a self indulgent moan.

[wishiwasinbarbados]

Firstly, I don't want to take anything away from front line workers.
But it's getting to me now that they're being offered perks like free food.
Me and my husband work in the Theatre industry and have lost all our income overnight. I would like some free food too. I fact, I would like a job with the NHS. Actually, any job would be good right now.
There. I've said it.

Your situation sucks.
But im a single mother working 16 hour shifts on the front line saving people lives and not seeing my fucking kids. Free food would be lovely, if I had time to stop and eat it.

The Co-op is taking on temporary workers just in case this might help?

The general support for key workers seems to only include NHS front line staff, when it’s so much more than that in order to keep the country going on these unprecedented times. I am pleased that food production and distribution staff are getting a bit of recognition now, but sad that it had to take such a serious situation for this to get noticed. So many jobs and trades are essential to the smooth running of society, and a hell of a lot of them can’t work from home.

But YABU really. Health care staff are undertaking difficult and dangerous work at the best of times, and it’s getting worse now. They deserve all the support they get.

It doesn’t mean your situation isn’t crap too. I’m sorry.

I don't think you ABU and I'm really sorry about the loss of your work. Just because other people are going through their own stuff doesn't mean it's not shit for you. It's not a competition as to who has it the worst; we should feel compassion for everyone that has it hard at the moment. I hope things look up for you soon OP x

Welcome to the world of ICU, OP. No/expired/inadequate PPE and the fear of DCs losing one or both parents or bringing back virus and infecting elderly and at risk relatives due to no/expired/inadequate PPE. Let alone the under-50s HCPs on ventilators in the UK at the moment due to increased risks to front-line HCP staff who given their age and risk profile would otherwise not be at risk. To be fair, though, you did title your post a self-indulgent moan and I can see it's awful to have no job/income/risk losing materials things/homes.

'perks' REALLY

I think risking your life to save other people's and working very long and stressful shifts, a bit of free food is hardly much of a perk. Especially as they hardly have time to shop and source their own food while they are working so hard. We should all be fucking grateful

I know what you mean OP - my brother is in the music industry and has lost all his gigs for the next three months, and god knows what will happen to the festival season. He's frantically trying to line up other library work but it doesn't pay as much and there'll be a lag time on it - my DH and I have offered him whatever support he needs over the next few months which we're lucky to be in the position to give, but if this goes on for a year or longer we can't help, and he may have to give up a career he's worked so fucking hard for.

It doesn't mean that NHS staff don't deserve what they are being offered (and need more in terms of getting food supplies), but there needs to be so much more done to support self employed people and those who have lost jobs. Govt is just shrugging it's shoulders atm

Yeah, you're being self-indulgent and unreasonable. The free food is not a perk, it's part of the support infrastructure for essential workers who have to work long hours and have no chance to swan around preparing leisurely lunches or dinners. When they finish their work shifts they have no chance to buy food at the supermarket's because the shelves are empty.

PERKS?

As far as I can tell, shops like Pret and what have you are offering free food/drinks, not actually Bojo from his BMW.

I'm offering my skills as a seamstress to make face masks for frontline staff here in Spain. Offering my own time and resources for free. For NHS (equivalent). Not for builders or painters, or carpenters sanding wood. Should they be miffed, too?

Catch yourself on.

The free food and drink you mention isn't a perk. Both me and DH are emergency services. We go to work and come into contact with a lot of people. There's a pretty big chance at least one of us will be exposed to it. The nurses and doctors have an even higher risk of getting it. I don't think getting a free drink is too much for people that are literally saving people's lives and putting their own health at risk.

Whilst I understand and appreciate your upset about your own job loss OP, you couldn’t pay me any amount of money to be a front line NHS worker right now. My friend and her husband are both doctors, both working in terrible conditions without adequate protective clothing/equipment. They’re terrified of leaving their children parentless or passing the virus around their vulnerable relatives who may not survive it. Your situation is absolute shit but you aren’t carrying the weight of those things around and I don’t think a few free sandwiches are compensation for what they’re going through.

Are you not eligible for government help now new measures have been announced?

I totally agree with you, it’s a bit embarrassing, I am an nhs worker and I can’t buy essentials as there are none left, but all this free stuff is not actually real or what is needed (sorry to sound ungrateful) but largely media led. We are knackered and stressed but we are being paid which is more than can be said for many. I hope you get the help you need. Best advice is call Tesco, I understand they are recruiting. Best wishes

Nhs staff are the foot soldiers in this war and they deserve far much more than they are being offered

I want the nhs staff to be fed. Why not retrain!

I suspect pretty much all NHS frontline staff will catch it, some of them won't survive or perhaps their partner or DC won't when they take it home with them.

I cannot imagine what it must be like to have the choice of self isolation taken away.

Given NHS staff work shifts, why can't the supermarkets prioritise delivery slots instead of opening hours which they may not be able to get to. Presume they could check NHS staff number or something..., there are clever people about who could figure that out. Might be abused by small minority but the majority would then get what they need.

Perks? They're risking their lives being exposed to the virus, what kind of perk makes up for that . Supermarkets and Amazon are hiring.

And I don't consider what they're being offered a perk. It's a gesture of goodwill.

Hope your own situation improves. Best of luck.

Sorry to hear about your work. Your moan may be a wee bit self indulgent, but it’s natural to want to vent a bit in this scenario. Here in Oz, self indulgent moaning takes the form of not being able to go to the beach or clubbing on birthday type stuff. You have a real world issue. It hasn’t really hit Oz yet, not like the UK, so we are fairly fortunate.

So sorry about your situation, but agree... Free drinks and free food, is hardly a perk.
Being a nurse myself, I'm terrified for going to work, potentially bringing the virus back, I know I will probably be OK, but my immunocompromised DH may not be, neither my 18 month DS.

Tbh, I wish I didn't have to nurse and have this extra risk hanging over us!

I think the front line workers are doing their jobs really really well. I never said they weren't. Am I'm very grateful to them. Perk was the wrong word to use. I do think shops could somehow make sure there is food for them to buy. Maybe special online delivery slots?? I don't know.
No, we are not getting any help financially from the govt. We can delay our tax bill payments and apply for a loan from the bank.
We will be applying to Tesco's, but really wish the govt could secure some income for us too.

Yikes. No OP. This is not a great post. The front line staff are risking their lives every single day. They could DIE. But yes- You want to begrudge them food? Because idiots are stripping the shelves bare and they can’t get any food. They’re pulling 24 hour shifts, they are on their knees. Sorry - YAB very very very U.

I think your frustration is directed at the wrong place. It’s not front line workers’ ‘fault’ they are offered hospitality from these places, your frustration should be with your employer and your government for not giving you better security and support. Aim your anger up, not down or along.

Op I Am frontline nhs and a few of us were saying earlier we completely agree with you! Having access to food is really appreciated and makes a busy time a bit easier. All of the well wishes and offers are a lovely gesture and it's nice to get some recognition. But in a time when many families were already struggling it does seem like things could be directed a bit better and a bit more evenly.

your frustration should be with your employer and your government for not giving you better security and support. Aim your anger up, not down or along.

And a big yes to this when all this is over something has to be done about employee rights and support!

@elQuintoConyo Catch yourself on.

Sorry but what on earth does that mean?!