AIBU to ask if we’re really all in this together

[Hotair1234]

Ok, I fully accept I’m about to be totally berated and hated BUT just listen before you furiously type your reply.
Work in a power station and just finished 12 hour shift. Stopped at supermarket on way home as haven’t done shopping for couple of weeks and really want to get home to bed rather than go back out. Short queue, 15/20 mins, not a big deal in current climate, however as I got to the front of the queue someone walked right up to the front and said the to security guard that they were nhs and shouldn’t queue (yes I know dedicated opening hours - this was not within that) so the security guard just let them in.
Now I’m the first one to say nhs workers are great but by definition I am also a key worker and if me and my colleagues don’t go to work the lights don’t come on but I can still queue like everyone else so my AIBU is to ask that if we’re all In This together then In this unusual global incident is it not extremely dangerous to decide that one group of people are more important than another, that one group can queue for food but another doesn’t need to? Is that not the thin end of a very ugly wedge????!

I understood the nhs priority when stock was limited but tbh now I don’t truly agree with it, like you said there are other key workers/ shift workers.
The 20% off for nhs workers is nonsense to me too, they probably have the most secure income of anyone at the moment and would actually rather there was a discount for families that have lost their entire income.

I agree with you. I think the whole NHS thing is a bit ridiculous now. I could understand it when all the panic buying was going on etc but not now. People marching to the front of the queue just because they happen to work for the NHS ... nah

And I say that as an NHS nurse. I wait in the queue like everyone else. I’m not special.

I understand where you are coming from but the reason the NHS workers are being treated differently is because they are being exposed to the virus every day at work. It isn't about providing an essential service/being a keyworker, it's about repeated virus exposure increasing your risk of becoming infected and possibly dying, in order to treat the infected.

OP YANBU.

Exactly the same thing happened to me the other day. I queued for 25 minutes, and was near the front, when a NHS worker just walked up and was let in. I don't understand why they are deserving of different treatment to me, when i've spent almost all my Easter holidays looking after the children of key workers.

I should add That I know not everyone who works for the NHS is being exposed to the virus... And that is where it all falls apart a bit....

I don't know about this. When I was queuing for Tesco the other day a few people got let in without queuing. I would imagine they might let people 'on duty' skip the queue maybe? I'd expect people who are not under time constraints to queue.

I agree with you and I’m a nhs nurse. I do not use my pass to march to the front of the queue. We still get days off and shouldn’t get preferential treatment when lots of workers are still making the world turn.

I also agree that we don’t need the discount, it’d be better to reduce the cost of their products so all can benefit in tough times. Although my income is secure my husband is a high earner and furloughed, we will loose £100’s of pounds a month. Our outgoings reflect our income and the coming months will be tough.

But I totally agree with you, nhs staff do not need to be queue jumping!

Well so far 121 health and social care workers have died from covid in the UK. So no, no we are not "all in this together"; some 'keyworker' jobs have far more risk atm.

Though saying that I'm a nurse and queue like everybody else.

Same storm, different boats.

@Imstillskanking what does that have to do with getting into Tesco's a bit quicker?

If you practice social distancing effectively your viral load will be the same no matter when you go in the supermarket. That’s rubbish imo. The viral load I’m exposed to is far far higher at work.

Op, yadnbu

Correction: 129 health and social care workers have died in the UK now.

Most of us don't want queue jumping rights at Tesco, we want proper PPE!

Nope, I don't agree with it. Like others said, there are lots of key workers who put themselves at risk and they don't get given preferential treatment.

I know a couple of NHS workers who are most definitely not front line, some are part time or WFH and they are using this skipping the line crap to their advantage

I’m not aware of any policy which allows NHS staff to queue jump (aside from the early opening). I think that’s disgraceful from the individual and the employee probably felt unable to say no.

I thought those that went straight in do it because they are exposed to the virus a lot therefore less risk if they don’t que. other than that reason I’d agree

YANBU OP

A few of our local supermarkets have opened up the queue jumping to social care workers too.

DD jumps the queue while on duty as she has a limited time to pick up supplies for the person she is caring for but she waits in the queue when doing her own shopping.

I think it’s important to realise that not all NHS staff are saints. Yes, the collective effort is amazing, and people are doing brave and brilliant work but there are still bad apples. For example a family friend has been in ICU treated for covid, had her bag put away ‘safely’ on arrival in an ambulance and had £120 stolen from her purse during her 2 week stay!!

I agree with a pp, we're all in the same storm, not in the same boat. I think that is an excellent analogy. I had an email from one of the supermarkets saying nhs staff would not be required to queue, in recognition of the risk they are taking and the work they are doing. Tbh I cant get upset about that. If I have to wait a few more minutes to do my shopping, I'll take that over repeatedly exposing myself to a virus that could kill my asthmatic dh, seeing colleagues get sick and maybe die, as well as the immense pressure of caring for sick people during a pandemic.

Hotair1234 you have to work, but doctors/nurses have to deal with those who are sick and so are at greater risk.

For what it's worth I appreciate your work. I've been reminding the "full lockdown' supporters all along about those who keep the power, water etc flowing. Without power the hospitals couldn't do much so you're just as vital to the country.

@Bounceyflouncey

@Imstillskanking what does that have to do with getting into Tesco's a bit quicker?

I don't think it does have much to do with it. I was just highlighting why their position would be perceived as different to other key workers who aren't dealing with the infected on a daily basis. Sorry, I dont think I was very clear in my initial comment.

I actually find this whole "nhs heroes" stuff really hard to swallow. They are being called heroes because their working conditions are unacceptable, just as they have been for years. I think it's a lovely excuse for the government to not have to actually do anything. Stop telling people to call me a hero and start paying me properly and providing me with the equipment that I need to do my job safely. It's bollocks.

but doctors/nurses have to deal with those who are sick and so are at greater risk.

Not all NHS staff are doctors and nurses.

I agree OP, I work in the NHS and I don’t queue jump - I do get up early to go to Morrison’s 6am-7am NHS slot, but I don’t feel guilty about that. I do think it’s a shame that there can’t be separate times for everyone who is having to work and then times for everyone who isn’t and has all day to queue.

My local shop prioritises NHS, key workers and the vulnerable - people who find it hard to stand and queue for a length of time. I would and have let key workers in front of me, I don't think it should just be restricted to the NHS.
The way I see it is that they may be on their way to work, therefore not have as much time as me, on their way home (like you OP) and knackered, or on a precious day off. Either way I'm grateful to those keeping our essential services running, as well as the NHS and feel they should all be treated the same.

My friends who work for the NHS are cringing so badly at the fact they seem to have been martyred without even asking for it. They want PPE, not wankers clapping and bashing pans on their doorsteps once a week.

I bet the staff member you witnessed wasn’t even frontline NHS staff, just being a typical human taking advantage.