Two interesting facts emerged from the Standard of 13 July. First, that many workers in London have not returned to their jobs because they fear travel on public transport. Second, that many hotels are half empty. I suggest research into how many employees would return to full-time office work if they need not face a public transport journey. Given sufficient demand, firms could pay hotels a reasonable sum to accommodate employees near their place of work during the week. It sounds expensive but could work if hotels were prepared to accept lower profits for the sake of a guaranteed income and employees contributed some of their saved commute costs to the scheme.
Clearly this will appeal more to the single and the childless. Not only would this scheme benefit firms and employees but it would give a welcome boost to the hospitality industry. Worth considering, surely?
Penelope Vinson
Editor's reply
Dear Penelope
London is anxious. We want to go back to normal but there are barriers — travelling on public transport is a significant one — and in the meantime the city is empty, profits are down and the future uncertain. But London will recover, with imaginative, bold solutions. Your hotels idea is a neat one. As you say, it will not appeal to everyone or be a long term fix but with plenty of room at our hotels why not give it a go?
Susannah Butter, Comment Editor
Uighurs need our help urgently
It’s difficult to hear debate over whether the term “genocide” can be used to describe the situation of the oppressed Uighurs in China before we can act to stop it. Only 27 years ago we had the same legal debate over the Tutsis in Rwanda, which culminated in nearly one million people being slaughtered in under 100 days. Isn’t it time we learned from history?
Tony Howarth
