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Original poster

What perks did you have because of your parents job?

249 replies

SanFranBear · 24/08/2021 22:47

My dad worked in Air Traffic Control and finished his career working at Heathrow. I was lucky enough to go on several visits to the top of the tower and see the incredible work that happens there... the radar screens, the dishes out on the roof and the best view of planes taking off in the airport. I cannot imagine that this would be allowed today (it was 30 odd years ago when I visited) and it was a genuine treat!

My mum managed a dry cleaners which was ace as it meant I could buy whatever really - most of my friend weren't allowed dry-clean only clothes Grin

What sort of perks or treats did you get because of the jobs your parents had?

OP posts:
Toothmouse · 25/08/2021 10:42

My DF was a diplomat so I got to travel around a couple of times in a black limousine with a little flag flying on the front, and stayed at two embassies as a child. I had a diplomatic passport at the time but after he retired I got got an ordinary UK one.

He worked at the London High Commission for a time, which was near Oxford street, so my sister and I would go up to the West End to look at the shops and drop in for a cup of tea, or I would sit in his office and look up stuff in the encyclopaedias there.

He hated people abusing diplomatic immunity, and he when he worked in London was often summonsed (Foreign Office?) to hear complaints about his colleagues (mainly traffic offences or bringing in ‘stuff’ in the diplomatic bag).

Independence Day meant dressing up and a party - good times!

Childminder · 25/08/2021 10:57

SanFranBear one of our perks when he was at LGW was all summer passes, all areas for Hickstead horse show as Douglas Bunn used to fly his helicopters in an out. The riders of the day used to let us hold the reins of their horses and hang around the stables, writing great things in out autograph books!

My father is still with us in person but not in mind, sadly he has advanced Alzheimer's but you can still magic up a smile reading him aviation magazines and pictures from his RAF days.

BoredZelda · 25/08/2021 11:04

Paid half price for most of the stuff for my wedding because my dad knows everybody in the area and pulled in some favours.

Got a part time office job when I was a teenager/student at every place my mum worked. Much better than having to do a paper round or bar work.

AtPanAtPan · 25/08/2021 11:15

Dad worked at two well known chocolate factories when my sister and me were 11 and 13 - it was as good as it sounds. I recall an industrial type of black bin liner thing filled with chocolate that we had to chip blocks off. Also boxes and boxes of inside out double deckers that were a nightmare to get the wrappers off, they also couldn’t sell anything where the best before date had been printed offset from the specific white box on the wrapper so we got tonnes of bars of chocolate where that had happened. Was fantastic!

Greyrootszerohoots · 25/08/2021 11:31

My parents always had quite naff jobs, but I do remember my dad doing a health and safety course at the foxes biscuit factory and bringing home a huge box with every type and flavour they have. Probably the most memorable childhood memory I have!

Oblomov21 · 25/08/2021 11:34

My dad was a lecturer in the navy so we used to go to Plymouth and Cornwall bases on a Sunday and have a roast lunch. It was the best thing ever. And a pudding.

My mum was a primary school teacher, so no benefits as such.

Some of these sound amazing. The cruising to Malaysia and Japan for eg.

weebarra · 25/08/2021 11:45

My dad was a GP so as a PP said, lots of pens, folders and various stuff from drug reps. Also got my first job in his surgery which was very well paid as a Saturday job.
He also did some work for different universities and because mum was working, I got to go with him on a two week trip to Singapore which was brilliant.
My mum was the head teacher of a asn school so I got work experience there and also developed an awareness of ASN which I am privileged to have.

MynahBird · 25/08/2021 11:51

My dad was a heart surgeon who did heart transplants. As you may imagine, patients are fairly grateful to have their life saved or be given a new heart, so we got some cracker gifts and perks over the years. Dad got lots and lots of wine and whiskey, but we also had various trips to fun places that were owned by patients. One patient had a gorgeous island (yes, the whole thing) somewhere warm and picturesque. He flew our whole family over on his tiny little propellor plane and we had the most special week. Lots of drug company gifts like all the pens and notepads, but as he did valve replacements we used to get synthetic heart valves to play with after reps had given them to dad and his colleagues. I can still remember what they feel like.

GnomeOrMistAndIceGuy · 25/08/2021 11:57

My dad was a farmer and I remember having love, creamy unpasteurised milk as a child - it was gorgeous!
Mum was a caterer with some high profile clients. As well as getting to sit and watch her cooking, she used to bring home leftovers of delicious dishes. She is a brilliant cook actually!

