Discounts for public service employees

[Doonewanker]

Had a fb message earlier today saying that my kid's swimming teacher would be giving discounted prices for his swimming lessons for kids of police officers.

(Don't know what level of discount.)

He said that he hoped that in time he'd be able to extend this discount to NHS workers too.

I'm neither.

I understand police/BHS workers' job are fucking tough and that the annual pay increase is abominable. Along with questionable pensions, benefits compared to the past etc.

Is this a new thing? Do we now normally discount for public sector employees?

Not goady - not particularly bothered either way but genuinally want views.

He's on a public fb page. Noticed he's had at least 20 messages today from non clients saying they'd like to take up his offer. Great business advertising if nothing else!

What you think? Sorry if done before.

we get in free or heavily discounted just by having 2 disabled kids and 2 adult carers or being home ed

every where we go that we have to pay i always ask and have never been told no

I have the blue light discount card and the defence discount service card, I think they cost a fiver each but money well sent considering how much I've saved over the years.

Don’t the police get Nando’s discount & free TFL travel?

One of the reasons I recently took a public sector job was the 15% pension countribution.

We get onsite gym membership, you just have to join cssc Civil
ServiceSports and Leisure. The good thing it isn't classed as benefit in kind to use the gym so I get yoga, spinning, weights, etc for nothing.

Public sector get discounts because a lot of companies are willing to give big % discounts for such a large number of workers. It's an easy in-road for them into a large chunk of the market.

Didn't notice anyone else mention it, NHS staff get 10% off at Co-op stores, as do students with an NUS Extra card.

I suspect this is mainly to do with the sheer number of people the businesses offering the discount can attract, rather than anything to do with particular groups deserving it. I've worked in both private sector and been a civil servant and found discounts offered were similar for both, but not often widely advertised. It's often worth just asking.

I work in education and there's a council worker benefit card. However, it offers only modest discounts on things such as eating out and "proper" salon haircuts, and I can't afford either even with the discounts. I have to cut my own hair or go to the unisex barbers who cut it for less than £20.

Similarly, council HQ gym would be free to use, but it's mobbed out of standard working hours, far out of my way and charges for parking.

That is all before the fact that I commute an hour to the city I work in, so have no use for discounts there, as I cannot afford to live there in the first place. I'd much rather the pay was better

Salary scales and pensions in the public sector are better than in private

I wish! I can't remember the last time I had a decent pay rise: 1% and we were grateful because we're still on practically the same salary as 6 years ago.

The conditions are good, the pension is good, but the salary is often not good: I'm poorly paid for the level of responsibility my role has.

How is that fair? My sis and BIL both work for the NHS and they earn megabucks!

Has been common for years.

Boots used to do an evening opening in December only for NHS staff. When I lived in Oxford the Grand theatre gave discounts.

I was in a pub recently and two people got discounts for showing army ID.

When I worked at Preston Royal hospital the canteen had two sets of prices, cheaper for employees.

Salary scales and pensions in the public sector are better than in private

When I went from NHS to private my salary jumped £4k, that was in the 1990s. The pension wasn't as good though.

Re. Pay: I would have to wait for several years to get any kind of meaningful rise in my pay scale. Whereas in the private sector I could negotiate for a significant rise right now. I would be likely to get one, too, as I, in my role, am pioneering, unusually specialised and have a fair bit of responsibility. The job is very satisfying and I love the school I work in, but will have to look at it as being a mere stepping stone for a new job next autumn. Otherwise, at this rate, I will never even begin to chip away at my overdraft or credit card! So, screw the measly discounts, working in the public sector below managerial level is IMO financially not worth it!

I get work perks where I’m employed, so can get 10-15% of prepaid cards for shops. Holidays and cinema

Oh and gym membership locally we get 10% for some clubs

pages.perkbox.com/join-ps2.html?utm_expid=171256615-22.7F34o6YcSaedDJe6eIhTxA.1&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=gg_1-work%20perks.e&utm_campaign=Gen_(E)_Work-Perks&km_source=gg_1-work%20perks.e&_bt=251116616298&_bk=work%20perks&_bm=e&_bn=g&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI7qC-xvjN3QIVh7_tCh0_ygxPEAAYASAAEgLBwPD_BwE&utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F it’s similar to this

Any company can join up not just public sector

Discounts by Apple are an insult, even in private sector. 5% discount on an iPad is measly, not worth getting out of my PJs for, and that was in private sector FTSE company that purchased significant volumes of iPads for employee work use. Why they couldn't give a decent discount to people for private use is a mystery

CSSC and some unions and I think the NHS card/military have a discount scheme for gift cards. Not just fancy ones either. Most supermarkets get 4 or 5% , DIY stores , PC world, Halfords sometimes 8 or 9%. It is a pfaff as you have to buy the card and top it up via the associated company then use card in store, but the discount on the supermarkets makes it worthwhile.
Also get 10% on patisserie Valerie when showing the card, so get my motorway services tea/coffee there as far better than Costa or Starbucks imo and no queue.

Yes nhs workers get discount at Nando's

My mum works in a prison and also has a blue light card. It's like students and their NUS cars. I'm sure there's and equivalent for the NHS

Volunteers have the opportunity to earn well outside of their volunteering, so don't necessarily get the discount. Highly paid NHS workers could well earn considerably more in the private sector and not benefit anyone, so do receive it.

I find it frustrating. I work for a charity which supports NHS patients and we have to work and support the patients, it's an extremely stressful role with a high turnover of staff. BUT we are not entitled to any benefits etc.

My husbands a teacher for a school still under LA control and we get 15% off at Vodafone

I don’t think any of these discounts are altruistic ie: the providers think that you fo such a good job in poor circumstances for low pay, that you deserve a break. It’s because the NHS/emergency services/Civil Service etc employ so many people that they can negotiate a “bulk buy” discount.

I am a member of Unison, two professional bodies, I am a Cub leader and I use childcare vouchers. I get discounts in various shops through all those organisations, as well as being a public employee.

Highly paid NHS workers could well earn considerably more in the private sector and not benefit anyone, so do receive it.

I don’t buy this at all if we talking middle manager style jobs as opposed to docs, nurses. There is so much waste & inefficiency in procurement, IT, admin etc. They may well have the chance to earn more in the private sector but the ability? I’m not so sure.

I’m a teacher in an academy. We don’t get anything.

Long list of where & how much discount (NHS).

I am thinking about applying for NHS job but I almost never shop at any of these places so the discount scheme doesn't seem important.

In lreland teachers get discounts at various stores/ hotels etc if carrying a special union discount card but to honest l have never remembered to use it as you would need to carry the list at all times. Must pay more attention to it.

How is that fair?

Nothing to stop you from applying for a job in the NHS.