Reality check on the hysteria surrounding key workers

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I know we are going through an unprecedented situation where only some people’s work is needed to be done to keep us going, hence key workers are being praised and thanked - rightly.
However, to think that somehow jobs done by key workers are more valuable than others, is just hysterical and la la land, right? Most are only able to stay at home right now because of those who drive the economy, i.e not key workers. Without the corporate sector, finance, banks, tech and leisure and entertainment bringing billions into the country every year, there would be no key workers, no NHS. And this will be a super controversial view, but how can we compare the value of a super market workers contribution to those that create wealth. My husband is a super market worker and I am a key worker too, I just do not get the irrational hysteria.
Only in rich countries, do people have this privilege of trashing wealth creators because they have a silent minority creating value to keep public services running. Like it or not, warm words or clapping on a Thursday night does not buy ventilators, build hospitals, fund R&D, create tech advancement, pay for teachers, keep food prices low as they are in the western world or fund 80% of wages paid during this crisis.

@Bloomburger Boohoo for your husband. I'm sure he is more than amply rewarded for his 14 hours looking at a trading screen. And people like health care assistants and care workers on minimum wage working 14 hours don't deserve reward and recognition?

I don't think bankers have missed out, I'm
Saying that I've had people say that his is not a key worker job and his contribution is not important which I think is unfair because it's based on the fact that he isn't badly paid.

I'm not saying either that what is happening to students is fair or right, I don't understand the pressure they will be under or the far reaching effects but I have also not said at all that anyone in the NHS or any low paid worker shouldn't be applauded or rewarded.

Every key worker is making a valuable contribution, some more than others but it's not fair to to dismiss someone's contribution based on how much they earn.

Ds1 is still working for a bank. Dh and I are also key workers. Non of us can wfh.

@Rosehip10 would you like to point out where I said anyone shouldn't be applauded? I haven't at all.

To say he was staring at a screen for 14 hours is really not explaining well what his responsibilities are.

@Bloomburger You are trying to make out that investment bankers/fund managers etc are some sort of heroes..... I mean we should all be admiring neil woodford hey?

Also offensive is the moaning from people in the city about the PRA restricting bonuses for bank staff - all in it together......

@Rosehip10 no I'm not at all.

Where do locksmiths fit into this debate?

Nurses won’t pay back their student loans. Most won’t earn anywhere near enough. They are not impacted much by student loans at all. 50% of grads don’t pay back the loans.

Of course we need all workers and it’s important the banks keep going. So the people that work in them are part of the network we need. We are interdependent.

The majority of deaths are the elderly. They have already had pensions. The majority of us will want our pensions. Nurse pensions are worth having. Doctor pensions even more so. The tax payers pay a lot towards these. This is why everyone should be valued. Companies making money benefits everyone. They pay tax. Their employees pay tax. They support the NHS by doing do.

When I clap for keyworkers, I am clapping and thanking everyone who has to go out and risk their health to keep us all safe and fed etc. If your DH is in an essential customer facing role, putting his health at risk due to the constant close exposure to people, then of course I am clapping for him Bloomberger!

If he is sitting in his own office staring at a screen all day, then he is just continuing to the job he is well paid for, he isn't at any risk, so why would he be considered to be in the same category as the shop staff, bus drivers etc? I really don't understand why this is even a thing. Why cannot we not praise frontline staff without feeling bad at causing offence to people who are still working but not frontline?

I'm probably going to get flamed to death for this but I can kind of see what the OP is getting at.

For reference, my mum is on the frontline and not far from minimum wage and I have the utmost respect for her and I'm terrified every time she goes to work.

I'm a member of a certain Facebook group and at the moment I see a lot of posts celebrating low paid key workers but at the same time putting down others who drive certain cars who are perceived to be stuck up.

Here is a copy and paste of the post that pissed me off most recently:

^Are you going to work? Just have a look down the street as you do! See that Audi owned by that woman who looks down her nose at you because you’re in a carers uniform? Or that guy in the Range Rover who lords it up thinking he’s better than you when he sees you work at Asda? You’ll see their car is still on the drive! You know why? Because they’re not essential!!!

They NEED you!^

I can obviously see what he's getting at with it but It's quite a generalisation. I drive an Audi and in no way a stuck up snob.

I WFH but also classed as a key worker. I distribute medicines globally. Delivering drugs to hospitals, charities and wholesalers, in the UK and internationally. All from my little laptop whilst wrangling a 3 year old.

Just because I'm in a well paid job, it doesn't mean I look down on people who aren't. I know others might but there are wankers in all walks of life.