NHS workers getting to the front of the queue

[Whatevah]

Queuing for B&Q yesterday, about a 30 min queue. Lovely weather so nice to be out in the sun.
As I was at the front of the queue someone came up, asked if NHS could go straight in, guy said yes, and in they went.
I think it’s bloomin’ cheeky to go to the front of a queue just because you work for the NHS. There, I’ve said it. I’d never do it and think people who do are taking the p. There are plenty of discounts, offers, special hours and general public adoration being directed at the NHS. And it is deserved. But I think it takes a certain person to saunter to the front of the queue, and think it’s highly unfair on others. Especially as so many are working still, and don’t get this ‘perk’.
It really annoyed me.

Perks? For working for the nhs..would someone really go for a job in the nhs because of its (non existent) perks? I’ve yet to find any incentive for working 12 hour shifts and being treated like shit but heyho.

I’ve not used any of the nhs hours except for today I happened to be going to Tesco anyway and I’m working the next few days so it’s today or not at all and it’s nice to eat after a long shift apologies if anyone is upset by that. I would never waltz to the front of any queue or take free food though business needs to survive and giving away free food seems mental as we are all still being paid unlike a lot of other people. There will always be the few who take advantage though, or think they are special most of us just want our shopping as usual and to go home and rest after some stressful shifts

PTW

I don’t think anyone should be going to b&q...

Yeah. Better leave the broken toilet/leaky shower/dodgy socket as is eh.

I think it’s very cheeky for non frontline nhs staff. If non front line staff can queue jump then anyone still having to work should be able to. I know a few people working in the civil service who are working much longer hours and get no perks.
All the stuff about the entire nhs being heroes is actually just putting me off the nhs and wishing we could move to a German healthcare system

I don’t think I’d mind but have not witnessed this nhs badge thing much where I am. Sadly I do think public “sympathy” for NHS will start to wear ... it’s almost inevitable as we generally aren’t a society that “bigs up” one group over another. We’re more “why do they get that and I don’t” society I feel.

I do think maybe it should be a letter or something for those genuinely working frontline directly on Covid-19 wards? Lot of admin for nothing though. I don’t think wfh or furlough admin staff (like the dentist receptionist mentioned by pp) should get “perks” over say the military man also mentioned by another pp who is working long hours dealing with Covid response. Or over police or care home staff or numerous others. But you can’t realistically manage that so it’s easier for these shops to say “nhs” get xyz and cynically it’s not really because these shops care it’s so they maintain good PR.

I also don’t think all nhs staff are dealing directly with Covid-19 and are “risking their lives” anymore than a shop worker or a bin man or a police officer. Much much less so actually. Obviously many nhs staff are working horrid condition with sweat ppe (or worse no ppe) and seeing death daily. Nhs staff always see death but obviously not in this scale. This is a horrible time for those particular staff. But it is NOT the whole nhs dealing with those circumstances. Not every nhs staff is seeing death or is being horribly overworked. I think people need to stop overusing this “ALL nhs are dealing with Covid-19” as it’s not true (hence the media blitz to remind us all that we should be using nhs service when we need to and not ignoring symptoms).

Finally yes keyworkers going out into the general public ARE doing something others aren't and mixing with general public but there are levels of risk. They aren’t all “risking their lives”. Some are dealing directly with Covid patients, some are office based, some are dealing with general public. They are all exposed more than Joe Bloggs sitting at home but they aren’t all exposed to the same extent.

And finally, I wish people would stop assuming everyone that isn’t a key worker is sitting doing fuck all at home of 80-100% pay!!! Surely people realise others are working from home?!

No one is saying they are at “risk” but it doesn’t mean they all have hours free spare each day. For instance my partner works in an accountancy firm and is working from home. He’s not furloughed but he’s had to take a 15% salary reduction as the firm can’t afford to pay them otherwise and they aren’t getting enough income from clients (as had to agree reduced fees as their clients simply can’t pay them otherwise!) BUT he needs to work. This week he and all his colleagues have been working 12-16hr days including yesterday and today to process furlough claims for their clients. These businesses are pubs restaurants shops gyms spas hairdressers builders golf courses etc etc ie general businesses who have to furlough their staff. If my other half and his colleagues didn’t work long hours (for less pay than normal!) this week then these businesses wouldn’t get their govt furlough claims and would go bust and all their staff would be unemployed. No he’s not risking his health or exposure to Covid. He’s not risking anything compares to “frontline” workers. Definitely not but he’s going his bit in all this. He’s not seen his kids all week despite living in same small home because he’s locked away processing claims so businesses can survive and people can get their wages. And no just because he works for an accountancy firm doesn’t mean he’s on mega bucks. He’s low low down the pecking ordered and we’ll just be able to afford our bills and normal food this month which is all we can wish for currently. The higher up the chair the bigger their salary cuts were. They all working hard. None are sitting at home doing nothing. I wish people would consider the types of jobs where people are working from home are keeping country running too eg: payroll services are being done form home. This is why people are being paid their salaries still because the payroll staff are working at home! They aren’t sitting doing painting and crafts and yoga and Joe Wicks PE. Loads and loads and loads of people are WORKING.

