Workplaces and employer attitudes Megathread

MrMiata · 29-03-2020 2:22pm

antix80 wrote: »

Your employer has a right to send you home.. I think his risk assessment is spot on.

https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/unemployed_people/covid19_pandemic_unemployment_payment.html

To qualify for the new COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment, you must:

Be aged between 18 and 66
Live in the Republic of Ireland
Have been in employment or self-employment immediately before Friday 13 March 2020
Have lost your job or be temporarily laid off from work or asked to stay at home from work due to the pandemic

Her but yeah she's looking out for me.

They have night shifts on too, whereby I'd just be stocking shelves at night..
I'm wondering if I'd be entitled to the 2 weeks medical leave and after that I'd go back working nights.. I hate the thought of being stuck at home for the foreseeable future!

Rojiblancos · 29-03-2020 2:27pm

Work on a construction site over 100km from home. Been told to work unless we can't drive ourselves. No car pooling.

Anyone know if I'm eligible for any payment as the company is still functioning but I'm unable to go to work now.

Unicorn55 · 29-03-2020 2:27pm

Fair play to you for wanting to be working.

I would check with your GP if they will certify you fit to work at present - outline if fit to work at nights with no customers or if you are ok to work during the day in a customer facing role.

CV19 is worse for some people with underlying conditions so I understand your employer being cautious, fair play to them too.

loveisdivine · 29-03-2020 2:30pm

Is there anyone to contact to report (or at least query) a company staying open that isn’t an essential service?

An online beauty product company is claiming they are an essential service because they happen to sell a few fancy sanctuary spa hand soaps. They actually want my husband to work more hours than normal next week

Ryu Hayabusa · 29-03-2020 2:39pm

[The construction company I work is one of the largest in Ireland. and a disgrace for how they handled covid 19

Before the closure, half the site had returned to their families out of fear, and non faith of how the company was treating the situation.

A subcontractor of 5 operatives who all live and travel together, two operatives showed Flu like symptoms,

I sent away all of them and advised them to self isolate 14 days or when a test is undertaken, which is HSE guidelines. The project manager brought them back, risking the sites wellbeing if these men had covid 19, for the sake of progress

Half the workforce of the job left the site due to seeing these potentially covid 19 carriers.

A project manager, who held back hand sanitizer from the workforce, waiting to fill the dispensers if/only the HSE turned up to site. We had no hand sanitizer for days.

Temperature testing reading 32c to 34c on men, a complete shambles, but told just to keep doing it. No effort to get a working thermometer. And no mask for the man testing,

No masks for our guys working close quarters 1m company policy, when I said to project manager that we have no masks and they should stop as some construction activities need two persons close quarter and masks,

I was told that was not my descison. A blind eye turned to the men working together and no social distancing, totally against the hse and governmentb

Health and safety director, when I challenged him, he said until a sick man gets tested and turns positive for covid q9, they can work onsite as we don’t have the labour levels to turn away men.

There was a lot more, but the more I write, the angrier I get

My job was then threatened saying, if I didn’t feel comfortable staying, plenty site managers from the fit out side of the company would take my position.

DirtyHarry88 · 29-03-2020 2:51pm

MrMiata wrote: »

Her but yeah she's looking out for me.

They have night shifts on too, whereby I'd just be stocking shelves at night..
I'm wondering if I'd be entitled to the 2 weeks medical leave and after that I'd go back working nights.. I hate the thought of being stuck at home for the foreseeable future!

Christ on a bike you have asthma, you'll get a payment, stay at home!

Stormington · 29-03-2020 2:53pm

Ryu Hayabusa wrote: »

[The construction company I work is one of the largest in Ireland. and a disgrace for how they handled covid 19

Before the closure, half the site had returned to their families out of fear, and non faith of how the company was treating the situation.

A subcontractor of 5 operatives who all live and travel together, two operatives showed Flu like symptoms,

I sent away all of them and advised them to self isolate 14 days or when a test is undertaken, which is HSE guidelines. The project manager brought them back, risking the sites wellbeing if these men had covid 19, for the sake of progress

Half the workforce of the job left the site due to seeing these potentially covid 19 carriers.

