Has your off farm job been affected (what to do)

CloughCasey1 · 16-03-2020 11:59am #1

Hi all. Is there many of us whos off farm job has been cut hours or cut permantly due to Covid 19. My work involves going into 5/6 domestic houses 2 or 3 days a week surveying. I'm at a loss on what to do as I dont think 1. People will want to see me as I may have it & 2. I dont know do I want to be in loads of different houses and bring home with me. Sensible approach is finish out all outstanding office work and then look at it again in a week or two. Has anyone else been hit either being self employed or an employee.

emaherx · 16-03-2020 12:13pm

I'm a field service engineer so working from home is not an option. I'm home with the kids during the day now as there is no one else available to mind them. But I've agreed with my manager and my customers that I'd service their equipment in the evening.

Works out for me as there will be less staff there to interact with and production will be lower meaning I'll have better access to their machines and roads are quieter so half the travel time.

Dozer1 · 16-03-2020 1:14pm

told we are working from home unless we have to go to office, current role is about as ideal for wfh as you get one of the fortunate ones I know. Wife's place is the same so we can't complain

Grueller · 16-03-2020 3:15pm

I am self employed. I contract to the hse for addiction services. I have been told to stay out until further notice.
I was debating a return to my original qualification anyhow and going back teaching in September. This will probably make my mind up that way.
The wife works in a bank and has been told that despite being a mortgage adviser and not front desk staff that she still has to be in.

_Brian · 16-03-2020 5:01pm

We’re non essential services so it’s a “work from home” notice.

But my job is out on the road supervising workers who from today have been sent home for a week, to be reviewed on Friday.

I will have a few days paperwork I can be doing but by Friday I’ll be out of things to do really.

Herself is frontline medical staff so her hours have increased, I’ll be home holding the fort I recon.

Another pain in “working from home” for me is no mobile reception at all. We’re classified as “outdoor signal only” by the providers so I’ve to leave my phone out in the van and go check it, sit in the van if I want to make a call. It’s amazing how old that gets quickly.

Broadband is down to 2-3mb also due to increased loads.

emaherx · 16-03-2020 5:13pm

_Brian wrote: »

We’re non essential services so it’s a “work from home” notice.

But my job is out on the road supervising workers who from today have been sent home for a week, to be reviewed on Friday.

I will have a few days paperwork I can be doing but by Friday I’ll be out of things to do really.

Herself is frontline medical staff so her hours have increased, I’ll be home holding the fort I recon.

Another pain in “working from home” for me is no mobile reception at all. We’re classified as “outdoor signal only” by the providers so I’ve to leave my phone out in the van and go check it, sit in the van if I want to make a call. It’s amazing how old that gets quickly.

Broadband is down to 2-3mb also due to increased loads.

Who is your phone provider? Wifi calling would be worth looking into. Might require a new mobile but 2-3mb should handle voice calls fine.

tractorporn · 16-03-2020 5:17pm

Been put on a week on week off, unpaid since last Friday, for an indefinite period of time. Have got a whole pile down around the place today which was great but I'll miss the wage. I'll have to apply for jobseeker's but not sure how that works with having the farm as well.

_Brian · 16-03-2020 5:18pm

We have no landline provider.
I have switched our old landline to a VOIP system but the quality of broadbamd leaves it poor.

I’m odd too, only give out my work mobile number at work, only my boss has my personal mobile number and nobody has the landline number.

Odelay · 16-03-2020 5:20pm

emaherx wrote: »

Who is your phone provider? Wifi calling would be worth looking into. Might require a new mobile but 2-3mb should handle voice calls fine.

Sometimes it’s a big advantage to have no mobile reception inside the house...

Base price · 16-03-2020 5:34pm

tractorporn wrote: »

Been put on a week on week off, unpaid since last Friday, for an indefinite period of time. Have got a whole pile down around the place today which was great but I'll miss the wage. I'll have to apply for jobseeker's but not sure how that works with having the farm as well.

Phone your accountant and ask?

_Brian · 16-03-2020 5:50pm

tractorporn wrote: »

Been put on a week on week off, unpaid since last Friday, for an indefinite period of time. Have got a whole pile down around the place today which was great but I'll miss the wage. I'll have to apply for jobseeker's but not sure how that works with having the farm as well.

The new special SW payment should be for you, it’s a six week payment for people who loose their job as a result of Covid19

This is a big worry and hopefully SW are on their A game on this, we deal with SW allot through work and mostly it’s less than satisfactory interaction.

tractorporn · 16-03-2020 5:56pm

_Brian wrote: »

The new special SW payment should be for you, it’s a six week payment for people who loose their job as a result of Covid19

This is a big worry and hopefully SW are on their A game on this, we deal with SW allot through work and mostly it’s less than satisfactory interaction.

Cheers base I never thought of the accountant.

I've had limited dealings with SW and like that anytime I have had to do anything with them I haven't been impressed. This couldn't have come at a worse time for me as we just sent off for mortgage approval last friday week!

_Brian · 16-03-2020 6:10pm

tractorporn wrote: »

Cheers base I never thought of the accountant.

I've had limited dealings with SW and like that anytime I have had to do anything with them I haven't been impressed. This couldn't have come at a worse time for me as we just sent off for mortgage approval last friday week!

https://www.gov.ie/en/service/be74d3-covid-19-pandemic-unemployment-payment/?referrer=/pandemicsupport/

emaherx · 16-03-2020 6:41pm

Odelay wrote: »

Sometimes it’s a big advantage to have no mobile reception inside the house...

