But there’s truth in it.
Shadow Chancellor Anneliese Dodds today hits back at claims workers need to be “weaned” off the coronavirus furlough scheme.
Writing exclusively for the Mirror, she says say workers are “addicted” to the scheme is “insulting and “dangerous”.
It came after a “senior government source” told the Times: “People are addicted to the scheme”, and Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “We’ve got to wean off it.”
Most of the self-employed people I know want to get back to work. I only know of one who was enthusiastic and being an ex-plod and more authoritarian than Kim Jong Un on steroids, he’s been in his element, calling for more stringent lock-downs and more bullying policing. He is, however, an exception among the self-employed. Those who are employed are with him all the way – you know, stay home, save lives, save the NHS, fuck people who are losing their livelihoods and businesses.
Think about it – you are paid 80% of your normal salary to sit at home. No boss, no commute, it’s beautiful weather and there is no stress or pressure because the money is coming in. Of course people will get used to it. Having to go back to commuting, putting up with the bad boss and the tedium of the workaday world, why wouldn’t people want it to continue?
Human nature is as human nature does. It may be insulting to point this out, but is it also true. Those facts, eh? Don’t care about feelings.
Well, this is one furloughed guy who wants to go back to work. That’s if there’s still a job to go back to. Being at home on 80% pay is nice in principal but then its like being in jail. Its kinda like winning a million on the lottery then not being able to spend it.
Although self-employed and not furloughed, I’m worried about what I’ll be going back to. I suspect that my industry has been very badly damaged by this.
My neighbour, who was furloughed right at the start, says he is now considering early retirement; his main reason is pesssimism about potential vaccines/herd immunity – his job requires daily face-to-face contact with the public and the mortality rates for over-55s are not encouraging – but he admits that the lockdown experience has played a part.
Similarly, I’ve just heard that two 50-something colleagues of mine, also furloughed, have now applied for early retirement and a third, who (like me) is still working remotely, has just handed in his notice.
In practice, 80% was too generous – if it had been 50%, that would have helped cover the base necessities but would not have created any resistance to returning. Didn’t think that one though, did they?
I see what you did there, you used the word “think”.
Didn’t “think” unintended consequences. I no longer believe that, politicians with their hoards of advisors know, but don’t care. Not their money – good headlines all that matters
Which was why the hereditary peers were a good idea. With no elections or headlines to worry about, they could take the long view.
Yes, Yes, Yes, agree; beholden only to their dead father. Another Blair ‘The Destroyer’ reform/modernise abject failure
Possibly, being ex-plod means he has nice cushion of a pension. So the “job” is more of a hobby than a necessity to put food on table.
Yeah, good point.
Don’t forget that that ‘nice cushion of a pension’ was provided through contributions of 11.5% of salary for the whole period of Police service (now 13.5% thanks to Dim Dave Cameron and Treason May). No idea what your pension contributions are/were, but I would suggest the figure is much lower. Also, retired Police officers DO NOT get free coal.
My railway one was around 8%.
@Penseivat
What was employer contribution? 11.5% too or 23%
Oh,here we go
21.3% then 31% – astounding
I retired at the end of March. My wife and I studied my pension plans quite carefully before we picked a time, doing the calculations to make sure that we would be able to manage. How it’s going to work out now is anyone’s guess. The thing is, I went as soon as I thought that I could afford it which was my intention anyway, but I had got to the stage where the job was really getting me down and I was starting to really hate being there. How I would feel if I was having to face going back I’m not sure.
I also wonder about all the non jobs within the government and all those fake charities. Hasn’t the lockdown highlighted the fact that they are not needed?
“Ohio University laid off three professors from the gender and race studies departments this week in response to financial burdens imposed by the Chinese virus pandemic.”
Since I was talking about non jobs. Surely if your degree is in gender and race studies, a government funded non job is going to be your only option.
In the midst of despair, there is a silver lining.
Chinese virus? More desperate bigotry and racism from a failing state. China will come out of this stronger and more resilient than before. Sadly I doubt if any of the elites in the 5 eyes will change their attitudes. China wins, the west doesn’t.
So where did it start then? Last time I checked Wuhan is in China. Given that the virus originated there, describing it as a Chinese virus is merely observation of fact.