To be fed up with all the NHS discount codes?

[YouDoYouHun]

Don't get me wrong, I have a lot of respect for NHS workers on the front line dealing with the pandemic, that's not what this thread is about, but AIBU to have had enough of shops and businesses offering NHS discount only? Generally, this isn't a new thing and has been around since last March, but this past week or so I have received quite a few emails from various shops/businesses (I won't name) including national and local, offering discount codes for NHS staff only. Great, they deserve it....but what about everyone else too? What about supermarket workers? Council workers? Labourers? Delivery drivers? The postal service? What about the people who have lost their jobs too? Granted, disposable income will be low to non existent so frivolous online shopping purchases will likely not be high on the priority list, but wouldn't that be more reason to offer a discount? for people struggling? How about a pandemic discount code so everyone can enjoy a treat rather than just singling out the NHS and sending the message that unless you work for the NHS you are undeserving?

The NHS also covers a huge variation of roles and I don't particularly find it fair that Mary who works behind the scenes gets the discount just because she is an NHS employee but Barry who works in a supermarket doesn't receive any discount because he doesn't work for the NHS? Not the greatest example, but you hopefully get my point.

This isn't meant to sound grabby. It's not about the discount. Shops/businesses are struggling too and don't have to offer any discount at all. My point is, if there is going to be a discount offered, why effectively invalidate other professions by sending the message that they haven't worked hard enough/suffererd enough to receive the 'prize' that is a discount code?

YABU - what are you talking about? Only NHS employees should receive discounts.

YANBU - This pandemic has affected us all in different ways and we shouldn't be made to feel any less important because we don't work for the NHS.

[Yoshinori]

They aren't sending the message ' unless you work for the NHS you are undeserving'.

You've just decided to take it that way.

[aprilanne]

You are right it's not fair someone in a non patient facing job gets a discount. I was I morrisons the other day and someone gave them there education badge and got 10 percent off it actually grated me I had shopping I am in a customer facing job but cant get the same .It really irked me to be honest

[Hotpeppsau]

Lots of other companies come with benefits all year round pandemic or not OP.

[DifficultPifcultLemonDifficult]

The alternative would be that nobody gets a discount.

Why do people see something nice that a company is doing for someone else and instead of being happy that there's a bit of a treat for someone, they just complain about it because they can't get it?

Would it really improve your life if NHS workers didn't get a discount?

[Ponoka7]

I agree. They were being offered free bus and taxi fares, while my shop working DD on a lot less money had to struggle with the revised bus timetable. Likewise Care home etc staff.

My SIL has an NHS contract working in pharmaceuticals and can get all of the perks.

Life isn't anymore stressful across lots of NHS departments and they are on a good pay grade. Many people have been let down by NHS services since the start of the pandemic.

[Tippexy]

Just use the codes? Anyone can sign up to Health Service Discounts 🤷🏽

[YouDoYouHun]

@Hotpeppsau I agree, they do. But everyone who doesn't qualify for the discount isn't emailed weekly to remind them of the fact. Majority of jobs have benefits and some qualify for discounts in one way or another but you are informed through your employer usually or whatever scheme it is. Every single customer is not sent an email saying that unless they work for the employer in question, they don't get a discount which is what we are seeing a lot more of now.

[YouDoYouHun]

@DifficultPifcultLemonDifficult it's not about not being happy for people it's the disparity. Like other posters have commented its effectively favouritism when others are working just as hard. I personally think that it should be equal and everyone be eligible or there be no discount at all. I don't think it's fair that a shop should decide whether you should receive a discount based on your employer alone. Its subjective. There could be an NHS worker who has worked in an office, not particularly been too affected, not been public facing yet a shop decides they should get 30% discount purely based on the fact the NHS pays their wages, yet someone in a supermarket [insert any other role] public facing, struggling, cannot receive a discount because the NHS doesn't employ them.

[YorkiePud25]

NHS worker here - agree it's a bit rubbish that non patient facing staff seem to get the benefits when they're sat at home with their feet up. But, having been on the front line (mental health nurse) and working with colleagues who are being burnt out in ICUs, I think people need to get a grip and realise that although other key workers are extremely important, the NHS staff are massively underpaid (support workers and nurses) and are risking so much by working directly with patients with covid, usually with incorrect PPE and unsafe staffing levels.

[GreenSlide]

Quite a lot of NHS admin staff work out of hospitals and even the wards too so no I don't begrudge them a discount. Even if they don't, I mean really how petty do you have to be to care about this.

[YorkiePud25]

Posted too soon - so I think 10% off at morrisons isn't really something people should begrudge being given to NHS staff.

[EmmaGrundyForPM]

I've got a Blue Light card (not just for NHS Staff, also for other emergency workers and social care staff). I very rarely use it as I am not frontline and feel slightly guilty about doing so. I've had it over 2 years, so pre Pandemic.

[WhydoesItAlwaysRainMe]

@Ponoka7

I agree. They were being offered free bus and taxi fares, while my shop working DD on a lot less money had to struggle with the revised bus timetable. Likewise Care home etc staff.

