Coronavirus (Non-Politics)

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

As a few on here have talked about the state of their hair, Breakfast TV did an investigation after hearing that some barbers were secretly open for appointments. Most had put their prices up, double in some cases. They phoned 50 barbers. The ones they played the recordings all spoke good English, but with a foreign accent. Out of the 50 they phoned, 19 didn't answer, obviously closed, 12 answered but declined, and 19 were secretly open for business. 19 out of 50 is very high considering people aren't meant to get up close and personal. One said he cuts the hair out the back in the kitchen of the shop. One said ''It will be double price, is that O.K.?'' They are officially closed, meaning they can all claim everything they can on top, and most if not all definitely are. When the barbers that have shut properly were told, they were quite angry about it.

 

[Mad Cyril]

The other way to address inequity in pay is to improve worker rights and pay our nurses and auxiliary/associated staff much more. Care staff and nurses are key workers, fingers crossed after COVID we recognise them formally as such and pay them what they deserve.

I suspect many of those clapping away on Thursday evening will quietly overlook this when asked to pay more tax on their salary, pension and/or investment income.

 

[Mad Cyril]

Quite simple, the "chiefs" are earning huge salaries whereas those "at the coal face", are earning a fraction. Get rid of some of the chiefs and employ more of the workers. Simplify things.

How much do you think someone responsible for managing thousands of people should be paid?

 

[Massimo Giovanni]

How much do you think someone responsible for managing thousands of people should be paid?

In private industry the pay ratio of Boardroom to shop floor worker is massively out of ratio in many cases with bosses pay 100x that of lowest earner; that seems morally wrong.
In public sector there needs be a transparent pay scale with an equivalent pryramid style earning and set upper top wage which is no more than 5 or 6x the lowest, every scale between would be rank/steps up that ladder.
I know a hospital clerical worker who complained when cleaner pay rates where raised, to help fill jobs, and there was close parity with the desk worker. I asked the desk worker if she would be a cleaner if their wages went above hers, and the answer? "GOD NO! Not unless it was doubled.",

 

[Strike Force]

As a few on here have talked about the state of their hair, Breakfast TV did an investigation after hearing that some barbers were secretly open for appointments. Most had put their prices up, double in some cases. They phoned 50 barbers. The ones they played the recordings all spoke good English, but with a foreign accent. Out of the 50 they phoned, 19 didn't answer, obviously closed, 12 answered but declined, and 19 were secretly open for business. 19 out of 50 is very high considering people aren't meant to get up close and personal. One said he cuts the hair out the back in the kitchen of the shop. One said ''It will be double price, is that O.K.?'' They are officially closed, meaning they can all claim everything they can on top, and most if not all definitely are. When the barbers that have shut properly were told, they were quite angry about it.

Why do you hate foreign people so much?

 

[Shrimping In The House]

Why do you hate foreign people so much?

Doesn't everyone? Even in other countries

 

[Tommy2holes]

In private industry the pay ratio of Boardroom to shop floor worker is massively out of ratio in many cases with bosses pay 100x that of lowest earner; that seems morally wrong.
In public sector there needs be a transparent pay scale with an equivalent pryramid style earning and set upper top wage which is no more than 5 or 6x the lowest, every scale between would be rank/steps up that ladder.
I know a hospital clerical worker who complained when cleaner pay rates where raised, to help fill jobs, and there was close parity with the desk worker. I asked the desk worker if she would be a cleaner if their wages went above hers, and the answer? "GOD NO! Not unless it was doubled.",

As an NHS worker I'd say the fundamental undoing of the pay scale is the agenda for change.

Essentially all nurses of a certain grade get paid the same money as do domestic and support staff.

The problem with this is that certain jobs are much more challenging physically or mentally than others. Therefore an easier job gets paid the same as a very tough one. Often the more challenging jobs are left unfilled. After all, why would you work a much harder job for the same pay?

If the jobs/managers themselves could set a pay rate, then jobs would be filled easier.

Also the pay is the same up north as down south. Yet as we all know the difference in cost of living is huge.

Up north 3 bedroom house 80k-120k and down south its like 250-350k. Massive difference in outgoings.

As for a pay rise. Its easy to forget that for 6 years pay was frozen and then it was set at 6% for 3 years. Essentially 0.8% per year.

Time will tell but NHS staff as well as other public sector don't deserve reward for covid related issues. Just a fair pay for the job that we have been doing and continue to do.

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

Why do you hate foreign people so much?

I don't, but I'm allowed to describe the barbers, so people know what type I mean. I've lost people to this virus, so I'm calling out anyone that is taking the p. That includes all the English idiots. If they were English barbers, I would say so. I can't believe you have now come out of the woodwork twice in a month to get personal. Behave yourself. Play nicely.

 

[Shrimpers are Magic]

I summed that up as ‘stuck in our homes’, what phrase would you rather use?

Being asked to be responsable for the good of the nation.

