The threat of a total UK shutdown due to the Coronavirus outbreak is being welcomed by some employees seeing it as a ‘free holiday’.
That’s according to straw poll carried out by office provider Offices.co.uk, which says some of our workforce is viewing a shutdown as an opportunity to have ‘two weeks off work’.
โI spoke to some of our younger members of staff, and I was surprised that rather than be a scary thought, they actively encouraged a shutdownโ, said Offices.co.uk Managing Director Jonathan Ratcliffe.
โThe member of staff who will remain nameless just said ‘Get in, 2 weeks paid leave’ โ I thought it was quite funny at the time, but honestly he was made up and so were a few others. It makes you worry that our younger workforce just arenโt taking things seriously.”
Offices.co.uk says this case isnโt isolated.
Guy from Liverpool: โEveryone in the office is watching the news, 2 weeks or more, gets my vote.โ
Penny from Brighton: โIf we get sent home then thatโs fine. The virus is serious, and I donโt want it, so Iโm happy to go home and watch TV for a bit.โ
Stuart from Glasgow: โCannee wait for some time off work and if itโs paid then thatโs great for me.โ
The thought of a couple of weeks paid leave is appealing to some of those on lower incomes where the career ladder might not be an aim, but for those aiming high, it can be a worrying time.
โWe are forward-planning as a business and putting together some work projects for our trainees that they can do from home in case of a lockdown,โ Ratcliffe explained.
Offices.co.uk has come up with some ideas for occupying employees if they have to self-isolate, including:
- Self-learning โ identify some learning goals for staff to achieve from home
- Fitness โ keeping physically active is as important as being mentally active
- Family โ for those with kids, lockdown presents a special opportunity
- Wellbeing โ spend time evaluating goals and reading more
