The coined term "Pingdemic" has become common lingo in recent weeks following a huge surge in NHS Track & Trace notifications. Many businesses, now referring to the pandemic and "pingdemic" are slowly seeing their businesses struggle as a result of overly sensitive isolation notifications.
A survey of over 5,000 kitchen, bedroom and bathroom (KBB) installers found that 47% have had to cancel jobs due to customers or installers being ‘pinged’ by the NHS COVID app.
Based on the average cost of jobs this means that millions of pounds had already been lost to the incomes of installers, mostly self-employed sole traders and SME workers. Which is more damaging than ever now that self-employed Government contributions are depleting.
Increased levels of isolating workers, combined with an increase in demand for raw materials is really putting pressure on the multiple trade industries, from plumbers to roofers.
John Newcomb, CEO of the BMF, said: “We are currently facing the biggest demand for building products we have seen in more than 30 years. We are already struggling with the labour we have to meet that requirement".
Many business owners are now calling for all skilled and essential workers to be exempt from isolation messages, providing they are able to submit a negative COVID-19 test result. The idea behind this is to help the economy and businesses recover from the pandemic by allowing negative testing workers to continue in their day-to-day lives.
Damian Walters, BIKBBI CEO, said: “Installers are taking a hit on their incomes that’s as unnecessary as it is unfair. They’ve spent the last year working to incredibly safe procedures, meaning that they could continue serving customers throughout the pandemic. For at least half of them to now have to stop working – and earning – as the rest of the country recovers just seems utterly ridiculous.”
Here at Mayne Gas Heating we are taking every step possible to ensure the safety of both our staff and our customers. All our staff follow strict COVID guidelines and protecting you in their best interests.
