What Do You Think Today?

[Sorus]

Both the manager and assistant manager have, while taking their weekends as normal, spent lavishly of their time exhorting every one else to step up to the plate. Cest la vie I guess!

I am shocked. Shocked, I tell you.

Nevermind, I don't think that could sound convincing in any font.

We had either 3 or 4 people straight-up quit over the weekend because they're too scared to come downtown.

So my hours aren't getting cut yet, and there is even potential for overtime. Which I don't want, but can't refuse.

They're either fools for quitting with the economy the way it is, or I'm a fool for staying and risking my health. Time will tell.

If I hold on until I get cut or laid off I will at least qualify for some type of unemployment benefits (assuming there's anything left by that time), but if I quit, I don't think I'm eligible for anything.

[Avatar]

Sheesh, here, unemployed is unemployed. Doesn't matter how you got that way.

Employers pay a small portion of your salary every month into the Unemployment Fund, (UIF) and whenever you're unemployed, you can apply for an unemployment benefit, from which you'll receive a portion of your former salary for a certain period of time.

--A

[peter]

What is the situation in Africa as regards the virus Av? We're not hearing much news on that front in the UK, it being mostly domestic, USA, Europe and Asia based. Has the bug reached you yet?

[Avatar]

Oh yes, I'm currently working from home because somebody in the office may have been exposed.

Unusually, Africa has been pretty mildly affected up to now. Apart from anything else, it's still summer here, (well, autumn now) which has helped apparently.

On the down-side, most African countries don't have the facilities or infra-structure to cope with widespread outbreaks, and also, such as in SA for example, we have a very large population of immuno-compromised people, what with the HIV and TB rates etc.

They're taking precautions here, schools are closing a bit early for the Easter break, large gatherings prohibited, etc.

--A

[Sorus]

Sheesh, here, unemployed is unemployed. Doesn't matter how you got that way.

Employers pay a small portion of your salary every month into the Unemployment Fund, (UIF) and whenever you're unemployed, you can apply for an unemployment benefit, from which you'll receive a portion of your former salary for a certain period of time.

--A

It's more complicated than that here, because of course it is. And it's even more complicated right now because they changed stuff to benefit people who have been temporarily cut but who still technically have jobs. Which is a good thing, and I hope I don't need it. I also hope there's enough to go around. Between hotel workers, restaurant folks, bartenders, and now all the 'non-essential' shops that are closed, that is many thousands of people.

[Avatar]

It's more complicated than that here, because of course it is.

Of course it is.

--A

[peter]

Boris Johnson sacrificed every meager principal he ever had in order to secure the job he now has and in absolute confirmation of the old adage "be careful what you wish for - you might get it", has landed up with the job that nobody in their right mind would ever want - shepherding the country through an invasion by an enemy that treats our best defences like the "idle wind which they regardeth not".

Overseeing the descent of the country into lockdown and panic, unable to provide the answers and solutions that people are crying out for, it is becoming increasingly obvious that with our PM it is not the case of "cometh the hour, cometh the man" but rather that of fools rushing in where angels fear to tread. Beleaguered by the rapidly changing nature of events and desperately trying to hold his credibility together in a situation in which his total unsuitability for the task now demanded of him is being put under a spotlight for all the world to see, our Champaign Charly of a PM is now cementing the legacy with which history will remember him down through the ages - not as he would like as Churchill Mark Il, but as the emporer with no clothes.

(And it goes without saying that all those who would have seen our state services shrunk down to shit are pretty fucking glad they're there now!)

[peter]

For the first time ever, I saw my job (as a sales assistant in a food retail outlet) being recognised as "essential work" in a newspaper article the other day. This means of course that I have to continue to go out and mix with hundreds of people a day while everyone else is isolating - and do so for the privilege of earning minimum wage while I do so. Well thanks for that; I'll look forward to my gong in next year's honours list in recompense assuming that a rise to an actual livable level of income is unlikely to be forthcoming.

[Sorus]

But wait, that's not all! You also get to be constantly yelled at because you're out of the things they want to buy, and generally used as a punching bag (hopefully metaphorical) for all the stress they're experiencing. Never mind your stress.

And corporate breathing down your neck because you're not making numbers. (Maybe because people aren't supposed to be out shopping?) Corporate will send you a big glossy poster showing the importance of constantly disinfecting everything, but the cleaning supplies they sent ran out last week and you're now buying them out-of-pocket - if you can find any. You're also paying for any PPE you wear - if they will let you wear it (masks and gloves might scare the customers).

But you can't complain because there are thousands and thousands of people who are out of work, and you don't want to be one of them.

Sorry, just needed to vent. It was not a good week. Next week is going to be worse.

[peter]

Vent away Sorus! Guy was denied the option to wear a mask he'd brought in today for the very reason you said. Customers were in the main pretty good humoured about it all - a few assey ones here and there, but they were the minority.

Hope you get a bit of time over the weekend to recharge and that next week is an improvement on this one! Keep going forward; it'll pass.

[Sorus]

Thank you. I am trying to recharge. I need to spend more time in WoW and less reading the news, but the news keeps pulling me back.

