What don't colleagues get about social distancing?

Post by **stephen500** » 16 Apr 2020, 17:16

The majority of my colleagues are doing their best to maintain social distancing.
We have signs in our office every where, the advice is clear.
As I work in a mail centre, it should be easier to practise this than in delivery offices.
Yet some, both blue shirts and managers still don't appear to get the importance of maintaining social distances.
These suggestions are not given just to stop social interaction or for the sake of it.
We are being asked to do this, to save lifes, perhaps yours, your family, the elderly and NHS workers all around us.
We all need to try and do better and I include managers.
Managers move around the building and if they get too close to staff and then go on to approach other staff too closely, they endanger themselves and us and the wider community.
They need to set an example.
Every one needs to keep to the rules.
Thank you.

Post by **SpacePhoenix** » 16 Apr 2020, 17:32

The 2m won't be practical in all areas of every MC. There will be areas where it's physically impossible to maintain 2m separation

twoloops · Post by **twoloops** » 16 Apr 2020, 17:39

Well those places should be shut down.

Chelseablue · Post by **Chelseablue** » 16 Apr 2020, 18:14

Latest info telling us 2 m is not enough distancing .

amhopkins1 · Post by **amhopkins1** » 16 Apr 2020, 18:16

It's unbelievable in our office, the majority of staff and managers seem to have totally given up even trying to keep 2metres apart. I get the impression that most staff think that it 'won't happen to them' and to just get on with it. After the coverage on BBC news I hoped that it might have changed things but there isn't much hope when the managers and union reps don't care themselves. Does anyone have any suggestions who to write to/raise concerns about the total lack of social distancing and poor hygiene?

Jpro747 · Post by **Jpro747** » 16 Apr 2020, 18:20

Well there are idiots but it also comes from the top. Poor leadership and shop floor managers turning a blind eye to it.

Post by **Munchboii** » 16 Apr 2020, 18:27

It is practically impossible. Delivery and social distancing do not exist in the same universe. If the Goverment want us to social distance at all times then they will have to shut us down as it is not possible

Chelseablue · Post by **Chelseablue** » 16 Apr 2020, 18:29

A one day walkout would highlight whats happening across the uk in delivery offices. Wont happen i know

mjd24 · Post by **mjd24** » 16 Apr 2020, 18:32

amhopkins1 wrote:It's unbelievable in our office, the majority of staff and managers seem to have totally given up even trying to keep 2metres apart. I get the impression that most staff think that it 'won't happen to them' and to just get on with it. After the coverage on BBC news I hoped that it might have changed things but there isn't much hope when the managers and union reps don't care themselves. Does anyone have any suggestions who to write to/raise concerns about the total lack of social distancing and poor hygiene?

The CWU have a website with a form you can fill in detailing your office and any issues you have regarding social distancing etc

mjd24 · Post by **mjd24** » 16 Apr 2020, 18:34

My experience in my office is that the managers seem to be the worst culprits when it comes to not keeping a distance. Its a joke really, an example needs to be set bu them but they walk around as if the rules dont apply to them.

bergos · Post by **bergos** » 16 Apr 2020, 18:48

We all know managers are gonna take the piss and try and get people to do whatever they need you to do, they won't care if people don't follow the guidelines while its in there favour and they will probably find a way to punish you if you dont follow guidelines and get ill.

Everyone right now needs to be doing whats right, following the governments guidance and keeping there distance, where its not possible, everyone should outright refuse to work in an unsafe manner and force management to change the way you work until it is safe, no exceptions.

If management are not following the guidelines, report them to your union rep, put in complaints, do whatever it takes. it is not just your safety that matters it is everyones.

If everyone doesn't stand together and act in everyones best interest, Royal Mail won't lift a finger to change anything because there main interest is making money, making it look like they care about your safety comes second to them, don't allow them to get away with it.

ssdd · Post by **ssdd** » 16 Apr 2020, 18:55

This is from the government website:
"Guidance on social distancing for everyone in the UK"
https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... ble-adults

Everyone should be trying to follow these measures as much as is practicable.

We strongly advise you to follow the above measures as much as you can and to significantly limit your face-to-face interaction with friends and family if possible,

To me, they're basically acknowledging the fact that they know people will have difficulty in sticking to the 2m distance at all times. If you were more cynical, you might believe they are allowing it to happen...
Maybe RM are just following the government's advice...

Woody Guthrie · Post by **Woody Guthrie** » 16 Apr 2020, 19:34

From the Royal Mail Covid-19 advice.

Is there any advice for people who cannot avoid working within 2 metres of each other?

In addition to the existing instructions on what to do if 2 metre social distancing can’t be achieved, employees must also apply the new guidance recently issued by the UK Government: employees should work side by side or facing away from each other rather than face-to-face if possible.

AngardWolf · Post by **AngardWolf** » 16 Apr 2020, 19:41

To me, they're basically acknowledging the fact that they know people will have difficulty in sticking to the 2m distance at all times. If you were more cynical, you might believe they are allowing it to happen...
Maybe RM are just following the government's advice...

Well, yeah, they’re quite happy for us to catch it, the strategy of creating ‘herd immunity’ has never really gone away - they just want to keep the death toll down for now and to stop hospitals from becoming overwhelmed, to prevent scenes like those in New York of bodies being buried in mass graves and the like. Which is understandable but ultimately we’re all supposed to get infected eventually. The goal isn’t to reduce the death toll (otherwise you’d lock down hard and, for instance, restrict Royal Mail to delivering purely vital essentials), but to allow it to increase in a palatable, manageable way.

ssdd · Post by **ssdd** » 16 Apr 2020, 19:46

AngardWolf wrote:
To me, they're basically acknowledging the fact that they know people will have difficulty in sticking to the 2m distance at all times. If you were more cynical, you might believe they are allowing it to happen...
Maybe RM are just following the government's advice...
Well, yeah, they’re quite happy for us to catch it, the strategy of creating ‘herd immunity’ has never really gone away - they just want to keep the death toll down for now and to stop hospitals from becoming overwhelmed, to prevent scenes like those in New York of bodies being buried in mass graves and the like. Which is understandable but ultimately we’re all supposed to get infected eventually. The goal isn’t to reduce the death toll (otherwise you’d lock down hard and, for instance, restrict Royal Mail to delivering purely vital essentials), but to allow it to increase in a palatable, manageable way.

I agree Angard, all while trying to keep some form of economy going...win/win, eh?

Mandatory vaccines for all?