Omicron restrictions in Wales

[Mag_seven]

Mark Drakeford should be chased out of any sports venue, pub, club or restaurant he dares show his face in from now on.

That's the thing - he probably doesn't frequent such places.

 

[Dai Corner]

That's the thing - he probably doesn't frequent such places.

... and won't miss the free VIP tickets from the WRU

 

[Furryanimal]

That's the thing - he probably doesn't frequent such places.

He was photographed at Merthyr Rugby Club earlier in the season.
Doubt he’ll be invited back.
And he is a member of Glamorgan County Cricket Club

 

[Merseysider]

crowds are banned at sporting events in Wales from Boxing Day.

And as to the loss of income from ticket sales for clubs...

 

[NorthKent1989]

So what exactly was the point in vaccine passports if everything is shutting down again in Wales? They were supposed to keep businesses open were they not? I would the passports are a complete and utter failure and waste of money

 

[Eyersey468]

So what exactly was the point in vaccine passports if everything is shutting down again in Wales? They were supposed to keep businesses open were they not? I would the passports are a complete and utter failure and waste of money

I thought from the beginning they would be a complete waste of time.

 

[Mag_seven]

Apparently you can be fined for not working from home "without good reason" in Wales from Monday.

Fines will be handed out to employees if they're not working from home with good reason.

From Monday, workers will receive a £60 fixed penalty notice and companies hit with fines of £1,000 every time they break the rule.

Covid: Fines for Wales employees not working from home

People must work from home unless there is "a reasonable excuse" with fines for bosses and workers.

www.bbc.co.uk

Who on earth decides what is "good reason" if you are found to be not working from home?

At least the Labour leaning Trade Unions appear to be against it.

The union GMB said it would affect "the poorest, most vulnerable workers" while the TUC said it was "at best naïve" to think responsibility is shared.

 

[MikeWM]

Apparently you can be fined for not working from home "without good reason" in Wales from Monday.

Each time you think we've reached the literal limit of insanity, it seems you can still be surprised by something even more ridiculous.

 

[Merseysider]

Each time you think we've reached the literal limit of insanity, it seems you can still be surprised by something even more ridiculous.

Yup. Overreach by the state imo.

 

[Mag_seven]

Effectively this is a "stay at home" order for workers i.e. a lockdown in all but name.

 

[Watershed]

Apparently you can be fined for not working from home "without good reason" in Wales from Monday.

Covid: Fines for Wales employees not working from home

People must work from home unless there is "a reasonable excuse" with fines for bosses and workers.

www.bbc.co.uk

Who on earth decides what is "good reason" if you are found to be not working from home?

At least the Labour leaning Trade Unions appear to be against it.

It actually became the law yesterday. Effectively they have put 'work from home' onto a legal basis rather than just making it advice.

It creates the bizarre situation where you are legally prohibited from leaving, or remaining away from, home - but only if doing so for the purposes of work. The prohibition is not actually a restriction on gatherings.

So, by contrast to the recent stories about Downing Street parties - holding such parties at work is now perfectly legal, whilst working isn't.

You should have some wine and cheese ready, just in case the police come around, to prove you're not working

 

[Richard Scott]

So what happens if you live in Wales and work in England?

 

[MikeWM]

It actually became the law yesterday. Effectively they have put 'work from home' onto a legal basis rather than just making it advice.

Goodness, I've just read that. How utterly absurd - not only can you not work outside your home, you *can't leave your house* to go to work, though you can for any other reason!!!

Clown world. Absolute clown world.

 

[Furryanimal]

So what happens if you live in Wales and work in England?

According to Drakeford you must follow the rules of the country you live in...so if you live in Wales you must work at home even if your employer insists you go in.And if you do go in to ensure you still have a job you will be fined.

 

[midland1]

Drakeford is drunk on power !

 

[farleigh]

Drakeford does seem quite insane.

Even compared to Boris

 

[Eyersey468]

Apparently you can be fined for not working from home "without good reason" in Wales from Monday.

Covid: Fines for Wales employees not working from home

People must work from home unless there is "a reasonable excuse" with fines for bosses and workers.

www.bbc.co.uk

Who on earth decides what is "good reason" if you are found to be not working from home?

At least the Labour leaning Trade Unions appear to be against it.

How ridiculous. Has Drakeford gone insane?

 

[philosopher]

It actually became the law yesterday. Effectively they have put 'work from home' onto a legal basis rather than just making it advice.

