the most over the top restrictions introduced

[Jamiescott1]

A pub i went to today has one door in and out. To the left of the door is an entry only sign. To the right an exit only sign

 

[packermac]

In addition the flu jab letter instructs me in no uncertain terms to leave the premises as soon as I've had the jab. Whatever happened to waiting 10 minutes in case you have an allergic reaction?

Well I have only had the flu jab the last 3 or 4 years but I have never had to wait 10 minutes.
On "sheep dip Saturday" it is in an out of the reception area where about 4 jab stations are set up in about 30 seconds.

 

[trainophile]

I was told to sit down for 10 minutes after the flu jab, but that might have been because I'd never had one before.

 

[Bletchleyite]

A pub i went to today has one door in and out. To the left of the door is an entry only sign. To the right an exit only sign

To be fair, while a keep left sign would make more sense, that does at least have the effect of avoiding the "left right dance" that sometimes ensues when people end up face to face at a doorway.

 

[VauxhallandI]

Staying at a hotel in Eastbourne. On Friday we were asked what slot we would ant for breakfast.

On the second morning I called down to say we were sorry we hadn’t let them know what slot we wanted that morning. Only to be told it’s the same slot every morning and we were 20 mins into our slot.

They said it was clear in the email instructions about our stay. It wasn’t and it wasn’t made clear when we made our first breakfast booking.

I can see nothing on gov.uk about breakfast slots.

I’m fuming and I will not be returning. I was about to ask about staying a third night, not now

 

[Skimpot flyer]

To be fair, while a keep left sign would make more sense, that does at least have the effect of avoiding the "left right dance" that sometimes ensues when people end up face to face at a doorway.

Not if the sign on the inside of the premises states ‘Keep Right’- and I have actually seen that!

 

[Bletchleyite]

I can see nothing on gov.uk about breakfast slots.

Think outside the box. It's a restaurant. Most restaurants are operating with advance booking.

Every hotel I've stayed in since March has worked like this.

 

[43096]

Think outside the box. It's a restaurant. Most restaurants are operating with advance booking.

Every hotel I've stayed in since March has worked like this.

What is it with people defending poor customer service?

As the OP says, it was not made clear either on the booking email or when the first day’s breakfast was booked.

 

[Bletchleyite]

What is it with people defending poor customer service?

I actually think it's excellent customer service. One thing I dislike at places like Premier Inns is having to guess when breakfast is going to be busy. While I doubt "reservation only" will be retained after all this, I do hope the option to reserve and so guarantee a table at a specific time (with prepayment, to stop it being abused) is retained.

As the OP says, it was not made clear either on the booking email or when the first day’s breakfast was booked.

That is I agree poor service if true, but at the moment I think because everything is different a prudent person asks what the situation is.

 

[Jamiescott1]

My local m and s now has a member of staff positioned on each entrance to tell people to sanitise on entry to the store.
It has 3 entrances.
For a company in financial difficulty, its not the best use of resources

 

[Bletchleyite]

My local m and s now has a member of staff positioned on each entrance to tell people to sanitise on entry to the store.
It has 3 entrances.
For a company in financial difficulty, its not the best use of resources

If people aren't sanitising, short of closing two of the three I fail to see the realistic alternative.

 

[Skimpot flyer]

In a small B&B, where table space is extremely limited, I could understand the desirability of breakfast ‘slots’, so that the dining room does not get overcrowded. This made sense even before Covid.
In a chain hotel with a much larger dining area, this should not be necessary.
Some people fail to grasp the idea that part of the attraction of a break away from home in a hotel, is the freedom from the daily routine of ‘get up at X’, ‘breakfast at nn:nn hours’. You’re there to relax, break the chain of routine and rigid regimentation that is part and parcel of working life.

 

[Mag_seven]

My local m and s now has a member of staff positioned on each entrance to tell people to sanitise on entry to the store.

I really would object to that particularly if I had recently just washed my hands with soap and water which is far more effective than some some random hand sanitiser.

 

[Bletchleyite]

You’re there to relax, break the chain of routine and rigid regimentation that is part and parcel of working life.

You might be. Personally, I like to cram in as much as possible to my trips, and for that a planned time for breakfast works better.

The best option long-term is probably to offer optional reservations as per the railway and let people choose. I will always choose to reserve when eating anywhere if possible - I find it stress-free to know that if I turn up at 0700 my table will be ready.

At the moment the issue is less the size of the breakfast room and more that there is no space in the typically small reception area for distanced queueing.

