumfries & Galloway 36.3 to 35.6

Western Isles   29.9 to 33.7  

Highlands 39.9 to 33.5 Massive 15%+ drop 2nd day in a row.

Aberdeen City 25.4 to 28.9   

Aberdeenshire 28.3 to 25.3

Scottish  Borders  23.4 to 17.3  Amazing 25% drop for 2nd day in a row.

Argyll & Bute 11.6 to 10.5

Orkney Island   0.0 to 0.0

Shetland Islands   0.0 to 0.0

Edited March 1, 2021 by superbigal

[Gaz]

9 minutes ago, Left Back said:

Don't think that's true.   Employers have pension schemes that are typically run for them by pension companies.  The employer has no direct say in how the money is invested in the scheme.  It's normal that the employee can choose various options as to how they want their money invested within the scheme (risk appetite, ethics etc) but the employer has no direct say.  they govern the scheme to ensure the pension company aren't robbing the money but that's different from determining what it's invested in.

I dare say you're right that employers don't have a direct say, but property has been one of the most reliable investments for goodness knows how long. I don't think it's much of a stretch to say it will make up a fair whack of most pension portfolios.

I'd also argue that the vast majority of folk have no idea what their pension is invested in, let alone taking an active part in choosing.

[madwullie]

48 minutes ago, Jan Vojáček said:

""I think now people are really missing that opportunity to collaborate with and just see their friends in the office, to get your hair cut, to go and get a good coffee at lunchtime, and to do all the life admin things you can do in a city centre."

I can think of nothing worse than getting my haircut on my lunch, then spending the next three hours or so having to deal with the never-ending stream of wee hairs tickling my back and neck. 

Totally impossible to do outwith a city centre too. 

[101]

1 hour ago, Bairnardo said:

Re the recent discussion about working from home, heres a flavour of what those who wish to continue it will be up against... The BBC giving someone with a clear vested interest a platform to speak on behalf of the public

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-56237586

Unbelievable not to caveat that with "if no one is using his office space he's on the dole" they don't wheel out Ronald McDonald saying "people are tired of healthy eating"

[Sherrif John Bunnell]

The stay at home order is getting a bit farcical when you look at those numbers. Especially when there is glorious beer garden weather outside at the moment.

[Bairnardo]

Daily Infections per 100K in 7 days Update:   Another hugely Significant 24 Hours for the whole of the UK. Cases plunge everywhere. Northern Ireland now below the 100 marker. Wales below 70. 

In Scotland we have a Mega 24 Hours as cases drop 7.36% and the infectivity rate plunges to 4.1%. We are down to 84.3 cases per 100K.

Cigars for many and in fact decent drops for 15 of the top 16 Councils.  The exception as pointed out is Stirling.  No one appeared from the woodwork with any excuses yet, but it looks very concentrated.

Scotland peaked at 301.9 for figures 29th Dec to 4th Jan,    Cases that day were 16,496 and test rate was 11.9%

Total cases latest 7 days from 20th to 26th February are down from 4971 to 4604. The positive test rate goes from 4.4% to 4.1%.  Cases per 100k goes from  91.0 to 84.3 down 7.36%

England 112.6 to 107.8  down 4.26% in last 24 hours.  Wales 74.1 to 69.3 down 6.48%  in last 24 hours , Northern Ireland 103.1to 99.6 down 3.39% in last 24 hours.   UK Average is now 109.6 to 105.0  down 4.20%  in last 24 hours.

In Europe the Czech republic is in freefall at 700, 

NHS FIGURES :  Forth Valley  171.9 to 160.4,  Lanarkshire 128.1 to 119.5, Greater Glasgow & Clyde 123.1 to 114.5,  Lothian 102.2 to 93.2,  Ayrshire & Arran  95.3 to 81.2,  Fife 62.9 to 61.0, Tayside 61.3 to 60.8,  D&G 36.3 to 35.6, Highland 32.6 to 27.7, Western Isles  29.9 to 33.7, Grampian 29.7 to 28.5, Borders  23.4 to 17.3,  Orkney 0.0 to 0.0 & Shetlands 0.0 to 0.0

Council progress in last 24 hours as follows.