It creates the bizarre situation where you are legally prohibited from leaving, or remaining away from, home - but only if doing so for the purposes of work. The prohibition is not actually a restriction on gatherings.

So, by contrast to the recent stories about Downing Street parties - holding such parties at work is now perfectly legal, whilst working isn't.

You should have some wine and cheese ready, just in case the police come around, to prove you're not working

They way I interpret this, if someone went to a coffee shop and got out their laptop to watch a movie, they would OK, however if they decided to subsequently respond to a few work emails or finish off that report they were working on, suddenly they are breaking the law.

Absolutely bonkers!

 

[Watershed]

So what happens if you live in Wales and work in England?

Welsh law applies and therefore you cannot leave home for the purposes of going to work (unless necessary).

Of course, nothing to stop you from leaving home 'to attend the office Christmas party' and then find out it was 10 days ago once you cross Offa's Dyke

 

[duncanp]

Mark Drakeford should be chased out of any sports venue, pub, club or restaurant he dares show his face in from now on.

And the miserable old so and so is now threatening to fine people £60 if they go to work where it is "reasonably practicable" to work from home.

I would like to know who is going to enforce this, and how they are going to decide who should be able to work from home and who shouldn't.

No doubt a whole load of Tin Pot Little Hitlers will enjoy poking their noses into other people's business.

Wales threatens employees with FINES for going to work Omicron rules

From Monday, employees will be handed a £60 fixed penalty notice and companies will face a £1,000 fine for each time the rule is broken, rising to a potential £10,000.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Wales threatens employees with FINES for going to work: Failure to WFH 'where reasonably practicable' would become an offence under new anti-Omicron rules​

• Staff face a £60 fixed penalty notice and employers will be given a £1,000 fine
• Critics say it sets a 'worrying precedent' for criminalising staff following orders
• Unions fear it could see poor and vulnerable employees being exploited

Wales will issue fines to workers who refuse to work from home without a good reason.

From Monday, employees will be handed a £60 fixed penalty notice and companies will face a £1,000 fine for each time the rule is broken, rising to a potential £10,000.

The new health protection restrictions will make it an offence for 'failing to work from home where reasonably practicable to do so'.

Up until now, the Welsh government had advised working from home but the new measures will enforce everyone to stay away from the office unless it is essential.

The draconian rules were enforced due to sharply rising cases of the Omicron variant.

But some fear that staff may now be put off working altogether for fear of getting a criminal record.

The GMB trade union say they fear poor and vulnerable workers will be targeted with the new rules, with employers able to blame staff and escape punishment.

It's not the first time the Labour-run Government has become embroiled in controversy with coronavirus legislation - having previously been criticised for a ban on the sale of 'non-essential' items.

Clwyd West Tory MP David Jones said: 'The lack of clarity in this position is very troubling. More guidance should be given as to what is meant by "reasonably practicable".

'If clarity is not provided, many workers may be deterred from working at all, for fear of having a fine accompanied by a criminal record.

'This is also true in the case of volunteers, who provide important services, but may be concerned that they would not be regarded by the authorities as "working".

'If further comprehensive guidance is not issued quickly, there is the potential of chaos, which should be avoided at all costs.'

Meanwhile TUC General Secretary Shavanah Taj expressed 'shock and concern' and said she hopes the measures are repealed.

She said: 'A worker is not responsible for their place of work, their employer is.

'This sets a really worrying precedent that the responsibility is somehow shared, and is at best naive.'

Some workers who go to the office for their mental health or because of distractions at home could now find themselves breaking the law.

The First Minister announced: 'To reduce the number of contacts between people, the coronavirus regulations will be amended to place a legal duty on employers to allow their employees to work from home if possible, and on employees to do so where practicable.

'This is particularly important when cases rates in the community are high as contacts in the workplace can be a significant driver of transmission.'

Drakeford has implemented other restrictions in a bid to curb infections, ordering indoor and outdoor sporting events to be held behind closed doors from December 26.

A £3million Spectator Sports Fund will be available to support clubs and sporting venues affected by the new measures to protect public health.

The First Minister previously announced a mixture of advice for the Christmas period alongside new regulations to follow as part of a 'two-phase plan'.

Nightclubs will be closed from December 27 under the new rules, although the Welsh Government has announced a £60million fund to support any businesses affected by the restrictions.

