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The apocalypse is upon us *rolls eyes*
Tuesday, 28 June 2022 21:49With the way the local government is handling this new wave of the covid pandemic, one would think the apocalypse is upon us. Just announced on the news - Macau has, to date, at time of writing, 451 confirmed cases since February 2020. That of course, doesn't sound much, but up until last week or so, it was an accumulated total of less than 90 confirmed cases. The sudden jump is indeed a little scary, but the countermeasures the government has taken has also been crazy.
I've now done 3 PCR tests, and 3 self-home tests. On 1-July, they are going to implement more requirements.
So, at the other side project I work for, we have an "off-site" office that is located in a property that is considered a "gaming venue". The government had mandated that "gaming venues" would require for the staff to have a within-48hours negative PCR test result, and a daily rapid antigen test with negative result.
This off-site office, I had already since 2 months ago asked if they could make arrangements to relocate the staff (there's like, some 10 or so staff left in that office, and it's a big space). We were paying a lot in rent, cleaning, and overheads, which would have been fine if the office were full, but with just 10 staff, it really wasn't ideal. However, since these expenses fell to my department, nobody felt the urgency to relocate the people.
So now with this new government mandate, I pushed again, but asked directly at the management. "Since the staff will have to do these paid tests and home tests, will the company reimburse these expenses to them or are staff expected to bear these themselves?"
They were still hemming and hawing saying there's no place to relocate the staff to. They agreed that these expenses should be covered by the company, but seemed reluctant to actually pay for these... Then my boss called me and asked me if the old office is still available. "Nah, you asked us to move out, we moved out, and the office has been reinstated to bare shell status". But then I added, "oh, but that I know of, in this-and-this department, they actually do have spare desk space, but they were hoarding it because they weren't sure if their staff needed to work in 2 offices. Since this is a temporary measure, I think we should all make the effort. Boss, don't tell them I told you this."
So my Boss made an off-hand request that "those 10 staff should be relocated". Oh wow. Arrangement confirmed within one morning, those bastards. So no more need to expect to make those test expenses. It means that in future if I need to put my foot down on anything, I'd have to ask my Boss to say that.
But all joking aside, this is going to be tough... not just paying for the tests, but for daily getting stabbed up through the nose, ugh.
However, if this goes on, it's true, Macau won't die because of the pandemic, instead, Macau will die because of the economic atrophy. Restaurants can only serve takeaways, salons, gyms, public parks, facilities, all closed. Banks, government offices, all closed. Banks! BANKS!
My workplace has also implemented "use up your paid time off" scheme and "use up your future paid time off" as well. But still expect us to work from home. Huh. I'm just going back to the office every day, maybe leaving a little earlier than usual. There's no one in the office anyway, so there are no crowds in the office. My Boss still expects me to work at home anyway. And I can't work from home... if my Mom sees me, she automatically thinks I'm free so wants me to do this and that and that and this and breaking my concentration when I'm doing some spreadsheets or studying figures. So really. I really dislike work from home.... maybe if I lived alone, then I'd enjoy it better.
I'm still lucky my company is still giving out the bonus this year. Technically, this bonus they are giving out is last year's annual bonus... they just cut it in half and "spread it out" to give out twice a year. This will probably be the last bonus we are getting, because, there's just no business going on. In fact, if it were just me, I'd understand if there's no bonus now. But the people of Macau are so coddled and entitled. It's ridiculous. "No bonus? Send in a complaint to the Labour Department! The government should give us the difference!"
(an oversimplified summary but a summary nonetheless: Macau's government is mostly, say 80%? Funded by the casino gaming tax. Got a good fat wallet now. But if casinos have no business and no money, the government eventually will have no money too.)
I've now done 3 PCR tests, and 3 self-home tests. On 1-July, they are going to implement more requirements.
So, at the other side project I work for, we have an "off-site" office that is located in a property that is considered a "gaming venue". The government had mandated that "gaming venues" would require for the staff to have a within-48hours negative PCR test result, and a daily rapid antigen test with negative result.
This off-site office, I had already since 2 months ago asked if they could make arrangements to relocate the staff (there's like, some 10 or so staff left in that office, and it's a big space). We were paying a lot in rent, cleaning, and overheads, which would have been fine if the office were full, but with just 10 staff, it really wasn't ideal. However, since these expenses fell to my department, nobody felt the urgency to relocate the people.
So now with this new government mandate, I pushed again, but asked directly at the management. "Since the staff will have to do these paid tests and home tests, will the company reimburse these expenses to them or are staff expected to bear these themselves?"
They were still hemming and hawing saying there's no place to relocate the staff to. They agreed that these expenses should be covered by the company, but seemed reluctant to actually pay for these... Then my boss called me and asked me if the old office is still available. "Nah, you asked us to move out, we moved out, and the office has been reinstated to bare shell status". But then I added, "oh, but that I know of, in this-and-this department, they actually do have spare desk space, but they were hoarding it because they weren't sure if their staff needed to work in 2 offices. Since this is a temporary measure, I think we should all make the effort. Boss, don't tell them I told you this."
So my Boss made an off-hand request that "those 10 staff should be relocated". Oh wow. Arrangement confirmed within one morning, those bastards. So no more need to expect to make those test expenses. It means that in future if I need to put my foot down on anything, I'd have to ask my Boss to say that.
But all joking aside, this is going to be tough... not just paying for the tests, but for daily getting stabbed up through the nose, ugh.
However, if this goes on, it's true, Macau won't die because of the pandemic, instead, Macau will die because of the economic atrophy. Restaurants can only serve takeaways, salons, gyms, public parks, facilities, all closed. Banks, government offices, all closed. Banks! BANKS!
My workplace has also implemented "use up your paid time off" scheme and "use up your future paid time off" as well. But still expect us to work from home. Huh. I'm just going back to the office every day, maybe leaving a little earlier than usual. There's no one in the office anyway, so there are no crowds in the office. My Boss still expects me to work at home anyway. And I can't work from home... if my Mom sees me, she automatically thinks I'm free so wants me to do this and that and that and this and breaking my concentration when I'm doing some spreadsheets or studying figures. So really. I really dislike work from home.... maybe if I lived alone, then I'd enjoy it better.
I'm still lucky my company is still giving out the bonus this year. Technically, this bonus they are giving out is last year's annual bonus... they just cut it in half and "spread it out" to give out twice a year. This will probably be the last bonus we are getting, because, there's just no business going on. In fact, if it were just me, I'd understand if there's no bonus now. But the people of Macau are so coddled and entitled. It's ridiculous. "No bonus? Send in a complaint to the Labour Department! The government should give us the difference!"
(an oversimplified summary but a summary nonetheless: Macau's government is mostly, say 80%? Funded by the casino gaming tax. Got a good fat wallet now. But if casinos have no business and no money, the government eventually will have no money too.)