A project manager, who held back hand sanitizer from the workforce, waiting to fill the dispensers if/only the HSE turned up to site. We had no hand sanitizer for days.

Temperature testing reading 32c to 34c on men, a complete shambles, but told just to keep doing it. No effort to get a working thermometer. And no mask for the man testing,

No masks for our guys working close quarters 1m company policy, when I said to project manager that we have no masks and they should stop as some construction activities need two persons close quarter and masks,

I was told that was not my descison. A blind eye turned to the men working together and no social distancing, totally against the hse and governmentb

Health and safety director, when I challenged him, he said until a sick man gets tested and turns positive for covid q9, they can work onsite as we don’t have the labour levels to turn away men.

There was a lot more, but the more I write, the angrier I get

My job was then threatened saying, if I didn’t feel comfortable staying, plenty site managers from the fit out side of the company would take my position.

That's disgraceful. Is there a body to report them to?

Ryu Hayabusa · 29-03-2020 2:58pm

Stormington wrote: »

That's disgraceful. Is there a body to report them to?

The Construction industry federation, but thankfully irish government made correct decision that my industry is non essential, as it was clear that certain (not all) People in the industry are incapable of providing a safe working environment in these times.

I‘ll leave this company, after using all the holiday pay and move on to a company that cares about their staff.

MrMiata · 29-03-2020 3:08pm

DirtyHarry88 wrote: »

Christ on a bike you have asthma, you'll get a payment, stay at home!

I might actually lose the plot if I'm at home for 12 weeks..
I'd much rather be in work.

Nights would be fine, it'd just be myself and 4 others and we're well spread out.

My asthma is fairly mild.

MrMiata · 29-03-2020 3:10pm

Unicorn55 wrote: »

Fair play to you for wanting to be working.

I would check with your GP if they will certify you fit to work at present - outline if fit to work at nights with no customers or if you are ok to work during the day in a customer facing role.

CV19 is worse for some people with underlying conditions so I understand your employer being cautious, fair play to them too.

I just don't fancy being cooped up with my family for 12 weeks!

I mentioned to my supervisor about nights and she said to just get a doctors note to cover myself..

So I'm guessing my best bet is to call my doctor tomorrow?
Is the 12 weeks off a max of 12 or does everyone across the board get 12?

This is it · 29-03-2020 3:11pm

I can work from home but I'd much prefer to go to the office. Unfortunately I'm not allowed, thems the rules. It is tough staying at home and it's great that you want to work but for your own sake, stay at home.

Unicorn55 · 29-03-2020 3:18pm

Supermarket is an essential business though and can't be done from home.

OP yes get your GP's advice. Good the option of night work is there if they recommend keeping away from customers. Being young and healthy and only mild asthma should be on your side too but your GP will be able tp advise on that.

Heckler · 29-03-2020 3:19pm

Any company that acts the bollocks during this deserves to be named and shamed. They'll pay for it in the long term.

Marsden35 · 29-03-2020 3:21pm

I'm not sure if asthma is considered a major underlying condition, but if your employer is asking you to stay at home, then do as you're told. You'll then have a job to go back to when this is all over.

Spend your time doing things around the house.

My house has never been cleaner and I've fixed so many little things that have literally been needing sorting for years.

SAMTALK · 29-03-2020 3:23pm

Too many loopholes in what is deemed essential as most places will find a way of getting around this

Think there needs to be tighter control from government on what is essential. I know they gave a list but too many options

antix80 · 29-03-2020 3:26pm

cannotlogin wrote: »

There are a lot of people crying out for an employer like that at the moment.

Your parents and your employer are not wrong.

Ring your GP and claim 6our entitlements.

I think this isn't right.. If you ring the gp, you could end up applying for illness benefit that isn't paid from day 1.
Take what your employer is offering. Financially you'll be better off.

29-03-2020 3:36pm

I did hear on the radio earlier (possibly Newstalk but i was channel hopping so unsure) that if you're brought into work, and you have a legitimate grievance that you feel it's against the govt. advice and is not essential, you can ring and inform the Gardai, and they will act on it?

Apparently the Gardai have been shutting places down that are acting the bollocks.

