Politics Thread 6

[Ecno]

I think it's pretty standard that if you're working passed 8:00/8:30 you can get dinner in.

Most companies don't spend £44k on dinners while also arguing that dirt poor parents should take responsibility for feeding children.

One's the operation of the civil service one's a (terrible) government policy.

It's a terrible look politically but it's also what abouttery. Why are you complying with the civil service staff handbook whilst not providing free school meals during the school holidays.

Two bad policy decisions don't make a good one.

[Moggy]

I think it's pretty standard that if you're working passed 8:00/8:30 you can get dinner in.

Most companies don't spend £44k on dinners while also arguing that dirt poor parents should take responsibility for feeding children.

One's the operation of the civil service one's a (terrible) government policy.

It's a terrible look politically but it's also what abouttery. Why are you complying with the civil service staff handbook whilst not providing free school meals during the school holidays.

Two bad policy decisions don't make a good one.

Of course it's whataboutery. It's also a bloody good point when we have a government like this.

Not all whataboutery is bad.

[Return_of_the_STAR]

So Matt Hancock sees a future where Briton no longer go to work if they have a runny nose. He better start improving sick pay then.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-55055295

[andretmzt]

I think it's pretty standard that if you're working passed 8:00/8:30 you can get dinner in.

Most companies don't spend £44k on dinners while also arguing that dirt poor parents should take responsibility for feeding children.

One's the operation of the civil service one's a (terrible) government policy.

It's a terrible look politically but it's also what abouttery. Why are you complying with the civil service staff handbook whilst not providing free school meals during the school holidays.

Two bad policy decisions don't make a good one.

I haven't read the handbook recently so I might be mistaken, but 'getting a free takeaway for working past your appointed hours' does not ring a bell.

In fact I think it is a very dubious use of funds which will end up getting closely looked at by auditors.

[Ecno]

I think it's pretty standard that if you're working passed 8:00/8:30 you can get dinner in.

Most companies don't spend £44k on dinners while also arguing that dirt poor parents should take responsibility for feeding children.

One's the operation of the civil service one's a (terrible) government policy.

It's a terrible look politically but it's also what abouttery. Why are you complying with the civil service staff handbook whilst not providing free school meals during the school holidays.

Two bad policy decisions don't make a good one.

I haven't read the handbook recently so I might be mistaken, but 'getting a free takeaway for working past your appointed hours' does not ring a bell.

In fact I think it is a very dubious use of funds which will end up getting closely looked at by auditors.

To be honest I've not seen the civil service handbook (having never worked in the civil service), I just assumed that it's similar to the various private companies I've worked out which have various expenses policy about what you can claim/when in terms of travel, and other expenses. There's usually something in there about working passed a certain time and what you can claim (and what you may need in terms of pre-approvals).

I've just assumed as a massive employer the civil service would have something similar?- But agree it could be problematic if there isn't anything.

Having said all this I just just checked my current employers handbook, as it has very little in But it's a smaller organization than where I have worked before.

[Jenuall]

Don't know how common it is but we've got a subsistence category in our policies that covers things like this. If exceptional circumstances at work cause you to be in the office until a certain time then you can claim back up to about £15 for a meal I think.

[andretmzt]

There will be something in each department's rules concerning the claiming of subsistence in such cases, often quoting exceptional circumstances. £44k worth of exceptional circumstances however? That is bit of a stretch.

I recall the National Audit Office getting involved in the sacking of the Met Office CEO a few years back over a ~£70k accumulation of expenses that someone had flagged up as been questionable. Different situation of course, but it was identified as a failure of governance for which the CEO was responsible. Needing to spend £44k on takeaways, no doubt on top of overtime payments and/or internal reward schemes, is a complete failure of management. It is indefensible.

I say auditors will look into it. It'll just get ignored and put in the 'but coronavirus' pile.

[Oblomov Boblomov]

It was probably my MP. She claims £2k every month to pay rent on her luxury house, presumably while renting out her own home in posho land, the cheeky twat.

[captain red dog]

So Matt Hancock sees a future where Briton no longer go to work if they have a runny nose. He better start improving sick pay then.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-55055295

As much as I despise him, that's a good policy. The vast majority of office workers now have proved they can work from home as effectively as they would in the office. If you have a cold or flu like symptoms, you should work from home. That's how I see it. Covid aside, let's be sensible and reduce the spread of respiratory illness as much as we can.

It's not a government thing really, it's a cultural issue for employers. A previous boss would literally tell me to "take two paracetamol and get back to work". She was an absolute banana split, and I don't regret using that language in the slightest to describe her as she was one of the worst people I have ever known. I once had bad conjunctivitis and tore the cornea in my eye and she trotted out that line.

[Return_of_the_STAR]

So Matt Hancock sees a future where Briton no longer go to work if they have a runny nose. He better start improving sick pay then.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-55055295

As much as I despise him, that's a good policy. The vast majority of office workers now have proved they can work from home as effectively as they would in the office. If you have a cold or flu like symptoms, you should work from home. That's how I see it. Covid aside, let's be sensible and reduce the spread of respiratory illness as much as we can.

It's not a government thing really, it's a cultural issue for employers. A previous boss would literally tell me to "take two paracetamol and get back to work". She was an absolute banana split, and I don't regret using that language in the slightest to describe her as she was one of the worst people I have ever known. I once had bad conjunctivitis and tore the cornea in my eye and she trotted out that line.

I 100% agree that we should we where possible limited spread of illnesses but workers and employers are going to need government support if they are serious about preventing people from taking illnesses into work.

I really don’t think it helps him saying if you have a runny nose then stay at home. I’ve worked with some people who seem to have a cold every few weeks for half the year. I’ve also seen a number of people lose their jobs from taking too much time off for illnesses such as colds, sore throats, chest infections etc

[Moggy]

twitter.com/mrjamesob/status/1331510068454563840

I'm sure it's all fine and there is nothing dodgy here at all.

[Herdanos]

Dat British sovereignty

[<]:^D]

what?!

[Knoyleo]

Back off Brussels
Hello Boris (the Russian stereotype, not the current PM)

[JCDenton]

I knew I should have killed Levedev when I had the chance but my brother convinced me it was a bad idea.

What a shame.

[Memento Mori]

twitter.com/mrjamesob/status/1331510068454563840

I'm sure it's all fine and there is nothing dodgy here at all.

You're suspicious about giving a life peerage to the billionaire son of a former KGB agent who Boris Johnson ditches his security detail to have secret holidays with?

[Moggy]

twitter.com/mrjamesob/status/1331510068454563840

I'm sure it's all fine and there is nothing dodgy here at all.

You're suspicious about giving a life peerage to the billionaire son of a former KGB agent who Boris Johnson ditches his security detail to have secret holidays with?

Of course not! It's all above board as proven by the Russia Report that I'm sure will be released any day now....

[Dual]

Seems legit.

[mark9]

So Matt Hancock sees a future where Briton no longer go to work if they have a runny nose. He better start improving sick pay then.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-55055295

I'm old enough to remember the government trying to force everyone back to offices in September.

[Drumstick]

"It's time to get back to work."