But no they shouldn’t get to skip queues which is what this thread is about. They should go when they can and queue the same as a furlough family have to. NHS staff not in front line directly in Covid wards should be doing same. But then again...if perks are offered we’re in habit of taking them so why would nhs staff be any different? Is it human nature to take a perk if offered.

Having now read the pp’s friend being care worker having to go for supplies like incontinence pads queuing for ages on shifts whilst an off duty non-covid ward nhs worker can skip the queue and of appeals being ignored in favour of nhs nurse pamper packs .. it’s just so sad and heartbreaking. We’ve lost all sight on common sense and reality of other lives and genuine needs. Not for a minute saying nhs staff aren’t essential or shouldn’t be recognised but they’re all lots of others doing amazing work like care workers and that shouldn’t give overlooked either.

A young woman I know has just done two long shifts testing residents in nursing homes. I think a lot of people might prefer not to stand close to her in a queue. Although she would have showered and changed, it's a bit like discussion of nits making people itch.

You don’t know their circumstances so I wouldn’t judge. I’m an NHS midwife and i probably wouldn’t jump the queue either because apart from wearing PPE and being scared to death of catching this bloody thing my job itself hasn’t changed much and I have time on my days off to queue like everyone else. However, there are people in the NHS who are working much harder and longer than usual in really difficult circumstances and I wouldn’t begrudge them going to the front so they don’t waste their precious time off in a queue.

I went to the shops yesterday and they were letting people who could prove they were NHS workers go to the front.
Didn't even occur to me to get annoyed because I aren't NHS and had to queue, are people really that petty and wound up?

My nhs neighbour wfh. I am jealous she still gets grocery deliver to her every week!

I too work for the NHS. I’ve just finished a few weeks in Covid ICU doing nights.

So you just posted to suggest you are a better person because you waited in line? Surely you, of all people, what with being frontline staff would have w basic understanding that all circumstances are not the same? Rather than judging yourself as the better person maybe just take a tiny minute to consider that person may not have finished their few weeks of nights (it had to be nights didn't it) and that possibly they are really short on time and therefore it was justified.

This oneupmanship is something you don't really expect from frontline NHS staff.

I’ve nearly wept with gratitude for some of the concessions such as the NHS early shopping slot.

When things kicked off I was working crazy hours as a senior nurse redesigning our service. DH is shielding and cant leave the house, I’m having to keep the house spotless, am constantly washing uniforms and towels, can’t have him handling anything like that.

When all the panic-buying set in i was worried sick when I saw the queues at the shops. The first time I used the early morning NHS slot at Sainsbury’s I nearly turned round when I saw the queue until I saw someone walk past the queue, show her NHS badge and go in which gave me the courage to do it.

Yes, it was my day off and I could have queued for an hour but I have precious little time with DH, even though we can’t be in the same room as my job means I am unable to practice stringent social distancing.

Things have calmed down a little but I’m still working way over my usual hours and am dead on my feet when I return.

I skipped the queue in Aldi for the first time last week and the guy at the door, checking my badge told me I deserved it when he saw my job title.

I was a bit when in a Teams Meeting I heard the part- time working from home (with a furloughed partner) HR manager saying she’d been in the NHS-only slot but it’s been a god-send to me.

I’m aware some people will hate me and many will judge but I’m very grateful for something that’s made my life a little more bearable.

As I've already said, I'm a bit 'front-line' and 'Covid facing' but my longest shift is 8 hours, and I work 3-4 shifts a week, thus have the time to stand in a queue.

I would prefer the CEO's PA not to wave her badge to skip in front of me, but if her doing so encourages people like sauvignon to use the perk, I'm 100% OK with that.

I am also grateful for people like Penguin's DH keeping the cogs oiled.

My only issue is it should be rolled out to other front line workers. My husband is a frontline worker but not in the nhs he faces daily risk of being infected etc whilst protecting the country from harm. It would just be nice to recognise all those who are at risk.

My mate's a dustcart driver. He's working 12 hour shifts starting at 4am and shares the cab daily with several other people without any PPE. Many of his clients sre hospitals. What about people like him?

I'm a supermarket worker, so apparently a key worker (never thought I'd be classed as that when I started the job several years ago).
At the branch where I work, we're not allowed to queue jump/ let ourselves in/ go round the back to the delivery door, our manager has said no. The only time we walk straight in is when we're working obviously, and even then we're not allowed to get shopping before we start, unless we've queued up with everyone first. I'm fine with that, also fine about NHS getting in before me.