I should clarify though, that I don't know what the Gardai are doing to close these places - they haven't been given any extra powers and as far as I can see, the govt. restrictions are still just "advice", so Im not sure what the Gardai are actually saying to business owners. But I do know a chap that sells ice cream, and the Gardai called around to his house as he was selling ice cream over the weekend last week. I've also heard of a beauty salon being closed down (possibly in dundalk?) and I think Newstalk were saying the Gardai are still calling around to any businesses they see open that are deemed non-essential.

Pitch n Putt · 29-03-2020 3:39pm

SAMTALK wrote: »

Too many loopholes in what is deemed essential as most places will find a way of getting around this

Think there needs to be tighter control from government on what is essential. I know they gave a list but too many options

Agreed. Companies looking for loopholes to stay open are completely missing the whole point of the government announcement last Friday evening.

If your not essential as in medical supplies, food manufacturing and distribution,carers, fuel depots shutdown for two weeks and don’t be putting the lives of your employees and their families at risk.

easypazz · 29-03-2020 3:44pm

Pitch n Putt wrote: »

Agreed. Companies looking for loopholes to stay open are completely missing the whole point of the government announcement last Friday evening.

If your not essential as in medical supplies, food manufacturing and distribution,carers, fuel depots shutdown for two weeks and don’t be putting the lives of your employees and their families at risk.

It may well be more than 2 weeks.

Suppose somebody makes bottles for Heineken, that is hardly essential?

29-03-2020 3:50pm

easypazz wrote: »

It may well be more than 2 weeks.

Suppose somebody makes bottles for Heineken, that is hardly essential?

If Heineken is still being sold then it is. Same as someone that makes the film for Tayto bags or the trays for beef mince.

SAMTALK · 29-03-2020 3:51pm

easypazz wrote: »

It may well be more than 2 weeks.

Suppose somebody makes bottles for Heineken, that is hardly essential?

It will definately be more than 2 weeks if companies will not pull together on this.
It's not fair on the companies who are complying with regulations put in place.

All it will do is extend the situation we are in now

easypazz · 29-03-2020 3:59pm

SAMTALK wrote: »

It will definately be more than 2 weeks if companies will not pull together on this.
It's not fair on the companies who are complying with regulations put in place.

All it will do is extend the situation we are in now

Its not just companies, individual people not following guidelines will probably be the biggest issue.

Heckler · 29-03-2020 4:00pm

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

If Heineken is still being sold then it is. Same as someone that makes the film for Tayto bags or the trays for beef mince.

Hardly essential. World be a better place without that pisswater anyways.

hollypink · 29-03-2020 4:04pm

My OH is a greenkeeper on a golf course and he has been told by his boss to go into work tomorrow. The Golf Course Superintendents Association of Ireland tweeted that they are seeking clarity on greenkeepers attending work. I thought the government list of essential services was clear but as someone said above, there are always those who will look for loopholes.

Beasty · 29-03-2020 4:08pm

Threads merged

MrMiata · 29-03-2020 4:08pm

antix80 wrote: »

I think this isn't right.. If you ring the gp, you could end up applying for illness benefit that isn't paid from day 1.
Take what your employer is offering. Financially you'll be better off.

I've absolutely no interest in sitting at home for 12 weeks.
I'd rather take 2 and go back on nights, If I didn't get the illness benefit I'd probably just ask right away to go on nights.
I'm fine, I have mild asthma.
Asthma will be the least of my worries if I have to listen to my family for 12 weeks!

SAMTALK · 29-03-2020 4:09pm

easypazz wrote: »

Its not just companies, individual people not following guidelines will probably be the biggest issue.

Totally agree with you . It's so frustrating when most of the people are doing what's asked but there are a certain few who just dont get the seriousness of it all.

Companies need to man up for the sake of their employees but also the employees need to see this as not just a holiday

I feel for the likes of Simon Harris etc who must be so frustrated to see some of the stupid things people are doing regardless of how many times they are told

Heckler · 29-03-2020 4:10pm

hollypink wrote: »

My OH is a greenkeeper on a golf course and he has been told by his boss to go into work tomorrow. The Golf Course Superintendents Association of Ireland tweeted that they are seeking clarity on greenkeepers attending work. I thought the government list of essential services was clear but as someone said above, there are always those who will look for loopholes.