Click cases by neighbourhood to see the spread on the geographical map. 
https://public.tableau.com/profile/phs.covid.19#!/vizhome/COVID-19DailyDashboard_15960160643010/Overview
Falkirk  189.6 to 172.2  9% drop so at last on the move
Stirling 153.9 to 153.9  Still no good news and could go top tomorrow ?  
West Dunbartonshire  154.1 to 138.3  Down over 10%
Clackmannanshire  145.5 to 135.8
North Lanarkshire  144.4 to 134.2  
West Lothian 142.0 to 132.7
 Renfrewshire 132.3 to 126.2  
Glasgow City 132.5 to 123.4
Midlothian  129.8 to 110.3  Huge 15% drop
East Lothian 117.7 to 108.3   
East Ayrshire 118.0 to 104.1   Prison free and surging back down charts another 11.77% day.
South Lanarkshire  110.8 to 103.6
East Dunbartonshire  90.2 to 88.4 
East Renfrewshire  96.3 to 85.8  Another plus 10% day.
NOW ALL BELOW SCOTTISH AVERAGE of 84.3
North Ayrshire  98.0 to 80.9  Another monumental day down 17.45%
City Of Edinburgh   79.1 to 71.8 Going the right way again down near  another 10%
Dundee City 65.0 to 66.3
Perth & Kinross   62.5 to 62.5
Fife  62.9 to 61.0  
South Ayrshire  66.6 to 55.9  Down 16% outstanding
Angus 53.4 to 51.6  
Inverclyde  57.8 to 51.4
Moray 42.8 to 36.5   Another 10% plus day.
Dumfries & Galloway 36.3 to 35.6
Western Isles   29.9 to 33.7  
Highlands 39.9 to 33.5 Massive 15%+ drop 2nd day in a row.
Aberdeen City 25.4 to 28.9   
Aberdeenshire 28.3 to 25.3
Scottish  Borders  23.4 to 17.3  Amazing 25% drop for 2nd day in a row.
Argyll & Bute 11.6 to 10.5
Orkney Island   0.0 to 0.0
Shetland Islands   0.0 to 0.0

"9% so at last on the move"

Give Falkirk the credit it deserves you b*****d!

[TheScarf]

42 minutes ago, djchapsticks said:

The only sustained benefit of working in an office is that training new folk is 10x harder remotely than it is in a face to face situation.

I'd be happy going into work for 2 or 3 weeks to provide 1 to 1 training for new starts rather than doing so on teams but apart from that? Nahhhhhh.

I've started a new job recently and can concur with this.  

[Dons_1988]

1 minute ago, Gaz said:

I dare say you're right that employers don't have a direct say, but property has been one of the most reliable investments for goodness knows how long. I don't think it's much of a stretch to say it will make up a fair whack of most pension portfolios.

I'd also argue that the vast majority of folk have no idea what their pension is invested in, let alone taking an active part in choosing.

Pension funds change all the time though depending on markets. Employers pay fund managers to shift investments around to maximise returns so if property is failing then they will go elsewhere.

[Left Back]

3 minutes ago, Dons_1988 said:

Pension funds change all the time though depending on markets. Employers pay fund managers to shift investments around to maximise returns so if property is failing then they will go elsewhere.

Exactly this.  Property funds have been in the doldrums for a few years.  There was even a period last year when some funds essential "closed" to stem the outflows from them. Not the first time that's happened in the recent past.

Any fund manager worth his/her salt will be very underweight in them.

Edited March 1, 2021 by Left Back

[Scosha]

15 minutes ago, superbigal said:

Daily Infections per 100K in 7 days Update:   Another hugely Significant 24 Hours for the whole of the UK. Cases plunge everywhere. Northern Ireland now below the 100 marker. Wales below 70. 

In Scotland we have a Mega 24 Hours as cases drop 7.36% and the infectivity rate plunges to 4.1%. We are down to 84.3 cases per 100K.

Cigars for many and in fact decent drops for 15 of the top 16 Councils.  The exception as pointed out is Stirling.  No one appeared from the woodwork with any excuses yet, but it looks very concentrated.

