Pendraken Plans for 2020!

Started by Leon, 11 January 2020, 09:32:50 PM

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Leon

Thanks for the replies guys, it's certainly an interesting time to navigate.  I think you're right fred, in that the chances of a full closedown aren't high at the moment so hopefully we're OK for this week at least.  I've got an 'apocalypse' box in the corner with all of my cleanup, blackwashing and photography kit, so I can grab that if we need to.

Quote from: Orcs on 30 March 2020, 06:19:17 PM
Since I wrote my missive I hvbe seen a video on the BBC website about a lady who was laid off literally hours before the government announced they would pay wages, and this means she is not eligible.

That's the worry and I'm sorry to hear that people are losing out like that.  There's going to be a lot of long-term impacts from all of this, and a lot of back and forth on claims/counter-claims for government support that will continue for years to come. 

One of our packagers had just taken on a unit to start being self-employed as a physiotherapist, complete with all of the equipment for it, and she suddenly can't operate and none of her clients can visit.  Her husband is a musician as well, so he's lost all of his gigs until September and has had to start delivering pizzas just to keep an income.
www.pendraken.co.uk - Now home to over 7000 products, including 4500 items for 10mm wargaming, plus MDF bases, Battlescale buildings, I-94 decals, Litko Gaming Aids, Militia Miniatures, Raiden Miniatures 1/285th aircraft, Red Vectors MDF products, Vallejo paints and much, much more!

mollinary

Leon, I feel for you, and all others in a similar situation. The only bright side, which I hope all your team appreciate, is the obvious concern you have for all who make Pendraken what it is.  I am sure there are many on the forum, and outside it, who would be willing to do what they can to help. I personally think the gift voucher idea is a tremendous one, and would enjoy pledging in advance and then spending 'lockdown time' working out what I was going to buy with it!   SYW Russian army to help me in my search to adapt FK&P for the 18th century?    But what to do for flags?

Mollinary
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paulr

Leon, you look to be making well thought out decisions that focus, as we have come to expect from you, on the people =D> =D> =D>

I'm sure we are all happy for you to keep us in the loop and we might even be able to offer the odd suggestion (although you seem to be a few steps ahead of most of us, e.g. the  'apocalypse' box)

You should get my order for the Hundred Years War project later this week, it will ship when it ships ;)
Lord Lensman of Wellington
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Steve J

My old company is due to lay off 25% of the workforce tomorrow, despite the government promising to pay 80% of wages etc :(. Will wait and see what actually happens but not good.

Orcs

Quote from: mollinary on 30 March 2020, 07:55:50 PM
Leon, I feel for you, and all others in a similar situation. The only bright side, which I hope all your team appreciate, is the obvious concern you have for all who make Pendraken what it is.  I am sure there are many on the forum, and outside it, who would be willing to do what they can to help. I personally think the gift voucher idea is a tremendous one, and would enjoy pledging in advance and then spending 'lockdown time' working out what I was going to buy with it!   SYW Russian army to help me in my search to adapt FK&P for the 18th century?    But what to do for flags?

Mollinary

There are a small selection on Warflag site
The cynics are right nine times out of ten. -Mencken, H. L.

Life is not a matter of holding good cards, but of playing a poor hand well. - Robert Louis Stevenson

Orcs

As you all know I am a cynic.

I suspect that the likes of Mc Donald's/KFC thought "we are going to loose lots of money on running as a take away/delivery service lets lays staff off while the Government picks up the tab"
The cynics are right nine times out of ten. -Mencken, H. L.

Life is not a matter of holding good cards, but of playing a poor hand well. - Robert Louis Stevenson

Leon

Thanks again for the supportive messages, it means a lot at this end.  We'll all get through this together as we always do, it's just a bit of a worrying time for everyone.

It'll be interesting to see what happens when things return to normal as well, after we've seen such a surge of new jobs in supermarkets, warehousing, delivery, etc.  Once the panic buying and need for delivered foodstuffs has gone, all of those people are going to be laidoff in a new wave of job losses, and there may not be enough returning vacancies in the pubs, hotels and restaurants for them to switch to.  It's going to be a very dynamic marketplace for jobs for quite some time.

Another effect that I've been wondering about is how much long-term changes we'll see in workplace cultures.  All of those people who've been told for years that working from home isn't viable, but they've suddenly had to do it and it's been fine.  The initiative we've seen from various industries who've pivoted their businesses to new products or new ways of delivering their service to the customer, which they might find is a better avenue going forward.  I think there's going to be a lot of upheaval as a result of this and possibly some real benefits to people's work/life balance.
www.pendraken.co.uk - Now home to over 7000 products, including 4500 items for 10mm wargaming, plus MDF bases, Battlescale buildings, I-94 decals, Litko Gaming Aids, Militia Miniatures, Raiden Miniatures 1/285th aircraft, Red Vectors MDF products, Vallejo paints and much, much more!

pierre the shy

Quote from: Leon on 31 March 2020, 01:39:13 AM
Thanks again for the supportive messages, it means a lot at this end.  We'll all get through this together as we always do, it's just a bit of a worrying time for everyone.

It'll be interesting to see what happens when things return to normal as well, after we've seen such a surge of new jobs in supermarkets, warehousing, delivery, etc.  Once the panic buying and need for delivered foodstuffs has gone, all of those people are going to be laidoff in a new wave of job losses, and there may not be enough returning vacancies in the pubs, hotels and restaurants for them to switch to.  It's going to be a very dynamic marketplace for jobs for quite some time.