Our governor just deployed the national guard. Ostensibly to help distribute food, but I think they want the presence on the street in case things turn ugly.

UPS stopped picking up packages where I work yesterday. That's a BIG thing, and a large part of my job is preparing those orders for delivery, so there goes one reason to give me hours.

One of our main truck drivers (who seems like a fairly intelligent and well-grounded person) believes that logistics are going to completely break down in the near future. Supply chain failure and whatnot.

That was on Thursday. I thought he was being overly paranoid, now I'm wondering if I'm not paranoid enough.

[peter]

This is a significant fear of mine as well Sorus; I've seen the effect of very minor hickups in the delivery systems (eg caused by snow or whatever) and know just how fast the shelves empty when it happens. In the systems we have built millions of people are dependent upon very a fragile infrastructure that is going to be shaken to it's foundations.

It's all very well for the government to say " don't panic buy" - but in not doing so you are placing great trust in their ability to keep these systems operational in the face of mounting levels of sickness among key staff members. Take the internet - if it fails even briefly, then it's game over. That scares me - it scares me a lot.

[Sorus]

Don't panic buy, but do have at least 2 weeks of essential supplies. And don't forget about pets! I was at Target after work on Friday, and all the people supplies were gone, but the pet food aisle was full. I keep extra cat food all the time because I keep prepared for earthquakes and whatnot - I also have a decent supply of pasta and I am the sort of person who can (and has) lived on ramen for extended periods of time. (I even have a box of vitamin C so I won't get scurvy.)

The UPS thing really bothers me. I work for a major company that has been declared essential in this mess, and UPS has a contract with us. They have broken that contract, which means they have likely broken contracts with other big, essential companies. People who ordered stuff online last week expecting it to be delivered early this week are going to find their orders cancelled.

As of right now, I am scheduled to work all week, but I fully expect that to change. I have mixed feelings about that. Especially since I will be on the front lines now instead of hiding in the warehouse packing boxes. I can't afford not to work, but I can't afford to get sick, either.

[peter]

We both have jobs that are important to the proper continued functioning of our societies Sorus. This means we have to take a grip on our fears and get out there and continue to do our thing - doesn't it?

It's a crap choice, but a Hobson's one in reality.

Chin up girl - like the Dude, we abide!

[Sorus]

I was issued work papers today showing that I have a right to be Outside. Not actually required yet - I haven't been challenged since that first day, and I think they were mainly confused about what they should be doing at that point.

Expecting to be shut down any day. Still on the schedule for the whole week, but the hours are changing multiple times a day.

Still conflicted about what I should do. I can try to transfer to a higher-traffic site when we get shut down; that would buy me some time. Then I look at the headlines and it's all about how cases are 'exploding' and how much worse it's going to get in the near future, and I really don't want to be on the front lines. I'm not being paid enough to die so someone can get their mouse or webcam to work from home. But at the same time, I need that paycheck.

Boss thinks things will be back to 'normal' by May. I can make it that long - if he's right, and of course no one really knows.

[Avatar]

Well, as mentioned in another thread, whole country is going into lock-down as of Thursday. Already been remotely working for a week, (glad I'm able to), but as of then, everything except the "essential" services will be shut anyway, so expecting the clients to be mostly quiet.

Good luck all.

--A

[StevieG]

Schools are still open for now, but restaurants, pubs, clubs etc are all closed. Cafes can do take aways. The PM scolded Aussies for being stupid - ie. people in their 100s flocking to Bondi Beach in Sydney last weekend, people lining up at Clubs. And so he has shut it all down.

I'm still able to go to the office at the moment - it's mostly deserted as it is. All indoor sports venues have been closed, so no squash, gym etc, no outdoor sporting activities - no soccer etc.

[peter]

Ten out of ten to the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra who are putting their entire backlist of titles free to view (as opposed to normally having to be paid for at the point of watching) for the duration of the pandemic. If there ever was a time for magnanimous gestures from our normally mercenary organisations this is it. Let's hope others follow their example.

[peter]

Went for my 'daily exercise' (as per Government instructions) yesterday out to a remote 'beacon' near where I live. On the inclined path to the summit there were, squashed in the parking spot, scattered on the path and hanging from the gorse bushes, the plastic bags people use to pick up their dog's shit in - which they then, at the first opportunity, chuck down, entirely negating the purpose of picking it up in the first place. Why the fuck do they do that? I guess because they want to present the image of being socially responsible with out in reality actually being so in the slightest. The *****!

[Sorus]

Schools here are now closed through the beginning of May, but folks are still talking like we fall under the original 3-week mandate instead of the state version, which doesn't have a set end date.

The day-to-day uncertainly is really doing a number on my stress level. I hear we're getting shut down next week, then I hear we're open and I'm working 6 days, then I hear we're open but my hours are getting cut.

Meanwhile a driver on the disgusting bus I've been taking just tested positive. No surprise there - they're not getting any kind of protection. For those of us in essential jobs, it's the jobs that are essential. The workers are expendable.