My SIL has an NHS contract working in pharmaceuticals and can get all of the perks.

Life isn't anymore stressful across lots of NHS departments and they are on a good pay grade. Many people have been let down by NHS services since the start of the pandemic.

The "free" bus and taxi fare was to and from work during Christmas/pandemic. Surely you don't begrudge that

[YouDoYouHun]

@GreenSlide did i say I begrudged NHS staff receiving a discount? No. I specifically said they deserve it. My point is so do others and it shouldn't be limited to just the NHS. It's not about the odd 10%. Some discounts are significant and just because 10% doesn't seem to matter to you doesn't mean it doesn't to others. I know people who have been personally working with covid positive patients in private settings so do not quality. My point isn't that it's not warranted, it's the disparity.

[YouDoYouHun]

Sorry, I mixed up responses to two separate posts then! That's what happens when positing at 3am!

[DisgruntledPelican]

Well, from a practical perspective, it would be difficult to administer a wider discount because there would not be any proof of eligibility for a lot of groups you’ve mentioned. Nhs staff have ID badges and blue light cards. Some other roles could have this, but it’s been a while since I worked in a supermarket but I never had anything official that could be taken as proof that I worked there.

I agree that many roles are disproportionately affected by the pandemic and there are other frontline workers who deserve a discount, but it’s not worth getting worked up over.

[HarveySchlumpfenburger]

[quote YouDoYouHun]@DifficultPifcultLemonDifficult it's not about not being happy for people it's the disparity. Like other posters have commented its effectively favouritism when others are working just as hard. I personally think that it should be equal and everyone be eligible or there be no discount at all. I don't think it's fair that a shop should decide whether you should receive a discount based on your employer alone. Its subjective. There could be an NHS worker who has worked in an office, not particularly been too affected, not been public facing yet a shop decides they should get 30% discount purely based on the fact the NHS pays their wages, yet someone in a supermarket [insert any other role] public facing, struggling, cannot receive a discount because the NHS doesn't employ them.[/quote]
But they aren’t really being given a discount because they’ve been affected. They’re being given a discount because the nhs employs loads of people and it gets people buying stuff off them.

If you are really desperate for the discount apply for a job in the nhs. There are plenty going.

[Onthelowdown]

NHS staff discounts offered
via the general mailing list would irritate me. Can’t get worked up about it otherwise

[NSt21]

Another thread ...

[Salty2020]

Wow, well you’ve created such a long post that you do sound quite bitter.

Why do you care so much? There has to be a line drawn somewhere... what do you expect, a list outside shops/on websites as long as your arm of people you deem deserving discount?

These companies would end up making no profit if all the professions that kept going during the pandemic were entitled to discount. Be realistic.

[TheSpottedDog]

I find the British obsession with fawning over NHS staff nauseating and tiring

[GreenSlide]

[quote YouDoYouHun]@GreenSlide did i say I begrudged NHS staff receiving a discount? No. I specifically said they deserve it. My point is so do others and it shouldn't be limited to just the NHS. It's not about the odd 10%. Some discounts are significant and just because 10% doesn't seem to matter to you doesn't mean it doesn't to others. I know people who have been personally working with covid positive patients in private settings so do not quality. My point isn't that it's not warranted, it's the disparity.[/quote]

I work for a charity earning barely above minimum wage, 10% discount would make a massive difference in my life. I've worked all through the pandemic, going out and about in an effort to help vulnerable families even at the height of the first lockdown when there was barely a soul on the streets. But I don't expect people in private companies to inexplicably know this and take my circumstances into account. My experience also doesn't equate with someone who works in a hospital, it just doesn't. They're scary places to be at the minute and supermarkets and regular workplaces do not compare.

You can't go through life thinking 'why should others get something if I can't' we all have to take our lumps and if someone decides to offer some help and support then that's a bonus. I'm glad that NHS staff are being given a bit of extra help. The staff who work in supermarkets usually get a staff discount anyway. Maybe the companies who provide home care should offer a discount card to their staff instead of just treating them like shit. But it's not up to companies to do so, they have a profit to make and can't be spending all day everyday updating their list of who gets discounts in case somebody decides it's unfair.

[waydownwego]

From a commercial perspective, businesses can't afford to discount for everyone. If they've decided to discount for NHS workers, so what? Sometimes businesses discount for university students only, and I can't access those discounts either.

It's not really workable to have a scheme where first you have to have proof of working for the NHS via a staff ID and then you have to explain exactly what you've done at work to feel traumatised lately. If some admin staff who aren't on the front line get included in all the discounts, I'm not going to get upset by that. By working for the NHS, they're already getting paid less than the private sector anyway.

YANBU to be irritated by receiving lot of offers that don't apply to you. YABU to want a general pandemic discount code - that's just a reduction in prices across the board.

[bloodyhairy]

YANBU.

[WitchesBritchesPumpkinPants]

Imagine being frontline staff & reading this. I'm sure they'd rather swap jobs with you.
Feel free to get a job in the NHS is you want a 10% discount in morrisons...