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Northern Barrow staffing issues?

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Bletchleyite

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Stayed in Ulverston this evening and decided to go to Lancaster and back. Unfortunately the 2103 back was cancelled (though at least that gets me a fiver back) due to staffing issues. However the other thing I noticed was that neither guard on the outward or return was wearing any kind of uniform. On the outward he was wearing a generic grey suit, and on the return a different bloke in a generic non uniform shirt and trousers. Smart enough, but why was this, I wonder? Are they so low on staff that managers are working trains? Is there a "dispute" ongoing, or is it COVID related?
 
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skyhigh

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There's no dispute ongoing. Can't say for certain but staff self-isolations have risen so likely to be conductor management covering shifts.
 

Thomas6187

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Barrow has been hit very badly recently by certain tragic issues. With it being a smaller depot it does have an effect. I think that this news article will explain it.

A memorial garden remembering railway workers who have lost their lives is set to be opened in Barrow.

The new garden will be opened opposite Barrow Railway Station’s car park and looks to provide a place in honour of the workers who have passed away.

Furness railway workers will be volunteering their free time to complete the garden, which will have picnic tables and an area to grow fresh fruit.
They will be assisted by Network Rail, Northern and Travis Perkins, and railway worker Steve Nott has thanked the companies for their help.



Mr Nott said: “It has been a collaborative project and we are really grateful and appreciative of the support we have received.
“There is still a lot of work to be done, but hopefully it will provide a nice space for staff to go out on their break to eat and to chat and for people to remember those we have lost in the past and recently too.
“We have lost three dearly-loved colleagues in the last 12 months.”
Tragically, Barrow’s train depot has recently seen three of its train guards pass away.
 

185

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At most companies been serious issues with app-related isolations at extreme short notice in the last seven days. Many passengers are not self isolating when their app tells them to, in part caused by an alleged 66% of local authorities failing to pay Covid isolation payments. (Daily Mirror, Fri)

Man wearing a tutu* with a train is better than no train at all.

.
.

*I don't wear a tutu for rest day work. Well, not often.
 
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mmh

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At most companies been serious issues with app-related isolations at extreme short notice in the last seven days. Many passengers are not self isolating when their app tells them to, in part caused by an alleged 66% of local authorities failing to pay Covid isolation payments. (Daily Mirror, Fri)

Man wearing a tutu* with a train is better than no train at all.

.
.

*I don't wear a tutu for rest day work. Well, not often.

When the app asks them to. The wording's important here, it is not a legal requirement to self-isolate on instruction from an app, unlike instruction from a human Contact Tracer, where it is.
 

185

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For an employee, to comply with their employers insurer, it would perhaps be foolish to disregard a direct government request to isolate - regardless of legal standing.
 
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Surreytraveller

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For an employee, to comply with their employers insurer, it would perhaps be foolish to disregard a direct government request to isolate - regardless of legal standing.
There is no requirement to isolate if the app asks you to. It is not a direct government instruction, and has nothing to do with the employee's insurer.
 

scrapy

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There is no requirement to isolate if the app asks you to. It is not a direct government instruction, and has nothing to do with the employee's insurer.
Whilst no legal requirement to isolate from the app, Northern require all staff who have been advised to self isolate 'not to attend work'. Whether or not that staff member chooses to stay at home if advised to isolate is a private matter but if they attend work I would expect it to be a disciplinary matter with no backing from their union.

Northern will be required by law and by their insurance company to carry out covid risk assessments and put adequate control measures in place, this will be one of those control measures so yes it does have something to do with their insurer.

Government guidance for transport operators states that operators need to ensure that staff can isolate (working from home if possible but obviously this is very limited for on train staff), again going against this document could be considered a reckless act by their insurers.
 

dk1

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You just do the right thing. If the NHS app advises somebody to self isolate for X number of days then that is exactly what you do (& I have also done) unless I am missing something.
 

jamesst

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You just do the right thing. If the NHS app advises somebody to self isolate for X number of days then that is exactly what you do (& I have also done) unless I am missing something.

Exactly.
I wouldnt like to be the staff member who ignored management instruction and came to work having been instructed not to if contacted by the NHS app
 

SeanG

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I think it was implied that it is passengers failing to isolate, and not guards/staff. Indeed it is the isolation of staff that results in shortages.

FWIW I believe that you should isolate when asked or required to - its the right thing to do morally.
 

185

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There is no requirement to isolate if the app asks you to. It is not a direct government instruction, and has nothing to do with the employee's insurer.

You state this has nothing to do with the employee's insurer - a HR director's understanding of how to comply with the insurers (TTIC t/a Travelers Insurance) requirement that they use absolute diligence to avoid litigation from either staff or passengers - this is rather clear and obvious.

I note your previous post was deleted, it does seem many users disagree with your 'belief' that a government request to isolate is not an instruction, just some optional choice.
 

Surreytraveller

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You state this has nothing to do with the employee's insurer - a HR director's understanding of how to comply with the insurers (TTIC t/a Travelers Insurance) requirement that they use absolute diligence to avoid litigation from either staff or passengers - this is rather clear and obvious.

I note your previous post was deleted, it does seem many users disagree with your 'belief' that a government request to isolate is not an instruction, just some optional choice.
I wasn't aware my previous post was deleted. The app isn't a government request to isolate. There is no legal requirement to isolate if the app advises you to.
The app is anonymous - no one has any way of knowing the app has advised you to isolate unless you tell them.
So how can employers or their insurers enforce it?
It is not my belief it is optional - it is a legal fact. The only time you are legally required to self isolate is if you are contacted by Test & Trace. The people - not the app
 
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30907

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You state this has nothing to do with the employee's insurer - a HR director's understanding of how to comply with the insurers (TTIC t/a Travelers Insurance) requirement that they use absolute diligence to avoid litigation from either staff or passengers - this is rather clear and obvious.

I note your previous post was deleted,
Seems still to be there?
it does seem many users disagree with your 'belief' that a government request to isolate is not an instruction, just some optional choice.
Many = 3?
 
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