'I'm a key worker' is the most overused phrase atm

[Imakeyworker]

Like a badge of honour. I heard one woman say it to 3 different people in a shop yesterday.

Technically I am a key worker.

Should I be letting everyone know about it?

[melj1213]

When lockdown first started , on our local Facebook group this woman said 'Are there any garages open who could change my car tyre? I'm a keyworker and need my car for my work'.
Cue, a competition of people offering her FREE tyres and repairs as she's a 'key worker'.

That isnt the woman's fault though.

There are contexts where using the phrase is necessary, I would say this is one of them.

The woman needed her car for work, she needed a new tyre and presumably couldn't get to work/do her job without her car so it was a necessary request. Many companies shut down immediately and, in my area at least, that included garages except for a handful that were remaining open for emergency repairs for key workers only.

If you don't know who is open, most people use FB to reach out for personal recommendations etc and to assuage the slew of people saying "it's not a priority" the woman used one phrase "I'm a keyworker" to put her request into the context of a need instead of a want, and the fact it needed to be done asap.

My brother's car needed a couple of minor repairs doing - mostly cosmetic - and he dropped it off to a local garage 2 days before lockdown. He only got his car back yesterday because as soon as lockdown was ordered, the company shut up the garage and staff were not allowed to go into the premises. As his car was not essential for his job (he is wfh) the staff could not make an exception to go in and drive it out for him to collect, despite the fact no work had been started.

[LaylaPSC83]

Turnedouttoes

That kind of behaviour makes me so angry. They're abusing their power as 'key workers ' and not giving a flying fuck to anyone else.

[FizzyPink]

I was in the queue for Homebase this morning when two women went straight to the front of the queue and said we’re keyworkers. I can understand it in a food shop but on a Sunday morning in Homebase

[Whatsthis1515]

God yeah, this 'I'm a keyworker' thing is driving me insane

When lockdown first started , on our local Facebook group this woman said 'Are there any garages open who could change my car tyre? I'm a keyworker and need my car for my work'.
Cue, a competition of people offering her FREE tyres and repairs as she's a 'key worker'.

Nicely played

It seems to have less of an effect now

[Zaphodsotherhead]

A good friend of mine is a postie. He says they are run off their feet but they don't mind because it's their job. Same as us in the supermarket - we're just doing our job (plus we get first dibs on flour etc as it comes in off the delivery - there has to be an upside, doesn't there?)

[LaylaPSC83]

^Well they could do that. Or the post office ^could take on more workers to meet demand. Personally I would go with the second option. It's not realistic to expect people to stay at home and not order the things they want /need. They'll just go out more instead.

I agree. I've felt so guilty ordering DVDs, books and Xbox games from eBay. They give me a break from studying and there's only so much Big Bang Theory I can watch. The postie in our area is cool with it though, I tipped him a fiver yesterday so tell your husband that he's doing an brilliant job

[Onone]

My dh is a key worker but I won’t let him say it,although his company have plastered it on his van

[EstherEliza]

He says the way people can help him is to not buy crap on the internet

Well they could do that. Or the post office could take on more workers to meet demand. Personally I would go with the second option. It's not realistic to expect people to stay at home and not order the things they want /need. They'll just go out more instead.

[LaylaPSC83]

HeimdallSaysNo

If lovehoney is what I think it is, then no wonder people are ordering from them my fiance is in jail till October and I really, really miss him. I have everything I need here but surely you can understand that people have needs.

[HeimdallSaysNo]

I'm a keyworker I sit in my office drinking tea and reading books. I'm a bit underemployed at the moment, but I still have to go to work in case of an emergency (public transport). Some days I'm not needed so my manager tells me to stay at home, but I still get full pay. There was a rumour going around town that keyworkers got free travel, on production of ID, so that was fun, telling them they still had to pay. ("I work for the NHS! Lemme on!" No.)

My husband is a key worker. Postal worker. He's been delivering five times as much crap as usual. Comes home exhausted. He says the way people can help him is to not buy crap on the internet. DH has also been delivering medicines, medical equipment, some shopping, and C19 testing kits. By the way, he knows all the return addresses, including LoveHoney. All posties do. LoveHoney has been doing very well this lockdown, I'm told.