From the same date, two-metre social distancing will be mandatory in offices, and measures including one-way systems and physical barriers will be introduced in businesses to protect customers and staff.

Until December 27, the Welsh Government is encouraging people to follow five steps: getting vaccinated; making sure to have a negative lateral flow test result before going shopping or meeting people; meeting in well-ventilated areas - preferably outdoors; spacing out socialising to allow test days in between; and adhering to social distancing, wearing a face covering and washing hands.

It is also urging people to reduce contact with others over the coming days, especially if Christmas plans include seeing older or more vulnerable people.

Mr Drakeford said restricting the number of households allowed to meet remained a possibility, and hinted at the prospect of further restrictions in hospitality settings after Christmas, such as the rule of six.

 

[david1212]

I really do feel for all the residents of Wales. Drakeford has now totally gone way beyond what is logic based on the reality of the last few days.

My job does not fit essential as in any part of the food supply chain, anything medical or a service like refuse collection. A proportion though is practical not simply driving a PC. Taken to the limit I could clear a room and set up a bench bringing all that I need. Just one fundamental flaw is then nobody else has access to the equipment and components removed from the factory to my make-shift workshop. Even so somehow items would have to be exhanged between colleagues. For many though this would be impossible e.g. performing one stage of a continuous production process that requires both a rolling supply of components from the previous stage, machinery and passing components to the next stage. We were here 18 - 21 months ago and simply do not need to revisit. For all is shortcomings Boris does seem to realise this.

 

[Ediswan]

And the miserable old so and so is now threatening to fine people £60 if they go to work where it is "reasonably practicable" to work from home.

Rather like 'substantial meal', it is a phrase that has been borrowed from existing legislation.

 

[Watershed]

I really do feel for all the residents of Wales. Drakeford has now totally gone way beyond what is logic based on the reality of the last few days.

My job does not fit essential as in any part of the food supply chain, anything medical or a service like refuse collection. A proportion though is practical not simply driving a PC. Taken to the limit I could clear a room and set up a bench bringing all that I need. Just one fundamental flaw is then nobody else has access to the equipment and components removed from the factory to my make-shift workshop. Even so somehow items would have to be exhanged between colleagues. For many though this would be impossible e.g. performing one stage of a continuous production process that requires both a rolling supply of components from the previous stage, machinery and passing components to the next stage. We were here 18 - 21 months ago and simply do not need to revisit. For all is shortcomings Boris does seem to realise this.

It is purely about whether it's reasonably practicable for you to work from home. If it is, then Drakeford's new measures apply to you. If not, they don't.

Whether your job is essential is irrelevant - you could be going door to door selling widgits and it would still be lawful

 

[Bikeman78]

Apparently you can be fined for not working from home "without good reason" in Wales from Monday.

Covid: Fines for Wales employees not working from home

People must work from home unless there is "a reasonable excuse" with fines for bosses and workers.

www.bbc.co.uk

Who on earth decides what is "good reason" if you are found to be not working from home?

At least the Labour leaning Trade Unions appear to be against it.

How on earth will that be enforced? Some people are getting bored of working at home. It's been well over a year in Wales now.

 

[david1212]

It is purely about whether it's reasonably practicable for you to work from home. If it is, then Drakeford's new measures apply to you. If not, they don't.

Whether your job is essential is irrelevant - you could be going door to door selling widgits and it would still be lawful

... yet if Covid asymptomatic potentially also leaving a gift at every house.

Overall how much of what is / is not lawful and what is / is not logical is fundamentally misaligned ?

 

[farleigh]

... yet if Covid asymptomatic potentially also leaving a gift at every house.

Overall how much of what is / is not lawful and what is / is not logical is fundamentally misaligned ?

I do not understand your post

 

[nedchester]

How on earth will that be enforced? Some people are getting bored of working at home. It's been well over a year in Wales now.

It’s not enforceable. You tell the copper on the train or bus it’s none of their business.

 

[david1212]

I do not understand your post

The priority to be seen to do something that ticks a box rather than practically helps to achieves an objective.

 

[Andyh82]

Rather like 'substantial meal', it is a phrase that has been borrowed from existing legislation.

I bet it won’t receive as much ridicule as Substantial Meal did though. Graham Norton won’t be joking about it at the start of his show, or Susanna Reid going on about it on GMB. As a result it’ll all happen and they’ll get away with it

 

[geoffk]

So what happens if you live in Wales and work in England?

I guess a few people live in Saltney and walk to work in Chester.