Cati482 · 25/08/2021 11:58

My Dad worked for British Airways. He used to get a number of free flights for himself and family every year and then heavily discounted tickets once the free flights were used up. We used to go to Florida every year, looking back now I realise how incredibly lucky we’re were!

WTFisNext · 25/08/2021 12:15

Free bus pass - a lifeline living in the middle of nowhere when the bus fare to the local town was in excess of £5.

Free boxes of broken biscuits - all sorts of randoms in there but a biscuit is a biscuit when you're a kid...even if it's broken in half Grin

ItsSunnyOutside · 25/08/2021 12:33

My dad was a mechanic in his youth so still get my car fixed for free. Later on my dad worked on the trains so we got free train fares! I didn't learn to drive till I was nearly 27 as I would just get trains everywhere.

My dm volunteered at a local charity shop so we would always get 1st dibs on the good stuff, books, shoes etc.
Dm also ran arts and craft classes for years so we would often get lots of the old paints/chalk/pens/paper/glue/feathers/flowers/sequins etc. It was brilliant! We always had bits and bobs all over the kitchen table from doing our own creations!

AnneElliott · 25/08/2021 12:41

Mum worked for Mark's and Spencer and would bring home food that was going out of date - often for very little money.

Christmas was amazing - she used to come home with a trolley full for about £10! I worked there too while at Uni and that's how we survived and managed to eat well. It did mean eating odd stuff together but it was a great perk.

regthetabbycat · 25/08/2021 12:41

Parents nothing.

Family friend worked a printers who made chocolate boxes. Endless supply of card, paper, glue and ribbon!

Thesearmsofmine · 25/08/2021 12:42

My dad worked in the film industry. I used to go and see some films before they came out. He also got tickets to awards shows etc, I was desperate to go to The Brits but by the time I had got to an age where I could go he had retired.

My mum did various jobs. When I was tiny she worked for a music company who had visits from well known pop stars at the time, I got to meet Cliff Richard once 😂 As I got older she worked for a stationery company and used to being al sorts home with her.

Hemingwaycat · 25/08/2021 12:42

Free haircuts.

WhereDoesThisToiletGo · 25/08/2021 12:45

Unlimited fruit and veg.

HerRoyalNotness · 25/08/2021 12:45

Mum worked for a fruit wholesaler so we had fruit and juices coming out of our ears.
Dad painter and decorator and side job mechanic so we have had help with fixing cars and decorating over the years. He didn’t much like decorating our own house unless mum did the prep work, then he couldn’t stand it unfinished and would do it.
One uncle worked in trucking and used to give us chocolates
Family were farmers, we’d get lamb and such for the freezer

YanTanTethera123 · 25/08/2021 12:45

Dad had free access to the company sports club so free tennis, badminton, squash etc
I don’t remember anything else. Mum was a stay at home mother.
I would get free pens etc from reps as a DN (that’s no longer allowed) so DCs benefited a little.
As farmers free unpasteurised milk, ponies for dd, both DCs became proficient at clay pigeon and target shooting.

pollylocketpickedapocket · 25/08/2021 12:47

My dad was a joiner so all diy done free. Flooring, kitchen fitted everything. And anything he couldn’t do, plumbing, decorating etc, he had someone to do it cheaply.

babouchette · 25/08/2021 12:49

One of my parents was a high ranking civil servant (now retired) so I grew up going in and out of some of the UK's most famous and beautiful government buildings.

That is it though - not so much as a free biro when you're a civil servant! Grin

pollylocketpickedapocket · 25/08/2021 12:49

@WTFisNext

Free bus pass - a lifeline living in the middle of nowhere when the bus fare to the local town was in excess of £5.

Free boxes of broken biscuits - all sorts of randoms in there but a biscuit is a biscuit when you're a kid...even if it's broken in half Grin

That’s reminded me, a friends mum worked for mcvities, never ending penguins!!
runwithme · 25/08/2021 12:49

Free travel in London until 15 and then baby advice as an adult!

youvemademyshitlist · 25/08/2021 12:51

My mum worked for a chocolate company. We had so much free chocolate, it was brilliant.

crumpet · 25/08/2021 12:52

@Scautish we used to love the computer paper - plain on one side with the green lines on the other

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