Even with good reception it can still be turned off.

emaherx · 16-03-2020 6:45pm

_Brian wrote: »

We have no landline provider.
I have switched our old landline to a VOIP system but the quality of broadbamd leaves it poor.

I’m odd too, only give out my work mobile number at work, only my boss has my personal mobile number and nobody has the landline number.

The WiFi calling allows you to use your mobile and mobile number over WiFi. Dosen't require land line but quality would probably be similar to your current VOIP service.

I says · 16-03-2020 7:21pm

Yeah it has and the **** is gone sideways in me.
We are disinfecting the place three times a day it’s all we can do at the minute, and hope people follow the guidelines.

ganmo · 16-03-2020 7:26pm

_Brian wrote: »

We’re classified as “outdoor signal only” by the providers so I’ve to leave my phone out in the van and go check it, sit in the van if I want to make a call. It’s amazing how old that gets quickly.

We have an aerial on the chimney and a repeater in the attic in order to have phone signal in the house. €400 quid but worth it imo

[Deleted User] · 16-03-2020 8:12pm

Bit worried my job will be gone tbh,was quiet enough since xmas

Like im sure il be ok,and prob able to find another with even better pay,

but they were v.good to me last year or 2 with taking time off (unpaid) with sick relatives and for lambing/turning hay etc....id be disappointed to leave/be let go

Sugarbowl · 17-03-2020 10:07am

What options have you got for social welfare payment if your job is not technically gone but you have been informed you do not have work for the next 3-4 weeks? The employer will not provide pay during this period.

[Deleted User] · 17-03-2020 10:16am

Sugarbowl wrote: »

What options have you got for social welfare payment if your job is not technically gone but you have been informed you do not have work for the next 3-4 weeks? The employer will not provide pay during this period.

If you have the stamps paid,and no work,you should be entitled to jobseekers benefit

Its just a matter of letter from employer and into SW office (i assume they will be open??),i remember needing it for 6 weeks before

emaherx · 17-03-2020 10:24am

Sugarbowl wrote: »

What options have you got for social welfare payment if your job is not technically gone but you have been informed you do not have work for the next 3-4 weeks? The employer will not provide pay during this period.

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

There is a new payment setup for such cases.

_Brian · 17-03-2020 10:24am

Deleted User wrote: »

If you have the stamps paid,and no work,you should be entitled to jobseekers benefit

Its just a matter of letter from employer and into SW office (i assume they will be open??),i remember needing it for 6 weeks before

The new emergency payment is to be paid irrespective of stamps paid, it’s a brilliant move to help people out.

[Deleted User] · 17-03-2020 10:39am

_Brian wrote: »

The new emergency payment is to be paid irrespective of stamps paid, it’s a brilliant move to help people out.

Is this the sick pay,or for everyone out of work??
Like quite possible il be out of work and hopefully not get it

The 305 is a great payment (leading the world with this,and credit where its due),but its only for 2 weeks and the average recovery in hospideal is 28 days

Admittdely 90 odd percent of people recovery is 3 to 4 days at home in bed i think

_Brian · 17-03-2020 11:00am

Deleted User wrote: »

Is this the sick pay,or for everyone out of work??
Like quite possible il be out of work and hopefully not get it

The 305 is a great payment (leading the world with this,and credit where its due),but its only for 2 weeks and the average recovery in hospideal is 28 days

Admittdely 90 odd percent of people recovery is 3 to 4 days at home in bed i think

Everyone who looses their job at the moment gets the emergency payment for six weeks irrespective of stamps contributions. If your isolated by hse you get the higher payment.

[Deleted User] · 17-03-2020 11:22am

_Brian wrote: »

We have no landline provider.
I have switched our old landline to a VOIP system but the quality of broadbamd leaves it poor.

I’m odd too, only give out my work mobile number at work, only my boss has my personal mobile number and nobody has the landline number.

You could forward your mobile to your landline when at home. The people calling you wouldn’t even know, they would still call your mobile but your landline in the house would ring.

_Brian · 17-03-2020 11:30am

Keith Brief Sportsman wrote: »

You could forward your mobile to your landline when at home. The people calling you wouldn’t even know, they would still call your mobile but your landline in the house would ring.

Might do that.
Currently the landline is forwarded to her self’s mobile but I could undo that.

tractorporn · 23-03-2020 10:50am

Just a quick update. I got the payment for my reduced hours today into my bank account. Doesn't look like its means tested or anything you have outside your job is taken into account.

_Brian · 23-03-2020 11:50am

Great news.

Nekarsulm · 23-03-2020 10:45pm

Working in the Dept.Ag, mainly paying bill's for the various suppliers and manual payments of stuff.
Most doors need a swipe card to get through, these are now all propped open so you don't touch the handles.
Hand sanitisers in many locations.
No delivery men allowed into the building.
Those whose work allows are now set up to work from home, but there are GDPR rules about bringing any document out of the building, which is hampering things.
Work groups are now split in two groups, instead of normal hours, half start at 7am until 2 PM, then the other half arrive at 2.15 until 9pm.
The first group should be gone from the building before the others arrive.
The hope is that even with one group going down with the virus, the other group might escape.
Nobody can be seated less than 2 metres from anyone else.
Desks sanitised every evening, internal surfaces in common areas done 3 times a day.
If the building goes down, there will be a mess, as the Labs, ports, trial farms, everything will find it impossible to get supplies on an ongoing basis.

ruwithme · 23-03-2020 10:51pm

Keep them oul payments coming anyway nek.

Has your off farm job been affected (what to do)

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