 

[43096]

That is I agree poor service if true, but at the moment I think because everything is different a prudent person asks what the situation is.

So it's poor service, but at the same time the customer's fault for not asking.

 

[Bletchleyite]

So it's poor service, but at the same time the customer's fault for not asking.

It probably sits in the same sort of bracket of the fact that one should not have to lock one's house, but that anyone who doesn't is a fool. So yes.

(The point I was making was more that I consider breakfast reservations, at least optionally, very good customer service myself; queueing is the definition of a waste of time in every possible setting).

FWIW, I always ask "How does breakfast work" when I check into a hotel. I find it surprising just how often that information isn't volunteered unless you ask for it. Particularly surprising in places where it comes at an extra cost, as not explaining it is a failed upsell.

 

[Skimpot flyer]

My local m and s now has a member of staff positioned on each entrance to tell people to sanitise on entry to the store.
It has 3 entrances.
For a company in financial difficulty, its not the best use of resources

I hope they are not making it a condition of entry to the store? If you’ve just been shopping in a shop across the road, and sanitised on the way out, it’s a bit OTT to have to do it again.
If they did insist, I’d politely but firmly tell them there are many other and cheaper places to shop, and that they just lost my custom

 

[Bletchleyite]

I hope they are not making it a condition of entry to the store? If you’ve just been shopping in a shop across the road, and sanitised on the way out, it’s a bit OTT to have to do it again.
If they did insist, I’d politely but firmly tell them there are many other and cheaper places to shop, and that they just lost my custom

And I'd inform you that you were unwelcome to ever return to my store. Large stores will not suffer from the loss of one customer. Ryanair has made a successful business of telling people who are awkward that they aren't worth their while catering for.

Unless you have an allergy, in which case (a) say so, and (b) use whatever you've brought yourself as a non-allergic alternative in front of them, you are just being stubborn for the sake of being stubborn and just making the shop's job hard for no particular reason.

 

[Jamiescott1]

If people aren't sanitising, short of closing two of the three I fail to see the realistic alternative.

Assess the risk.
What is the risk of someone dying from touching an item of clothing that someone with covid has touched?
Say that including ni, holiday pay etc that the hourly rate of one of these staff is £10.
Store open 11 hours a week day. A cost of £330 daily.
Id say the cost outweighs the risk.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Oct 2020 ==

I hope they are not making it a condition of entry to the store? If you’ve just been shopping in a shop across the road, and sanitised on the way out, it’s a bit OTT to have to do it again.
If they did insist, I’d politely but firmly tell them there are many other and cheaper places to shop, and that they just lost my custom

I didn't go in. I politely said no thank you, ill go somewhere else

 

[Huntergreed]

Is it permitted for a shop to mandate sanitising upon entry, given that some people may have allergies to the substances used in the sanitiser?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Assess the risk.
What is the risk of someone dying from touching an item of clothing that someone with covid has touched?
Say that including ni, holiday pay etc that the hourly rate of one of these staff is £10.
Store open 11 hours a week day. A cost of £330 daily.
Id say the cost outweighs the risk.

They must follow COVID Safe guidelines by law. The risk isn't a case of COVID, the risk is being fined and closed down.

 

[185143]

It probably sits in the same sort of bracket of the fact that one should not have to lock one's house, but that anyone who doesn't is a fool. So yes.

(The point I was making was more that I consider breakfast reservations, at least optionally, very good customer service myself; queueing is the definition of a waste of time in every possible setting).

FWIW, I always ask "How does breakfast work" when I check into a hotel. I find it surprising just how often that information isn't volunteered unless you ask for it. Particularly surprising in places where it comes at an extra cost, as not explaining it is a failed upsell.

Optional reservations, yes. Mandatory, definitely not.

Though it can depend on the purpose and location of the trip. If I wander down and the hotel restaurant is full in a city centre location then I'll just go somewhere else. If there isn't really anywhere else, such as in Belfast where I am at the moment, then if I want breakfast in the hotel I definitely will reserve. I reserved a table on Friday night for yesterday morning in the Premier Inn which was no problem. I'd have had no issues had I not bothered booking though and surprisingly wasn't asked for any payment until after I'd eaten.

 

[43096]

It probably sits in the same sort of bracket of the fact that one should not have to lock one's house, but that anyone who doesn't is a fool. So yes.

It's nothing like that. Every business is making up whatever rules it sees fit (some of them utterly pointless) in the name of the pandemic - they need to be explaining them clearly to their customers.

