JamesM

The very best news was zero deaths in the UK yesterday.

It's validation that the vaccine works and we will shortly be back to normal.

Gozit

Agreed. Putting them back in for 3-4 weeks made no sense when they've been out of school since end March/early April. By the time the kids would have transitioned back into school mentally, the school year would be over. Not worth the risk for the minimal benefit it would provide to the students. Better to get them back in September and hopefully keep them there, and avoid more closures/lockdowns. Not sure I can trust dougie not to lock down again though, he really likes lockdowns.

Yep. It has been known from the beginning that even if one gets infected after taking the vaccine, the infection will be mild/not deadly.

The government needs to understand risk reduction vs risk elimination. We will never eliminate the risk of covid-19, but vaccines strongly reduce the risk, just like the flu shot. So, get everyone vaccinated and get back to normal. We will still have cases, but that's the nature of the beast.

dbd33

I, for one, would not welcome that. Already the arguments are in progress "we should reopen the office because people like being in an office"!

JamesM

I think people do like being in the office.

But they certainly don't like having to drive an hour and a half to get there or to sit on a crowded public transit system wasting valuable time in their day. Then there is the cost of the commute that they have been banking.

Is there a hybrid?

I'm waiting to see how the ball bounces. The lack of commute is what has kept me in Toronto all these years but I've never understood it for those who ride a Go Train and aren't from here.

I do want my pub live music on a Saturday and my belly says I need my indoor fitness classes to start again. My motivation for exercise is not what it should be in lockdown.

Gozit

I'd love to find a 100% remote job. I hate being tied to one place.

caretaker

As our numbers in Sask continue to trend downward, over 65's are now eligible for their 2nd shot. I'll have to check later and see what the wait times are like at the drive through.

JamesM

I think in Malta you would find short commutes and also plenty of remote work.

I know a chap who does very well out of working for the many offshore gaming/gambling companies there. The money is good too.

Canada isn't a progressive place professionally. I'm currently working with organizations on modernizing the workplace and Executives here are still sitting on the fence waiting to see what the US and Europe does.

HGerchikov

OH's company took the opposite view and closed his office in Guelph permanently. I fear I am going to be listening to his meetings for the rest of my days!

dbd33

Yes, quite a few people had a 2/3 day split even before covid, a few were already 100% remote. Lots of people have been recruited during covid who cannot commute (from Kelowna, for example). The danger, for managers, is tail wagging dog; the staff want the socialization so the manager has to go in to indulge them.

dbd33

I slightly knew a couple who were obliged to live for years in a tropical paradise when islands were the place for those casinos. Oddly, a change in law meant the servers, and the couple, were shifted to Vancouver. I've no idea why the liveware had to shuffle around with the hardware.

dbd33

I expect an outcome like that. Apart from anything else, I don't work with anyone who would be in Guelph if that office did reopen. I have to play that carefully though, I don't want to hear "true, lately you mainly work with people who are in Regina, go there".

Danny B

Now they are talking about a vaccine resistant 'Nepal variant'. When is this crap going to end?

JamesM

You've been hoaxed by the Daily Mail apparently: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/h...-b1858646.html

Certainly no tax breaks in this part of the world!!

I just got off the phone with a major Commercial Real Estate firm executive. They're primarily mid-rise stock in Toronto but they've not seen a big fall off in tenants and think people have short memories and will be back in the office.

Some firms will have realized that saving rent is more effective for the bottom line than employee congregation- but I think a lot of these firms will also realize they can accelerate the automation of the employees and it's less likely to impact morale if no one has ever met Mark from Scarborough anyway.

On the other hand many firms have seen a massive fall off and will want employees back to turn the ship around.

We are going to have a lot of job openings with all these folks saying they'll quit if they can't work remote. The beauty of the system is we won't have to pay any of these folk EI and the shortage of workers will push salaries up for the third who remain.

People who have a choice of where they can work in Ontario are few and far between.

Danny B

No I stay away from the daily fail.

I read it buried in this article https://news.sky.com/story/holiday-h...amber-12323752

JamesM

This is the hybrid return to work I'd expect:

​​​​​​https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-57342768