Corona Virus: How Are We Doing?

[DCLane]

It's in the accounts here, but there is a plan. Nine figure projected loss of income.

Others are worried about office space. Office space is going to get requisitioned.

Probably for any university given the nature of teaching and the need for more space due to small teaching groups. I've been told this evening I will be working from home until September 2021 unless teaching.

 

[Rusty Nails]

You may well have a point in that Devon and Cornwall have a thing about Grockles etc but my experience is that, what I call really Welsh areas, can be openly hostile.
In my job I travelled a lot and they are the only areas I felt threatened eg if I went into a pub on my own. Can't recall feeling that in any other places.
Not labelling people or places, its just my experience.

It is a pity when that sort of thing happens, but very often it's related to the language issue. In one of my previous jobs I had to regularly visit offices all across Wales and the only places I experienced outright rudeness because I couldn't speak the language (although I understood enough to catch bits of the stuff they were saying) was in parts of North Wales, both in the offices and the pubs.

 

[marinyork]

Probably for any university given the nature of teaching and the need for more space due to small teaching groups. I've been told this evening I will be working from home until September 2021 unless teaching.

There are variations between universities. You probably work for a forward thinking one.

I'm focussing a bit less on academics than the system, many always had deals on the side for a bit of home working. A theme on the announcement was things may get back to normal in 2021/22. I think we'll be in a very deep recession and that academic year will be challenging.

 

[MarkF]

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As has been referred to upthread, the medicine of self isolation, can be worse than the cure. About a month into the lockdown, my sister, who was in self isolation because of our 89 year old Mum living with her, spoke of Mum's mental health deteriorating. (She already has early stage dementia).
My sister and I took the view that Mum's mental health took priority and that her time of going for an accompanied walk would be planned. If she happened to catch the virus, (and my sister is scrupulous in cleaning deliveries to her house), then we would live with the consequences.
Our respective spouses were told of our decision, as were the grandchildren old enough to appreciate their Grandma's condition.

Similarly, we had a family meeting last week, my mother and MIL and well into their 80's and were getting very down, they socialise, primarliy, with family and other local widows, also stuck at home. After a pretty brief discussion it was decided unaminously to go back to normal, so me, MrsF, BIL, SIL, MIL and all the grandchildren went to Whitby last Thursday, had a picnic on sea walls then walked to Saltwick bay, it was a lovely day out.

 

[fossyant]

Probably for any university given the nature of teaching and the need for more space due to small teaching groups. I've been told this evening I will be working from home until September 2021 unless teaching.

Yikes. I'm missing real face to face contact with other staff, and the general 'buzz' of the place.

 

[fossyant]

We can't actually go and see MIL as the Nursing home is on lockdown, even going round the 'side' and waving at a window !

 

[DCLane]

Yikes. I'm missing real face to face contact with other staff, and the general 'buzz' of the place.

One thing that's helping is a weekly Microsoft Teams get-together, which we do at 10am on a Tuesday. It might be a suggestion if you work with a team of colleagues.

A couple of my subject group have declined to join, but that's their choice.

 

[fossyant]

One thing that's helping is a weekly Microsoft Teams get-together, which we do at 10am on a Tuesday. It might be a suggestion if you work with a team of colleagues.

A couple of my subject group have declined to join, but that's their choice.

We're trying to get together a 'skype' with the business partners and our assistants. We've got a regular informal get together with a smaller group, and another, but need to expand it to the wider team. We've also got 3 new people to the Uni on the Team. All are doing OK with it. I've suggested when we are allowed back in (i.e. buildings open) then we either meet up in the park or on the lawn outside one of the buildings - even if for a short time, before travelling home.

 

[Rusty Nails]

One thing that's helping is a weekly Microsoft Teams get-together, which we do at 10am on a Tuesday. It might be a suggestion if you work with a team of colleagues.

A couple of my subject group have declined to join, but that's their choice.

My son, an IT worker, has been working from home since the lockdown started. His team have a virtual tea-break via MS Teams at 3 pm every day. The only rule is nothing about work, just chat for 30 mins.

 

[C R]

My company makes software, and we have all been working from home since a week before the lock down started. We have a book club meeting weekly in teams, and a daily guess the object from a picture in teams as well. Keeps the social interaction going.

 

[Rusty Nails]

My company makes software, and we have all been working from home since a week before the lock down started. We have a book club meeting weekly in teams, and a daily guess the object from a picture in teams as well. Keeps the social interaction going.

That is very important for people who may have very little interaction with other people under the lockdown.

I wish I'd had shares in Zoom six months ago.

 

[C R]

That is very important for people who may have very little interaction with other people under the lockdown.

I wish I'd had shares in Zoom six months ago.

A few of the staff live on their own. Some are struggling with the lack of social contact, so these little things help quite a bit.

 

[stowie]

I wish I'd had shares in Zoom six months ago.

To make you feel better, Zoom shares were around $68 beginning of Jan. Now they are over $200.

 

[Rusty Nails]

A few of the staff live on their own. Some are struggling with the lack of social contact, so these little things help quite a bit.

My son lives alone in a flat so life is quite tough at the moment for him.

To make you feel better, Zoom shares were around $68 beginning of Jan. Now they are over $200.

 

[stowie]

P/E ratio of Zoom : over 1600
For comparison

Intel : 12
Facebook : 22
Nvidia : 67

I liked the commentary on one website which said the P/E ratio could indicate the company stock was overpriced!