If any asshole is out playing ****ing golf tomorrow they deserve a nine iron up their hole. Keep the OH at home ! I love the fact there is GCSAI.

Pitch n Putt · 29-03-2020 4:13pm

easypazz wrote: »

It may well be more than 2 weeks.

Suppose somebody makes bottles for Heineken, that is hardly essential?

There is so many different companies and contractors linked to manufacturing that most people will still be asked to work.
Some places with hundreds working together.
You can also travel any distance to work but on your weekend at home you can’t go 2 kms from your house with your own family.

Workplaces are now the biggest risk area for spreading the virus for example chocolate Easter eggs if u like are deemed essential food

There needs to be a more detailed assessment of critical food manufacturing and all the rest should be closed immediately

Heckler · 29-03-2020 4:19pm

Yup very wishy washy guidelines. I told my work I won't be in for 2 weeks. Have elderly at risk to consider. In fairness my boss had no issue. Going to be massive scope in the years to come for legal cases against companies making people go to work and getting infected.

29-03-2020 4:20pm

Heckler wrote: »

Hardly essential. World be a better place without that pisswater anyways.

Neither are Tayto and beef mince.

blindside88 · 29-03-2020 4:21pm

Heckler wrote: »

If any asshole is out playing ****ing golf tomorrow they deserve a nine iron up their hole. Keep the OH at home ! I love the fact there is GCSAI.

I don’t think there’ll be anyone actually out playing golf but the course does need to be maintained or there’ll be no job to go back to (a week of no grass cutting won’t ruin it but a month could). I would much prefer to be out working in the fresh air than stuck in the house. As a green keeper he’ll likely be working over a kilometre away from the next greenkeeper

Heckler · 29-03-2020 4:25pm

Nearly guarantee some pot bellied pink polo popped collar prick will turn up for a round. Cos hes entitled.

MrMiata · 29-03-2020 4:27pm

Beasty wrote: »

Threads merged

Would have been better to just delete my thread instead of merging it here, you've killed it anyway.

Heckler · 29-03-2020 4:29pm

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

Neither are Tayto and beef mince.

Tayto no obviously. Food supply chains need to be kept running. Alcohol is not a necessary foodstuff. Well.....

Sheep Shagger · 29-03-2020 4:33pm

What's with retail banks and their support staff having to go into work? Same for post offices and credit unions.

For every person, every day there is commuting it's another chance to spread the virus.

These types of services need to be curtailed right back, perhaps be open to 2 days a week max for essential requirements.

Heckler · 29-03-2020 4:34pm

Then again Barrys tea and Cheese and Onion Tayto sandwiches could just be the thing to get us through this crisis !

jamesbil · 29-03-2020 4:41pm

Hypothetical question,

2 members of same household doing renovation work in an empty house 2k from home. No one else on site and no one lives near.

Do they go to work?

29-03-2020 4:42pm

Heckler wrote: »

Tayto no obviously. Food supply chains need to be kept running. Alcohol is not a necessary foodstuff. Well.....

You don’t need mince either, or chicken goujons, or burgers, or ice cream. If you’re just cutting out what you don’t like though, then that’s a different story.

doxy79 · 29-03-2020 4:43pm

I don't drink at home but would argue keeping the alcohol flowing is fairly important. Society will eventually break down if this continues for very long, and it will happen a lot faster if ppl are denied alcohol. I honestly believe that too. They could limit it to supermarket sales though.

pablo128 · 29-03-2020 4:50pm

doxy79 wrote: »

I don't drink at home but would argue keeping the alcohol flowing is fairly important. Society will eventually break down if this continues for very long, and it will happen a lot faster if ppl are denied alcohol. I honestly believe that too. They could limit it to supermarket sales though.

That's the end for Muslim countries so.:rolleyes:

29-03-2020 4:52pm

pablo128 wrote: »

That's the end for Muslim countries so.:rolleyes:

They never have it so that’s not a real comparison. They’re not exactly hotbeds of law and order either.

loveisdivine · 29-03-2020 4:54pm

I sent a message on twitter to the HSE Live people, explaining that my husbands employer isn’t an essential service and they’re we’re continuing business as usual, they replied to say they have no way to check it.