NHS here, have been front line, but have only used my id once due to finishing a 10 hour shift with a 30 min break all day, I was buying for my isolated parents, and as the only person who can get them food really appreciated this perk. It does annoy me though that there still seems to be loads of people there queuing, surely Fridays and the weekend can't still be the main time for everyone to get their shopping? I've seen people queuing who I know for a fact are not working or furloughed, they can surely go in the middle of the day not the end of shift times of a working day? I wouldn't use my badge on my days off though, it just seems cheeky and un-necessary. As for all the adulation it needs to just stop, yep, we're working hard, but not all on the front line and a lot of wards shut. The NHS has loads of policies that benefit the employee, staff who are off due to shielding , over 70 etc get their full wage and enhancements, then will return to work when it's all over to colleagues who have been working their arses off, I know loads of staff who feel resentful because of this. We know the colleagues/mates who are busting a gut and bloody love them for doing it, however there's lots of donations coming in of food, doughnuts, flowers etc, the scrum of people racing to get them is undignified and cringeworthy, if people wish to donate there are plenty of charities suffering now that could do with the cash instead?We work for a great organisation that is at risk of tall flower syndrome, built up and then will be pulled down because of all the reporting in the papers and the Thursday clap, can't wait for Covid 19 to go away :(

It makes me sad that people are so quick to turn on the NHS workers once again, particularly with the current situation.

I am a GP and also work in a&e and for 111 and am doing >70h weeks at the moment. Still I have not once used my NHS badge to pass to the front of the queue, as my husband is WFH, and we are able to plan our grocery shopping around my/his work.

However I would not begrudge anyone using their badge as you don’t know that person’s circumstance. Please try to have some compassion for the people who will be caring for you with empathy and kindness if you catch coronavirus, or get sick in any other way.

NHS workers have been scum of the earth according to the tabloids the past few years, please don’t begrudge the small window of goodwill towards us - clearly it won’t last much longer.

And if you do work in ICU (I don’t believe for a minute that you are doing anything involving caring for others given your quick judgement and scorn) then please feel free to jump in front of me on the days you do need to. All the best to you, and I hope you manage to get some rest and recover with a nicer outlook on life, and faith in those working hard around you.

If that’s your biggest current worry OP then you’re pretty lucky.

They work blooming hard, leave them alone. I assume you (and they) were at B&Q for urgent plumbing or building supplies?

@Thedot90 sums it up totally.

It's going a bit far in terms of 'perks' and some if it doesn't even make sense.

I work in the NHS but not frontline and currently WFH (and now fucked financially as was about to increase my hours pre-lockdown and that's now gone out of the window).

I wouldn't use NHS supermarket hours or push to the front of a queue as a) I don't need to and it would be taking the piss.

Some of the discount offers i've been sent make sense, some less so and some are ridiculous IMO.

Discounts in shops, supermarkets and for takeaways (including 50% in Hotel Chocolat!). Unlimited mobile 'phone data for 6 mths (why?), free spectacles, free Gilette razors. Loads of stuff. Can be claimed by ALL NHS staff, not just frontline. It usually just requires an NHS.net email address.

My best friend is a modern matron on a very hefty salary and telling me she's saving a fortune due to all the donated takeaways and food at her hospital. Much of which gets chucked away as there's so much of it. She can well afford to buy her own food and admits that, nor is she busy currently. A care home or supermarket worker probably needs it more.

Discounted travel to work, discounted water bills if washing uniforms, headspace app for meditation, Air BnBs ..fair enough. But it's gone a bit bizarre IMO.

@ChinnyReckon123 it would nice if it was extended to care home workers, most of whom are on minimum wage and have been stitched up more than anyone.

I am a receptionist for the NHS I wouldnt use any of the perks it feels totally wrong for me to do that I dont work full time and I feel it should be used by people on the front line. My friend is a part time nurse shes doing 70 hour weeks looking after sick patients I feel this is who all the benifits should be for.

It takes a certain type of personality to take advantage of this situation. I too work for the NHS, not currently frontline but normally would be. I wouldn't be able to jump the que like this but I know plenty (including admin background staff) that would.

Pre-corona virus I went into a shop in uniform before my shift to pick up some lunch. The cashier saw the uniform (ambulance) and make a song and dance about me going ahead because I was clearly on call, I had to explain I was in my own car at the time and was really embarrassed. I haven't been in a shop in uniform since

@chinnyreckon123 I understand that you choose not to accept or use these offers, but why is it upsetting you that a company want to sell Easter eggs half price to NHS staff? Is it coming out of your wages? Are gilette asking for a bail out from the government so they can provide free razor blades? I highly doubt it. There may also be a marketing strategy behind this - how many grateful nurses this year will order from hotel chocolate next Easter?

I think people need to focus more on themselves and less about what other people should and shouldn’t be allowed to do, particularly if it is not harming anyone. As someone pointed out before there is an attitude that no one should be allowed to have something if they are not having it (dog in the manger from Aesop’s fables anyone? “Do not grudge others what you cannot have yourself”).

Unlimited data has been a godsend to me as I am doing a lot of video consulting which works best through my iPhone, and the WiFi at my practice is too slow to handle the programme. So please don’t be so negative because you are unable to think outside the box.

"A acquaintance of mine has always enjoyed the NHS perks and it was one of the reasons she applied for the job." What? There were perks before the virus? What were they?