Scotland peaked at 301.9 for figures 29th Dec to 4th Jan,    Cases that day were 16,496 and test rate was 11.9%

Total cases latest 7 days from 20th to 26th February are down from 4971 to 4604. The positive test rate goes from 4.4% to 4.1%.  Cases per 100k goes from  91.0 to 84.3 down 7.36%

England 112.6 to 107.8  down 4.26% in last 24 hours.  Wales 74.1 to 69.3 down 6.48%  in last 24 hours , Northern Ireland 103.1to 99.6 down 3.39% in last 24 hours.   UK Average is now 109.6 to 105.0  down 4.20%  in last 24 hours.

In Europe the Czech republic is in freefall at 700, 

NHS FIGURES :  Forth Valley  171.9 to 160.4,  Lanarkshire 128.1 to 119.5, Greater Glasgow & Clyde 123.1 to 114.5,  Lothian 102.2 to 93.2,  Ayrshire & Arran  95.3 to 81.2,  Fife 62.9 to 61.0, Tayside 61.3 to 60.8,  D&G 36.3 to 35.6, Highland 32.6 to 27.7, Western Isles  29.9 to 33.7, Grampian 29.7 to 28.5, Borders  23.4 to 17.3,  Orkney 0.0 to 0.0 & Shetlands 0.0 to 0.0

Council progress in last 24 hours as follows.

Click cases by neighbourhood to see the spread on the geographical map. 

https://public.tableau.com/profile/phs.covid.19#!/vizhome/COVID-19DailyDashboard_15960160643010/Overview

Falkirk  189.6 to 172.2  9% drop so at last on the move

Stirling 153.9 to 153.9  Still no good news and could go top tomorrow ?  

West Dunbartonshire  154.1 to 138.3  Down over 10%

Clackmannanshire  145.5 to 135.8

North Lanarkshire  144.4 to 134.2  

West Lothian 142.0 to 132.7

 Renfrewshire 132.3 to 126.2  

Glasgow City 132.5 to 123.4

Midlothian  129.8 to 110.3  Huge 15% drop

East Lothian 117.7 to 108.3   

East Ayrshire 118.0 to 104.1   Prison free and surging back down charts another 11.77% day.

South Lanarkshire  110.8 to 103.6

East Dunbartonshire  90.2 to 88.4 

East Renfrewshire  96.3 to 85.8  Another plus 10% day.

NOW ALL BELOW SCOTTISH AVERAGE of 84.3

North Ayrshire  98.0 to 80.9  Another monumental day down 17.45%

City Of Edinburgh   79.1 to 71.8 Going the right way again down near  another 10%

Dundee City 65.0 to 66.3

Perth & Kinross   62.5 to 62.5

Fife  62.9 to 61.0  

South Ayrshire  66.6 to 55.9  Down 16% outstanding

Angus 53.4 to 51.6  

Inverclyde  57.8 to 51.4

Moray 42.8 to 36.5   Another 10% plus day.

Dumfries & Galloway 36.3 to 35.6

Western Isles   29.9 to 33.7  

Highlands 39.9 to 33.5 Massive 15%+ drop 2nd day in a row.

Aberdeen City 25.4 to 28.9   

Aberdeenshire 28.3 to 25.3

Scottish  Borders  23.4 to 17.3  Amazing 25% drop for 2nd day in a row.

Argyll & Bute 11.6 to 10.5

Orkney Island   0.0 to 0.0

Shetland Islands   0.0 to 0.0

I’m feeling far too positive after seeing that today. Genuinely given me a lift reading that  

[D.A.F.C]

24 minutes ago, Dons_1988 said:

I don't but:

People report into me and I report into people. Some of them are decent, some of them are c***s.

If somebody who attends meetings upsets you, I'm afraid that's your problem.

You seem to be the one with the problem here tbh.

I never said I had a problem with all management, meetings etc you did.

[D.A.F.C]

30 minutes ago, Left Back said:

Doesn't make you management.  I attend meetings all day and have not a single person reporting to me.

Ahem

[Dons_1988]

3 minutes ago, D.A.F.C said:

You seem to be the one with the problem here tbh.

I never said I had a problem with all management, meetings etc you did.

OK. You're right. It's my problem.