The number of people working mainly at home rose dramatically at the beginning of the first lockdown, from 5.7% of workers in early 2020 to 43.1% in April, according to research by Understanding Society. The figure – while now a little lower – remains high and the Government’s scientific advisors would like this to continue indefinitely. The Telegraph has the story.
The latest figures show infection levels are now the lowest they have been for eight months, with just one in 1,180 people in England having Covid…
But Government scientists are understood to be concerned that progress could be undermined if people return to work in significant numbers, increasing social contact.
They are calling for those who can work from home to continue doing so, saying employers should plan so that staff can stay at home or spend limited time in the office until the threat of the global pandemic recedes. One source said there was no reason to return to an office full-time after June 21st if work could be carried out at home.
Boris Johnson is expected to set out the next stages in the exit from lockdown next week, with people allowed to mix indoors in groups of up to six or two households, and pubs and restaurants allowed to serve indoors from May 17th.
Under the current timetable, limits on social distancing will be lifted on June 21st, but the Government has yet to set out policies about the return of workers to the office. A decision on whether face masks will be required on public transport has also yet to be taken.
Modelling produced for the Government suggests people will not go back to pre-pandemic levels of contact with others as restrictions lift.
The latest companies to move their staff to home-working are Google and KPMG. Some Government advisors suggest there is no reason for workers to return to the office after June 21st. Yet, along with questions about lower productivity, working from home is a contributing factor to loneliness which many have suffered from during lockdown. “People have forgotten how to be sociable,” said one worker whose business engagements have changed significantly because of “stay at home” orders.
The Telegraph report is worth reading in full.
Stop Press: Perhaps the Government’s scientific advisers viewed the December 2020 cover of the New Yorker magazine as a guide to how life should be lived, rather than as a warning.
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This would be a further move to limit social interaction, leaving people more prey to misinformation via the mainstream media.
This appears to be the wrong raison d’etre of the strategy. Keep people away from each other, hence the draconian restrictions on public houses as well as the Stalinist style aggression of the police in this country and in Canada to stop people attending church services.
I suppose that, despite the government’s stupendous medical ignorance, some of the cabinet can remember some history which would lead them to the obvious conclusion that insurrection has come from pubs and religious establishments (Guy Fawkes, the Duck and Drake etc.).
No wonder we aren’t allowed to indulge in libertarian ideas such as communication between individuals via meeting and drinking, and praying together in the House of God.
Government scientists.
Big Doctor is watching You.
Predictable – WFH forever, masks forever.
I actually prefer WFH but would defend the rights of firms and staff who prefer to be in the office
“ scientists who advise the Government “
I wasn’t aware that there are any. Just gong chasing pretenders.
Work from home today. Tomorrow your job is outsourced to India. Then the lovely, benign Government of Tyranny own you and are the main source of your financial support from which there is no escape. Welcome to DysopiaUK.
No one sets out to destination Dystopia, but it’s easy to take a wrong turn and end up there. And once you crash your ship into the beech. You never get to sail away again.
WFH might conveniently morph into measures for the climate change agenda!!!
That is what it is really all about – curtailing our travel and communication.
WFH and get a ton of delivery vans coming to your door every week.
https://www.rubikon.news/artikel/das-ausstiegsszenario-2
This is a proper and sensible exit plan, a combo of the GBD and PANDA’s recommendations.
The old and true normal, including filled up office towers, not individual ivory towers.
There will be two main reactions to this, possibly overlapping.
1. ‘OMG ! Covid must be really bad they still want people to stay at home !’
2. ‘Well that’s handy, I quite like this WFH lark and didn’t fancy going back to the office anyway.’
I’ve been wondering if a sceptical ramblers group in the south east would be a good idea. I’m thinking a regular gentle amble for a few hours so suitable for any level of fitness or unfitness, hopefully suitable locations for people to easily get to from Kent, London, Sussex, Surrey, Essex.
I’m in Kent & would certainly be interested.
Thanks. I’m struggling with the message system can’t figure out how to send a message. Think I’ve just replied to a message, but looks like it might still be in the outbox. If anyone interested sends me a message I’ll try and reply.
But Government scientists are understood to be concerned that progress could be undermined if people return to work in significant numbers, increasing social contact.
Sounds very much like what you would expect from a zero Covid strategy.
Maybe they’re more concerned that the more people mix, the more likely they are to realise they’ve been had.
Zero Covid it is then……
Working from home sucks hard when everyone does it. More people everywhere locally, more masks, more nonsense and more of their crap being unchallenged. More radicalism from the Internet and more poxy zoom. No thanks.
NHS and UK government work for Silicon Valley now and this is exactly what they want.
How many bricklayers and postmen can WFH?
Doesn’t matter. One set of citizens cowering in their houses having another set running round for them.
Michael Curzons article starts by saying 43% were working from home in April last year.
I find that hard to believe since, as a key worker, I was out and about all day long for the duration. During April I could drive around my small city and see not one private car in half an hour, maybe a police car or an ambulance with its siren blaring (but that’s another story).*
Precious few buses around and those mostly empty, the police could and did demand written proof that your journey was ‘essential’ and send you back home if not.
Very very few ‘white van’ tradesmen about, the car engineering workshops closed, only the odd independent tyre workshop open a few hours a week.
All offices deserted of course with the only busy place being the hospital when the 8pm staff drove in at 07.30 (sans management).
I would say that 80% of people were either not working or working from home.
*The binmen stayed out and carried on as normal though the road repair crews were off for a month.
Agreed, though from memory towards the end of April, the roads had started to get busy again, basically once construction etc restarted. It could be a lot were furloughed, so maybe the 43% is fairly accurate.
Of course, it was never about our health!
This is a video featuring Reiner Fuellmich and other lawyers talking about Covid lawsuits and moving this forward.
https://brandnewtube.com/v/zl2We2
Has anybody ever seen any statistics about how many people caught Covid at work, especially compared with the number who caught it at home.
My understanding is that home was far more risky.
I bet most of those who caught it at work were those working in hospitals or care homes
They need to read “The Machine Stops” by E.M. Forster. It used to be required for O Level English. Is a good summary of the dystopian future that such “advice” will lead to.
Quite frankly, the intent of these people is not evil but the outcome of what they suggest would be.
I can tell you now that my firm expects a minimum 3 days back in the office if things stay as they are. No vaccine requirement. So these pseudo scientist new normal wannabes can F off
Working from home is rubbish from a social point of view, and hugely inefficient from a productivity point of view.
I don’t care how many morons say ‘it’s great’.
Anyone who can work permanently from home can probably be replaced by someone in Bangladesh who works for a quarter of the rate and who isn’t half in the bag.
Yep, no mixing with colleagues or other human beings whether it be down the pub or at work = no interaction or exchange of ideas thoughts, or beliefs, no debate, and so on. Perfect for suppression of cynicism., watch this video from Hugo Talks. I am unashamedly sharing it and his website wherever possible. I urge everyone to do so. We need more Sceptics. The sleepy but vast majority of DD’s surely must be starting at least, to feel that something ain’t quite right….? https://youtu.be/nYOUWPlV-a0