(The point I was making was more that I consider breakfast reservations, at least optionally, very good customer service myself; queueing is the definition of a waste of time in every possible setting).

FWIW, I always ask "How does breakfast work" when I check into a hotel. I find it surprising just how often that information isn't volunteered unless you ask for it. Particularly surprising in places where it comes at an extra cost, as not explaining it is a failed upsell.

I would agree that offering optional reservations is a good idea. But telling someone they're 20mins into their slot (as the OP said) is straight out of the old Blackpool guest house school of service (must be something about Blackpool!); or if you prefer, it's out of Little Britain's Carol Beer's playbook.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Is it permitted for a shop to mandate sanitising upon entry, given that some people may have allergies to the substances used in the sanitiser?

I don't see why not provided reasonable adjustments are made for those who cannot, who should probably be carrying their own alternative at present.

Those who will not should, as ever, simply be told to get lost.

There is no room for this stubbornness in the present situation. If you don't like what a given business is doing, just don't go there. As a whole, businesses are doing their best to do what they believe is right in a very difficult (financial and operational) situation; cut them some slack and make their dark day that little bit brighter.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Oct 2020 ==

Optional reservations, yes. Mandatory, definitely not.

Though it can depend on the purpose and location of the trip. If I wander down and the hotel restaurant is full in a city centre location then I'll just go somewhere else. If there isn't really anywhere else, such as in Belfast where I am at the moment, then if I want breakfast in the hotel I definitely will reserve. I reserved a table on Friday night for yesterday morning in the Premier Inn which was no problem. I'd have had no issues had I not bothered booking though and surprisingly wasn't asked for any payment until after I'd eaten.

That's unusual for PI. If you want it ad-hoc, I found you were normally directed to reception to pay for it then to show the receipt on entry to the breakfast area (unless you could see it from the breakfast area in which case they'd just believe you having seen you go there and pay for something).

I would agree that offering optional reservations is a good idea. But telling someone they're 20mins into their slot (as the OP said) is straight out of the old Blackpool guest house school of service (must be something about Blackpool!); or if you prefer, it's out of Little Britain's Carol Beer's playbook.

It would be better customer service to offer when the next available slot was and ask them to come back then, but if there wasn't a spare slot then that's that.

 

[Bantamzen]

I wonder if anyone has considered the long term effect on our skin, digestive systems & of course the environment from constant use of sanitisers?

 

[Bletchleyite]

I wonder if anyone has considered the long term effect on our skin, digestive systems & of course the environment from constant use of sanitisers?

Given how many jobs require repeated washing/sanitising of hands, yes, I would expect so.

 

[Bantamzen]

Given how many jobs require repeated washing/sanitising of hands, yes, I would expect so.

But those are limited, I'm talking about the widespread use of the by the public globally. We must be tipping huge volumes of the stuff into our normal environment.

 

[Bletchleyite]

But those are limited, I'm talking about the widespread use of the by the public globally. We must be tipping huge volumes of the stuff into our normal environment.

It's alcohol, which is a very well known chemical of which many of us tip loads down our gobs with few issues other than a banging headache unless we *really* overdo it. I think you're worrying unnecessarily.

 

[Bantamzen]

It's alcohol, which is a very well known chemical of which many of us tip loads down our gobs with few issues other than a banging headache unless we *really* overdo it. I think you're worrying unnecessarily.

Well here's an example of COSHH assessment of on alcohol based gel:

https://ultracleanltd.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/COSHH-assessment-Alcohol-Hand-Sanitiser.pdf

DESCRIPTION OF RISK AND LIKELY CONSEQUENCES: R11 – Highly flammable. R36 – irritating to eyes. R67 – Vapours may cause drowsiness and dizziness. Safety phrases: S25: Avoid contact with eyes. S26: In case of contact with eyes, rinse immediately with plenty of water and seek medical advice. S46: If swallowed, seek medical advice immediately and show this container or label.

So maybe we do want to assess this a bit more. It also begs the question, do all places have a valid COSHH assessment for the types of sanitisers they are using? If they are a requirement of entry, should they be making this information available? I'm actually going to randomly ask when next I am advised to apply some.

 

[Richard Scott]

It's alcohol, which is a very well known chemical of which many of us tip loads down our gobs with few issues other than a banging headache unless we *really* overdo it. I think you're worrying unnecessarily.

However, we need exposure to pathogens to keep our immune system active, what effect is all this sanitising having? As an aside most shops I've been in don't insist on sanitising hands, is it's requirement? I don't know so is an honest question.