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.

My friend told me she can get a McDonald's meal for £2 as she works for NHS. That's good compared to £4.79

Meanwhile people struggling to survive on low incomes are demonised as supposedly having brought their poverty on themselves, and therefore being undeserving of help.

Aren't we lovely.

All local government workers can apply for the CSSC card. We have saved hundreds literally on admission to places like Hampton Court Palace, Kensington Palace etc. It costs £3.95 a week.

MrsPatmore I think you mean £3.95 a month. That’s what I pay anyway.

i have just done shopping at places mentioned here, god dam it i Never think of using my nhs card.
thanks to this thread have just applied for a Spree card.

In the private sector the only reason I’ve had any pay rises over the past 6 years is because I’ve moved job. The one time I got an increment it turned out to be non consolidated so wasn’t A pay rise.

I don’t understand why public sector discounts exist- they’re not more worthy professions or any more skint than anyone else.

In our household we get military and student discounts. Living in a military city we get 10-20% off lots of things, mainly eating out. Some places do 40%! If anybody is jealous they can get a 17k a year band 2 job in the NHS to get their 10% discount at Starbucks...

When I worked for an airline I got heavily discounted travel and 10% off airport eateries.

When I worked for a bank I got free private healthcare, a bonus and a subsidised cafe.

When I worked in a shop I got a 50% discount.

My brother in law works for a car company. They get cheap cars as a perk.

In the US the military get the same discounts plus if you are a veteran (your service included combat) you are entitled to more discounts including reduced road tax.

The CSSC card is fantastic value for money and is available to all public sector workers (inc local govt).
It also includes tastecard membership which we use a lot.
And DP gets a lot of other discounts with his MOD card. It does make a good difference to how far our salaries stretch

I also use the gym at pool on the base for free as I have a dependant’s pass!

Most jobs have some sort of perk or discounts, it’s not just the public sector! I’m doing an adult evening course at a local FE college at the moment. 3.5 hours a week and that entitles me to a student discount - Paperchase is doing 20% off at the moment.

i read a similar post on facebook, and it had to be taken down due to the sour pusses, sour grapes attitude. jealousy is ugly

Anyone can join health service discounts online.

I’m not jealous, I’m just baffled! Student discounts make sense as more often than not they’re on low incomes - I know this doesn’t always follow, but that’s the thinking behind it.

Where discounts are negotiated by employers, fair enough, I understand that. But I find blanket discounts based on working in the public sector bizarre!

That cssc card looks great. Thanks for that. I got a great deal on a new car with an nhs discount. Plus free upgrade in room at holiday inn (through health services discount).

DH is a police officer and not really a civil servant. He's a crown servant. He has a blue light and another military defence card and does get discounts in lots of places.

He hasn't had a pay rise for years and his pension goes down in value all the time. Yet he still pays 15% into it. Instead of a race to the bottom and ridiculous comparisons, if you don't like the private sector, campaign for change or get out. DH's force is recruiting right now.

I can get discounts but don't bother as most are for places I don't shop .It us probably worth it in cities though as at least all the discounts then possible.
I almost used it to get a discount on airport parking but a brief Google of best prices reflagged up cheaper for the same.

it's just a way to attract business - if the NHS is the biggest employer in the UK then offering a discount to attract them to your shop or service makes sense. Nothing to do with them being 'worthy', it's really no different to the discounts I can use that are offered to the huge IT company I work for.

People that moan about such things need to feck off, it's no skin off their noses if a shop offers a nurse/police officer/cleaner/whatever a few quid off.

My friend is private sector and gets private healthcare, a free gym membership and travel. Arguably better than 10% in Starbucks!

Yes showofhands, but that’s provided by the employer not the business, although there will be agreements etc.

If they’re that desperate to attract business drop the prices surely

In the private sector plenty of businesses have only introduced pension schemes since it became obligatory. Public service ones may mean paying in more, but there’s also a better employers contribution.

It’s not a race to the bottom - just an acknowledgment that since the recession pay rises, interest rates etc have been pretty dire no matter what sector you’re in.

Just sounds like YOU work for a stingy employer honestly.

Even NHS students (nursing etc) can get NHS discount, which is higher than student discount. Armed forces staff too. Just depends on the company/business offering the discount.

Even when I worked in retail, I was eligible for discount at all the shops and restaurants at Westfield London (where I worked) and Stratford. I was even eligible for discounts on phone contacts/broadband etc with Vodafone and EE because of the company that I worked for being enrolled in their corporate discount schemes. These benefits weren’t part of my contract at all (I was given staff discount at my company and the brands of the parent company.)

My current employer has their own corporate benefits too.

Also I assume that police officers, medical emergency staff and fire emergency staff probably get offered free drinks/food when they’re served on call. I know Pret staff can give out free food/drinks when they like

How do you find the discounts?!?!

Both of us are public sector. Is it worth getting a cssc card for each of us? Or does the discount stretch across family members?
Never knew we could get discounts!

its Not about the employer being stingy - I’m not talking about ones that the employer pays for - I’m talking about ones where a business has a blanket policy on public sector discounts.

I get a few discounts through professional membership - because I pay for it and the institute has negotiated/sought the discounts. That’s not the same thing as a blanket “you do xyZ so have a discount”.

@funsponges it hasn't sold out....only the Sunday has. There's still tickets for the Saturday. All the hotel rooms have sold out though

When I worked for NHS I got 30% off at Nando's and 50% at dominos pizza. Just told them when ordering I was NhS and showed my hospital ID card.