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Original poster

Please can we now ban the phrase -'key worker'

266 replies

Hoppybunny · 19/06/2020 09:48

Way back in March it was relevant and distinguishing, but now the economy is creeping back to life why does every other post on mumsnet need to mention that they are a key worker! Surely every worker needs childcare provisions/access to shops etc and this badge of honour needs to end?

OP posts:
Mascotte · 19/06/2020 10:17

YANBU, it's overused and bloody annoying.

MaidenMotherCrone · 19/06/2020 10:18

I'm just glad I've got a job.

UnfinishedSymphon · 19/06/2020 10:19

@Wishforsnow

Key worker can stay if you work at Timpsons though
Grin Grin Grin
EasterIssland · 19/06/2020 10:23

I couldn't agree anymore.
the other day there was a thread about key workers needing childcare during summer, and I thought what about those that are not a key worker but are forced to go back to work and have nobody to leave their kids with, shouldn't they deserve a space anymore?
I'm not a key worker however, carried on working from home all this time, my 2yo son couldn't go to nursery so had to juggle parenting with work. what I've been working on has been used to help companies beat Covid, so even if I wasn't a key worker I was helping those key workers doing their jobs. yet my child wasn't allowed to have an space (not moaning I've loved having him around just a fact that as a society we need each other really)

I think right now when nhs is under control and luckily we're having good numbers, nobody should use it to give more privileges over others...

puffinkoala · 19/06/2020 10:26

I've been working throughout, so has DH. We are not keyworkers though but we have been paying tax (as have, of course, all keyworkers who earn sufficient).

laundryclub · 19/06/2020 10:26

Yes I too think it is a bit of a meaningless phrase.
My husband is a 'key worker' despite being at home doing nothing for weeks!
I am also a 'key worker' and have been working extra shifts to compensate for the impact of Covid.

Redinthefacegirl · 19/06/2020 10:28

I feel mixed about this. I dont need a badge of honour. I'm a senior nurse who spent all of march and april with ridiculously sick covid 19 patients. We haven't used any key worker stuff. I cant bring myself to jump a shopping queue and we kept the kids home with opposite shifts. DH is also a nurse. I feel appreciated. The people I care about know what we do and were proud of us before any of this. We had access to good PPE and supportive colleagues etc. I felt fairly safe throughout.

But I do think it is nice to demonstrate we see the importance of jobs that have previously been low status but are vital for society. Grocery workers, refuse collectors etc. These people didn't have as much support or PPE but carried on so we had food and weren't overrun by rats. That's pretty impressive and we shouldnt forget their contribution so quickly.

I also cringe at war/frontline references.

Newkitchen123 · 19/06/2020 10:32

There's a furniture ad on TV at the minute thanking everyone for being a key worker so they've got a sale on to say thank you!

Pinkblueberry · 19/06/2020 10:34

YANBU. DH and I work different jobs but are both ‘key workers’ - we’ve mostly worked from home. The list of key workers jobs is very long - they’re not all self sacrificing martyr jobs.

ohthegoats · 19/06/2020 10:38

working the front lines

Oh that's just another of those wartime analogies that this government keep wheeling out for their base voters.

piscesangel · 19/06/2020 10:39

In Northern Ireland it was announced yesterday that the 'keyworker' distinction for all childcare purposes is being ended at the end of this month. I think that's sensible at this stage when they're trying to get the economy moving again

Bleepbloopblarp · 19/06/2020 10:41

There's a furniture ad on TV at the minute thanking everyone for being a key worker so they've got a sale on to say thank you!

How disgustingly “fake grateful”, they just want to sell bloody sofas is all!

Bleepbloopblarp · 19/06/2020 10:41

There's a furniture ad on TV at the minute thanking everyone for being a key worker so they've got a sale on to say thank you!

Sorry, meant to bold that!

user1497207191 · 19/06/2020 10:42

When furlough ends, it will be a truly meaningless phrase

Furlough has nothing to do with being a key worker or not.

GoingtotheWinchester · 19/06/2020 10:44

Not all keyworker kids are at school. I'm a teacher and have been in since March but my children haven't been back at all.