Great, lots of help.

Lazare · 29-03-2020 4:56pm

MrMiata wrote: »

I just don't fancy being cooped up with my family for 12 weeks!

I mentioned to my supervisor about nights and she said to just get a doctors note to cover myself..

So I'm guessing my best bet is to call my doctor tomorrow?
Is the 12 weeks off a max of 12 or does everyone across the board get 12?

I'm sorry but I'm going to be blunt.

Stop being an idiot and stay at home. Your desire to go to work, although you can likely be forgiven for it due to ignorance, is extremely selfish.

You are at risk of ICU.

A doctor will let an old person die to save you.

Stay at home.

angel eyes 2012 · 29-03-2020 4:57pm

Sheep Shagger wrote: »

What's with retail banks and their support staff having to go into work? Same for post offices and credit unions.

For every person, every day there is commuting it's another chance to spread the virus.

These types of services need to be curtailed right back, perhaps be open to 2 days a week max for essential requirements.

A large cohort of people have been laid off in the past few weeks and have run out of money or about to, they need cash to survive and they need it quick. There are still people that don't access the internet for various reasons and still like to conduct their affairs in person and therefore need access to the bank and post office. The banks are also dealing with a deluge of phone calls from businesses and personal customers unable to pay loans and mortgages.

Some state bodies require paper copies of documentation for various reasons and these may need to be posted in order to allow new applicants access various benefits e.g. pensions, Medical Card applications, unemployment payments etc. Now that travel has been severely curtailed, families may need to post parcels to family members in other parts of the country.
Similar reasons for Credit Unions - newly unemployed needing access to savings etc. I am sure there are numerous other reasons I have missed but rest assured, I am sure the frontline services have been curtailed, however the pressure on these services has increased dramatically.

Sheep Shagger · 29-03-2020 5:20pm

jamesbil wrote: »

Hypothetical question,

2 members of same household doing renovation work in an empty house 2k from home. No one else on site and no one lives near.

Do they go to work?

The 2km rule is only for exercise AFAIK.

You should only go to work regardless of how far that is if you are on the essential list of workers.

Sheep Shagger · 29-03-2020 5:24pm

angel eyes 2012 wrote: »

A large cohort of people have been laid off in the past few weeks and have run out of money or about to, they need cash to survive and they need it quick. There are still people that don't access the internet for various reasons and still like to conduct their affairs in person and therefore need access to the bank and post office. The banks are also dealing with a deluge of phone calls from businesses and personal customers unable to pay loans and mortgages.

Some state bodies require paper copies of documentation for various reasons and these may need to be posted in order to allow new applicants access various benefits e.g. pensions, Medical Card applications, unemployment payments etc. Now that travel has been severely curtailed, families may need to post parcels to family members in other parts of the country.
Similar reasons for Credit Unions - newly unemployed needing access to savings etc. I am sure there are numerous other reasons I have missed but rest assured, I am sure the frontline services have been curtailed, however the pressure on these services has increased dramatically.

Agree to some of that, I'm not saying keep branches shut, just reduce their hours for those that still need them. I see PTSB has started doing it.

As for back office support and answering phones, surely this can be done remotely (virtual lines using the sane recorders lines people have in the office).

In some cases it seems staff are being putting at risk because some places BCP is not up to scratch.

You can bet the big wigs in head office are not putting their lives at risk by still going to work in the office.

Lundstram · 29-03-2020 6:15pm

loveisdivine wrote: »

I sent a message on twitter to the HSE Live people, explaining that my husbands employer isn’t an essential service and they’re we’re continuing business as usual, they replied to say they have no way to check it.

Great, lots of help.

In all fairness what has that got to do with the HSE? They're busy enough.

loveisdivine · 29-03-2020 6:16pm

Lundstram wrote: »

In all fairness what the fcuk has that got to do with the HSE? They're busy enough.

I asked a local Garda and they said to refer to the HSE, they’ve since come back to me saying there is nowhere else to report it to and maybe contact local representatives.

So basically companies are free to do whatever they like.

tdf7187 · 29-03-2020 6:27pm

A lot of BCP plans which most people including myself thought would never be needed now coming into operation.

Workplaces and employer attitudes Megathread

Comments