We don't go on an on about it. It's a job, and it helps us survive. If we didn't do these jobs, we'd be working in supermarkets or other service providers. So we'd still be keyworkers. Nothing special in itself, save for the fact services keep the country running, but, whatever. Only thing that's an advantage is my brother in law, who manages a large supermarket, managed to source us some flour last week. I mean, woo!

[vodkaredbullgirl]

When I worked at the local hospital, we were not allowed to wear our uniforms out of work. All to do with infection control.

[EstherEliza]

There's an answer in there somewhere I'm sure there is..

Hmm. Let me think... 🤔

[Justanotherscumbag]

As I was called to go in, this lady (dressed in casual clothes and flip flops so not on her way to work) went to the queue organiser, showed her an NHS badge and said 'can I go first? I'm NHS'.

Let's just wonder, for a moment, why NHS workers might not be out and about in the clothes they wear for work and might be dressed casually whilst traveling to and from work.
There's an answer in there somewhere I'm sure there is......

[LaylaPSC83]

No I joined because I'm lonely. My fiance is in prison, my family live miles away and I just fancied talking to other mums.

What an unpleasant comment. Shit pay, shit conditions, working long hours makes them big headed for wanted to shop quickly and get home? Give your head a wobble.

The majority of NHS workers are doing a damn fine job. Everytime I buy something off eBay I donate to the NHS, but I don't clap. There are a few big headed idiots who work for the NHS but this is Scotland so what do you expect? They choose that career, they were aware of the risks and when I get my degree I'll be aware too.

[Yellowbutterfly1]

For the first time my very reluctant husband used the term Key worker yesterday.
He had to phone Sky and they will only speak to you if you are a Key Worker. Yes they did ask him if he was ( he is on the Gov list of key workers) but to be honest anyone can say anything

[Daffodil101]

I notice that’s your first post, Layla. Did you join MN to post that?

[EstherEliza]

It's completely true. It just shows how big headed some workers have got

What an unpleasant comment. Shit pay, shit conditions, working long hours makes them big headed for wanted to shop quickly and get home? Give your head a wobble.

[Justanotherscumbag]

Some people really, really don't like care workers or shop workers getting too big for their boots do they?

Uncomfortable is it for those on big salaries, WFH or furloughed that you're not as important as you thought? And those you've always considered beneath you and there to do your bidding are getting a bit of recognition?

Aren't you all so morally superior to be key workers but never, ever mention it, except on a thread on here which is moaning about key workers saying they're key workers.

And no, I'm not one. I'm furloughed and therefore scum all in a different catagory

[LaylaPSC83]

I think she must have been very stressed out from her work, I actually felt really embarrassed for her. I should have let her go in front of me.

[Daffodil101]

If it’s true, they don’t sound well.

It’s rather a leap to suggest that some NHS workers have become big headed because of one (frankly bizarre) episode. It’s very very strange behaviour, if true, but obviously I don’t think it is.

[LaylaPSC83]

It's completely true. It just shows how big headed some workers have got.

[Daffodil101]

Really?

That really happened did it? Somebody rocked up and asked why people weren’t clapping?

An NHS worker?

I don’t believe you.

[LaylaPSC83]

I was queuing outside the supermarket yesterday ( for 40 minutes!) and an NHS worker tried to skip the queue. The young woman was wearing her NHS uniform and said 'why are none of you lot clapping?'.The shop worker said ' these people have been patiently waiting for a long time, so you have to wait your turn' . The woman started screaming that she's a key worker and the shop worker said that so is he! So after that undignified tantrum, she had to join the queue. I think all the applause has gone to their heads.

[FrankiesKnuckle]

Saw a sticker in a car yesterday, in blue it said "I'm an NHS keyworker!"

Quick google and you can pick them up from eBay/amazon etc....


Probably purchased by people whose only connection to the NHS is waiting in the ED for a bellyache.

[MaybeDoctor]

I do quite like the fact that it is shining a light on the roles that are traditionally underpaid and undervalued in society, while the investment bankers, lawyers and management consultants are being told to stay at home and not get in anyone's way.

However, 'frontline'? I really don't think the majority keyworker roles are comparable to being in a geographical space where you are within range of enemy gunfire.