Another effect that I've been wondering about is how much long-term changes we'll see in workplace cultures.  All of those people who've been told for years that working from home isn't viable, but they've suddenly had to do it and it's been fine.  The initiative we've seen from various industries who've pivoted their businesses to new products or new ways of delivering their service to the customer, which they might find is a better avenue going forward.  I think there's going to be a lot of upheaval as a result of this and possibly some real benefits to people's work/life balance.

Yes 100% correct on that last point I think Leon.

I work in the public service and its been flagged to us that going forward at least some of us will be working from home at least some days once the COVID 19 crisis as passed.

I am finding it quite different working at home every day, but as you say it does give real benefits to work/life balance.... the commute time is going down one flight of steps  :)

Though much is taken, much abides; and though
we are not now that strength which in old days
moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are.

Orcs

So al this working from home now, and quite possibly significant increase in home working permanently - Why ae we spending so much on HS2.
The cynics are right nine times out of ten. -Mencken, H. L.

Life is not a matter of holding good cards, but of playing a poor hand well. - Robert Louis Stevenson

hammurabi70

Quote from: Leon on 31 March 2020, 01:39:13 AMIt'll be interesting to see what happens when things return to normal as well

I think there's going to be a lot of upheaval as a result of this and possibly some real benefits to people's work/life balance.

I do not think 'normal' will be as we have known it; as with the World Wars the global position will be quite different from what anybody might have envisioned.  How will Asian countries like India and Indonesia cope with this?  How will Africa?  These are not wealthy areas and will have even more extreme issues to resolve.  No doubt pockets of the virus will linger in corners of the world for years, which will dampen enthusiasm for travel.  The tourism and travel industries will be changed with slimmed down airlines that have lost economies of scale so ticket prices will be higher.  Internal travel might get a boost but is a third runway at Heathrow worthwhile now?

We can be sure health concerns will be critical for the future and I wonder how the American health industry will cope and adapt; we are going to need a more global response so will world government come a step closer?

mollinary

Cruise industry has to be worried for its future too. With a silver surfer demographic as its main customer base, and a spate of horror stories from this outbreak, surely the days of the 3-5 thousand passenger liners must be numbered?
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Steve J

With home working the company has a duty of care under the Health & Safety act to check where the employ is working, is it safe, does it comply with relevant regulations etc. You can imagine the nightmare of having to do this on each home in a large company.

Techno

Quote from: hammurabi70 on 31 March 2020, 11:39:11 AM
I do not think 'normal' will be as we have known it; as with the World Wars the global position will be quite different from what anybody might have envisioned.

Totally agree, H....and with your thoughts as regards Asia and India....Just at this time, especially India. X_X

Once we've all got through this....I think the World will be quite a different place.

Of all the tragedies that are occurring, the ones that I find the most upsetting, are the number of 'health workers' losing their lives :(

Cheers - Phil

(By the way, I think we probably missed your promotion a few posts ago...Congrats on that. :))

Sunray

Quote from: Leon on 31 March 2020, 01:39:13 AM
Thanks again for the supportive messages, it means a lot at this end.  We'll all get through this together as we always do, it's just a bit of a worrying time for everyone.

It'll be interesting to see what happens when things return to normal as well, after we've seen such a surge of new jobs in supermarkets, warehousing, delivery, etc.  Once the panic buying and need for delivered foodstuffs has gone, all of those people are going to be laidoff in a new wave of job losses, and there may not be enough returning vacancies in the pubs, hotels and restaurants for them to switch to.  It's going to be a very dynamic marketplace for jobs for quite some time.

Another effect that I've been wondering about is how much long-term changes we'll see in workplace cultures.  All of those people who've been told for years that working from home isn't viable, but they've suddenly had to do it and it's been fine.  The initiative we've seen from various industries who've pivoted their businesses to new products or new ways of delivering their service to the customer, which they might find is a better avenue going forward.  I think there's going to be a lot of upheaval as a result of this and possibly some real benefits to people's work/life balance.


A very insightful post Leon.  I have read it several times.    It is regrettable that the British Gov declined to "test, trace, isolate" it  seems to
be working in Korea and Ireland.

There is be a frenzy come the late summer to reboot the economy.  To be first nation in Europe back to work.   A lot of industry will need a serious re-boot.   And yes, a very dynamic marketplace in terms of jobs and skills.

The survivors will be chastened.  After 9/11 there was a drop in  pornography.  There is be an element of survivor guilt.  Religion could well make a comeback "revival"?  With a lot of couples at home a baby boom is inevitable.   What corollaries will it have on Brexit and the future of the United Kingdom?

Could - like post war Britain we see a swing for social justice? An end to austerity measures?   Will the free nester/silver surfers still be a cash rich demographic ? 

By the end of the century, the history students will face exam questions on our life and times.   "The Anti CORVID 19 and Post CORVID 19 society and values - discuss"

jimduncanuk

I'm glad I am retired at this time of national stress.

I worked in IT management and support and my working style was to see the user face to face and sort out his computing needs while I was there. There was a move to remote system management where you sat at a desk 10 miles away and did everything online. I resisted that move until the day I retired.

If I had still been working I would have been forced into the remote style of working, perhaps from home and I wouldn't have liked it one little bit. Then again I could have been made surplus to requirements and discarded in some fashion.

I think the workplace for everyone will be under severe scrutiny once things return to 'normal' and many folks will not like what will happen.

My Ego forbids a signature.