IOM Covid removing restrictions

[slinkydevil]

5 hours ago, Rhumsaa said:

The UK media is definitely getting behind the fear of the Indian variant

Plenty of bodies and organisations warning about its effect and officials in Wales advising people to not travel even if rules allow it

Is the tease worse than the denial?

Aaaaargh! Close the borders.

[pongo]

56 minutes ago, thommo2010 said:

12 weeks lockdown to protect the nhs

Initially that was what it was about. But it was also an evolving story. As more was known the thinking changed. Quite right too.

The fact is that the economy is on the verge of bouncing back much stronger. Already has in many cases. And many things have been permanently changed for the better.

So it's not all doom and gloom. Many companies are never going back to the office for example.

It's all looking fairly positive. And a great opportunity to reset the economy too.

Edited May 14, 2021 by pongo

[Nom de plume]

7 minutes ago, pongo said:

Initially that was what it was about. But it was also an evolving story. As more was known the thinking changed. Quite right too.

The fact is that the economy is on the verge of bouncing back much stronger. Already has in many cases. And many things have been permanently changed for the better.

So it's not all doom and gloom. Many companies are never going back to the office for example.

It's all looking fairly positive. And a great opportunity to reset the economy too.

I cannot see one positive that has come out of Covid, not a one.

The economy bouncing back? Of course it is for Christ’s sake, it’s at its lowest point since money was printed!

If you think working from home is some kind of productivity masterstroke, you are sadly more deluded than I had you down for.

[Itsmeee]

1 hour ago, slinkydevil said:

Aaaaargh! Close the borders.

Boarders

 

 

 

 

 

😂

[Gladys]

4 minutes ago, Nom de plume said:

I cannot see one positive that has come out of Covid, not a one.

The economy bouncing back? Of course it is for Christ’s sake, it’s at its lowest point since money was printed!

If you think working from home is some kind of productivity masterstroke, you are sadly more deluded than I had you down for.

There are also concerns about the WFH strategy, it cuts down on informal exchange of information, lessens group and team dynamics, supervision and staff development, which relies on close mentoring. 

You also have to wonder what will happen to the physical structure of city centres where offices are the predominant occupier, serviced by retail outlets and transport links.  And, as distasteful as it may be to some, what will happen to the commercial property market which underpins many pension funds?

Not being overly gloomy, but the consequences will result in many unpredictable changes. It will be interesting to see what the actual effects will be. 

 

[Nom de plume]

1 minute ago, Gladys said:

There are also concerns about the WFH strategy, it cuts down on informal exchange of information, lessens group and team dynamics, supervision and staff development, which relies on close mentoring. 

You also have to wonder what will happen to the physical structure of city centres where offices are the predominant occupier, serviced by retail outlets and transport links.  And, as distasteful as it may be to some, what will happen to the commercial property market which underpins many pension funds?

Not being overly gloomy, but the consequences will result in many unpredictable changes. It will be interesting to see what the actual effects will be. 

 

Succinctly put & worryingly accurate Gladys.

[Banker]

29 minutes ago, pongo said:

Initially that was what it was about. But it was also an evolving story. As more was known the thinking changed. Quite right too.

The fact is that the economy is on the verge of bouncing back much stronger. Already has in many cases. And many things have been permanently changed for the better.

So it's not all doom and gloom. Many companies are never going back to the office for example.

It's all looking fairly positive. And a great opportunity to reset the economy too.

What a load of bollocks , the only part of economy booming is egaming, hospitality & retail has lost a fortune & may never recover 

Edited May 14, 2021 by Banker

[pongo]

19 minutes ago, Nom de plume said:

The economy bouncing back? Of course it is for Christ’s sake, it’s at its lowest point since money was printed!

Housing market is always an excellent barometer. And it hasn't looked so buoyant since many years. On the back of that will be a huge amount of pent-up spending.

People have money to spend.

5 minutes ago, Gladys said:

There are also concerns about the WFH strategy, it cuts down on informal exchange of information, lessens group and team dynamics, supervision and staff development, which relies on close mentoring. 

There might be some catching up to do. But many of us have been largely decentralised for many years now. In many cases there is no reason to normally ever physically meet your colleagues or clients.

I'd struggle to care much about the market for office rentals. Pull it all down and plant trees.

Edited May 14, 2021 by pongo

[pongo]

5 minutes ago, Banker said:

What a load of bollocks , the only part of economy booming is egaming, hospitality & retail has lost a fortune & may never recover 

Well that's clearly nonsense. Significant sectors of the economy have surged ahead in the past year. It's a boom time.

Edited May 14, 2021 by pongo

[pongo]

Certainly true that Covid has accelerated inevitable change. Some things are definitely down - but they were going down anyhow.

[Banker]

3 minutes ago, pongo said:

Well that's clearly nonsense. Significant sectors of the economy have surged ahead I've the past year. It's a boom time.

Building is booming with overseas residents whilst local residents can’t afford the rip off prices, what planet are you from . The poverty on Island has increased dramatically whilst a few have done very well, that’s not boom time 

[pongo]

3 minutes ago, Banker said:

The poverty on Island has increased dramatically

Have you any figures to back up this unlikely claim?

[Banker]

5 minutes ago, pongo said:

Have you any figures to back up this unlikely claim?

Open your eyes, food bank, housing for homeless and other charities have reported dramatic increases in demand. Are you just stupid or incredibly insensitive?

foodbank Jan 2021

But demand has risen steadily and from April to the end of December 2020, it helped 3,382 households, with an average of 375 food parcels being distributed each month. They expect to exceed 5,000 parcels this year.

Edited May 14, 2021 by Banker

[swoopy2110]

Stop testing and let the world get on with itself. We can't keep stopping because people test positive for a virus that in the vast majority of cases produces cold like symptoms .

[Gladys]

5 minutes ago, pongo said:

Certainly true that Covid has accelerated inevitable change. Some things are definitely down - but they were going down anyhow.

The problem is that change has been accelerated, rather than through organic or evolutionary pressures.  There will  be fallout because the unintended consequences are not known or quantified.  For the island the impact will be less, but for larger towns and cities with high density commercial centres the potential for major repercussions is significant.

You also have to wonder at the impact on the individual employee who is now subsidising their employer by way of providing accommodation, electricity,  heating, broadband access and so on. What about the impact on employers' obligation to provide a safe place and method of working, quality assure, enforce various regulatory and legislative compliance, data security, employee welfare?   How can those things be assured and what is the impact for liability, governance and insurance? 

Change is good, but not sudden change without the ability to foresee and forestall the unintended consequences. 

It is a complex area and my feeling is there are going to be some big issues coming down the line.