I know lots of people playing the system and it makes me cross but it is what it is.

Mulhollandmagoo · 19/06/2020 10:44

I have massive respect for key workers, we have a lady on our street who was a nurse working with covid patients and the Thursday clapping when she was out was amazing, she was really touched by it.

But there are a few who have taken it upon themselves to use it a bargaining chip, I removed a postie from my Facebook a few weeks ago who was repeatedly commenting on people's activity telling them 'not to clap for her, as it's a stab in the back' think, taking their dog for a walk to the local nature reserve where nobody else was she also made the vilest comment to someone who had made reference to the fact they were furloughed and she said something along the lines of 'i have earned the right to demand the respect of people like you' and she's not the only person who I've seen do it

user1497207191 · 19/06/2020 10:44

Trouble is that there are lots of "key" workers who aren't front line nurses, doctors, carers, etc., but they get no special treatment.

In the background, there are administrators, IT technicians, payroll clerks, bank staff, etc., all of who are doing jobs that need doing to support front line staff, but they don't get the benefits. If you look at the Gov.uk list of key workers, it's VERY comprehensive and includes all manner of trades/professions required to continue to operate to keep the country going.

FreeFromDinoMeat · 19/06/2020 10:45

I don't care if someone is actually a critical worker.

But the list seems so very stretched in some regards.

I have friends who work at sky responding to messages via the online chat service. They were given certificates to confirm they were 'keyworkers' and their children given places at school. In what possible way is that a key job? And why on earth could it not be done from home? I would expect a company like Sky to have the resources to allow staff to reply to the online chat at home.

formerbabe · 19/06/2020 10:49

Furlough has nothing to do with being a key worker or not

Because once furlough ends, you'll either be employed or unemployed. If you're employed, you'll have to work....just like key workers

FreeFromDinoMeat · 19/06/2020 10:50

@formerbabe

Furlough has nothing to do with being a key worker or not

Because once furlough ends, you'll either be employed or unemployed. If you're employed, you'll have to work....just like key workers

I think that poster meant that you can still be working but not be a keyworker.

Not being a keyworker doesn't automatically equal furloughed. I know plenty of people still working who aren't deemed 'keyworkers'.

RaspberryToupee · 19/06/2020 10:51

The thing is key worker covers a number of roles and industries, so can become meaningless. I work in utilities and I’m back end rather than operational but I am classed as a key worker. I was classed as a key worker as a jack of all trades and sort of second line of attack for if our critical operations were taken out. I have been part of things that have been crucial to keeping our place going and making sure people still have utilities but it’s something that most people in my organisation could do with a bit of training.

On the other hand, DH works in accountancy and was never classed as a key worker. I’ve actually seen Facebook posts about ‘now we realise that financial services don’t actually add anything and the real heroes are those jobs we considered unskilled’. Throughout this period, DH has been calculating furlough payments for a number of organisations most of them are too small to have a payroll department and are unable to calculate these payments themselves.

I understand that for some key workers, for example carers, retail workers, who have been referred to as unskilled workers it could be gratifying to be the ones needed. I also have no doubt that there are some ‘professionals’ who have made these people feel like shit at previous times. However, economies work when we have people working in all sectors and we need the economy working at the moment.

SueEllenMishke · 19/06/2020 10:52

A major issue of using the term is the assumption that only key workers are still working.
I've been asked numerous times how I'm spending my 'time off'. What time off? I've continued to work full time throughout as has DH....all with zero childcare.

BahHumbygge · 19/06/2020 10:52

This debate reminds me of the Golgafrinchans in HHGTTG. They inhabited a planet, divided themselves into 3 cohorts… the professors and scientists group A, ones in useless jobs like hairdressers and telephone sanitisers group B, craftspeople and artisans group C. Groups A and C decided to get rid of group B by blasting them up in a spaceship into space and live in harmony. Only problem was, they were soon hit by a deadly pandemic that led to their demise caused by a dirty telephone Confused

Casschops · 19/06/2020 10:52

I know its getting tedious!