 

[Member]

In private industry the pay ratio of Boardroom to shop floor worker is massively out of ratio in many cases with bosses pay 100x that of lowest earner; that seems morally wrong.
In public sector there needs be a transparent pay scale with an equivalent pryramid style earning and set upper top wage which is no more than 5 or 6x the lowest, every scale between would be rank/steps up that ladder.
I know a hospital clerical worker who complained when cleaner pay rates where raised, to help fill jobs, and there was close parity with the desk worker. I asked the desk worker if she would be a cleaner if their wages went above hers, and the answer? "GOD NO! Not unless it was doubled.",

pay scales in many public sector organisations are public/transparent.

Agenda for change - pay rates

Band 1 (Please note that following the 2018 pay deal, band 1 closed to new entrants from 1 December 2018). £23,615 Examples of roles at band 1 - domestic support worker, housekeeping assistant, driver and nursery assistant. Band 2 < 2 years' experience £23,615 2+ years £23,615 Examples of roles...

www.healthcareers.nhs.uk

Very Senior Manager salaries (e.g. CEOs of large trusts) are also publicly available:

Very senior managers [Archived]

Information for employers on very senior managers (VSMs) and the VSM pay framework.

www.nhsemployers.org

I agree that those on lower pay should see their pay increase significantly, via much more generous minimum living wage (coupled with UBI). High public sector earners should have their pay capped by a ratio, and there should be a 70% top income tax bracket above £150k, to finance UBI and free comprehensive childcare for all

 

[Shrimpers are Magic]

Interesting read.
Surprised I found it on the BEEB TBH

Coronavirus: Can you compare the UK with Italy?

The UK has passed Italy's death toll but it's hard to make direct comparisons.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[South Bank Hank]

Folks, again, politics is banned for a reason.

pay scales in many public sector organisations are public/transparent.

Agenda for change - pay rates

Band 1 (Please note that following the 2018 pay deal, band 1 closed to new entrants from 1 December 2018). £23,615 Examples of roles at band 1 - domestic support worker, housekeeping assistant, driver and nursery assistant. Band 2 < 2 years' experience £23,615 2+ years £23,615 Examples of roles...

www.healthcareers.nhs.uk

Very Senior Manager salaries (e.g. CEOs of large trusts) are also publicly available:

Very senior managers [Archived]

Information for employers on very senior managers (VSMs) and the VSM pay framework.

www.nhsemployers.org

I agree that those on lower pay should see their pay increase significantly, via much more generous minimum living wage (coupled with UBI). High public sector earners should have their pay capped by a ratio, and there should be a 70% top income tax bracket above £150k, to finance UBI and free comprehensive childcare for all

And again let’s leave it there as we’re getting 100% into politics. At least let’s remain focused on the virus. Thanks.

 

[MK Shrimper]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1258378643979620353

 

[MK Shrimper]

Interesting study. Being male, an ex smoker is more risky than being a female current smoker.

 

[Tinks]

Mondays are always low - there is a lag over the weekend



Would care homes normally be equipped to handle a highly contagious virus? How much truth is there that some elderly patients were moved out of hospitals and into care homes to free up beds, potentially transmitting the virus from hospitals to care homes? And why aren't care home residents with the virus moved to hospital?

I suspect care homes are being asked to do far more in this crisis than they're geared up to cope with.

In one word. No. But, the staff do have to undergo basic training of which infection control is one of the mandatory.
There is very much truth in regards to patients being discharged from hospital into care homes and in fact some homes have been identified locally to have patients admitted to them however, there are also some homes which are very reluctant to accept.
Not all care home residents are transferred to hospital depending on the general frailty and presentation but I have had patients go to hospital and then return quickly back to the home.
Interestingly, Southend went a couple of days without any recorded deaths from Covid-19 but, we had deaths in the care homes which included the discharged patients.

 

[Blue Yonder]

It is an interesting study. Thanks MKS. I mentioned the quirk about smokers a couple of days ago and needless to say got shot down by a sarcastic know all who seemed to think I was promoting smoking as protection to the disease. At the moment expert opinion seems to be that the reality behind the study is that smokers lie about being smokers when they want treatment for respiratory problems. Like the alarming stats for BAME victims of Covid 19 it will no doubt be some time before we understand this disease and its affects.

 

[The General]

Cant believe i start a thread for the first time in years and it gets locked before I actually even had voted myself ??

 

[Billy Bests boot laces]

Cant believe i start a thread for the first time in years and it gets locked before I actually even had voted myself ??

With luck like that, i wouldn't bother buying a lottery ticket Saturday!.
And if did & won the jackpot, where would you spend it??.

 

[wakes123]

I know it's not all that important in the grand scheme of things, but I am missing the pub with this weather!!

 

[Massimo Giovanni]

I know it's not all that important in the grand scheme of things, but I am missing the pub with this weather!!

I am missing the pub, FULL STOP, couple of visits each week to West Road Tap, with my faithful dog, is, or was, my habit.