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

[Hoppybunny]

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?

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

Exactly this. MOST people are still working and have been working throughout, keyworker or not.

YANBU. I hate it and think it’s pointless. I hated it in March too tbf. Just say you’re a doctor/nurse/work in a shop/a hospital cleaner fgs

And bin men, all utility workers, farmers, food distribution. They all enable us to live at a basic level. It would be far worse if we hand no power, water, and empty shops in lock down.

All jobs are important to the economy but 'key' jobs are vital. I can still live if I never go to the cinema, a pub, have my hair cut, go on holiday.......Many poorer people do manage without these things anyway. In normal times we forget this.

My husband’s job is on the gov key worker list, he thinks the term is cringeworthy and won’t use it until we had to phone Sky, they would only speak to you if you are a key worker for some reason.

My sister’s job is by no means a key worker yet her company gave them letters to show the Police if stopped to say that they are.

It makes a complete joke of the whole thing and the sooner that phrase disappears the better.

RhodaDentron
Some IT support staff are on the gov list of key workers. It depends what company/industry they work in.

If there's been one benefit of covid, it's teaching us (and the govt) that we ALL depend on some of the modestly paid workers who run public services like healthcare, transport, schools, cleansing. They will always be keyworkers, and its high time for our whole society to value and reward them accordingly.

If you want to get rid of some redundant status titles , lets start with "celebrities" and "influencers"

The criteria for "key workers" was so loose that it's undermined the actual meaning.

But first I'd like to ban the phrase "new normal."

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

100% this.
Neither me or DH are classed as key workers but we're still working full-time and we're busier than ever due to the current situation (we work at universities) and we've had to do this with no school or childcare.

Gov confirmed that payroll staff are key workers.

www.cipp.org.uk/resources/news/payroll-key-workers.html

[quote user1497207191]Gov confirmed that payroll staff are key workers.

www.cipp.org.uk/resources/news/payroll-key-workers.html[/quote]
Precisely.

It's jobs like this that people don't think about, without which life would quickly become desperate and shite.

Payment card repair man. Water company technician. IT support for just in time supermarket stock ordering system...etc etc etc.

Without the "invisible" key jobs, our advanced society would grind to a halt, shops would empty of food and the police would leave their posts to protect their own families.

But first I'd like to ban the phrase "new normal

Ugh this 100%, I'm so sick of seeing people say things like 'children will never again blow out birthday candles', or 'we'll never have mass gatherings at sports events again'. I heard a radio presenter spouting this shite a couple of weeks ago.

People are so bloody over dramatic. Bin them all!

What a ridiculous thing to be bothered by!

My job title is literally 'Keyworker'

From personal experience, those that wave the banner of being a key worker the most are those that have jobs with the least risk and those working at the front line of the NHS dealing with Covid are so busy and aware of its effects, are keeping their children at home by juggling childcare rather than using school provision.

Define "key worker".

Pretty much everyone is a key worker these days, as opposed to an NHS critical frontline worker.

That created a few pickles in schools where keyworkers children are accepted, but it meant that the children of an accountant or IT staff with a SAHM took a spot and some support worker ended up with none.

From personal experience, those that wave the banner of being a key worker the most are those that have jobs with the least risk and those working at the front line of the NHS dealing with Covid are so busy and aware of its effects, are keeping their children at home by juggling childcare rather than using school provision.

The key workers in my family (including intensive care nurses) have husband who are also key workers who work outside of home. They have to use nurseries and schools. Some people have no choice. In the main key workers do have to leave the house to do their jobs.

@Wishforsnow

Key worker can stay if you work at Timpsons though

Define "key worker".

No need - it's clearly stated on the Gov.uk website.

Unfortunately, as with a lot of things during covid, the media mis-reported the facts - shame they didn't reference back to official guidelines on Gov.uk which would have helped them inform the public properly, which is the prime purpose of the media, especially the BBC who have been pretty awful with their reporting.

Every worker is “key” somewhere. Agree, OP.

But being a key worker is my only achievement in life.
Please don’t take it away from me.
😂

@SueEllenMishke

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.

Yes, this is so annoying. My neighbour asked me the other day when I was going back to work. I replied, "I haven't stopped!" She thought because my car was still on the drive that I haven't been working...

‘Key worker‘ is a crucial term for us as that’s the only reason our dc are in school so I’m quite happy that we are classified in that way as it means dh and I can still work in our essential roles which we can’t do at home.

But every worker isn't key. The council bin men are key but the library and museum staff are not. We need the bin men but can (and have) managed without libraries and museums.

@Redinthefacegirl

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.

This x1000 I absolutely thank nurses and doctors who have been dealing with this for weeks and weeks but I also thank everyone who kept the shops stocked, the bins emptied and the many, many other things that were required to keep society functioning.

@Redinthefacegirl I do thank you and all HCP's. My brother died in hospital/ICU mid December and every single one of you were brilliant. So caring, helpful and explained everything to us and allowed us our time with him. Our nurse was so caring and it made his death so much easier. Thank You.

I hate the certain sectors think Keyworker equals an excuse to lord it over people or excuse bad attitudes, like "oh I'm a key worker" with an eye roll

Frankly, NHS staff and carers are key to this, they are the ones really taking risk for shit pay and under shit conditions and shit hours.
Someone sitting behind a big plastic screen with sanitizer on tap on their arse in a supermarket is not. It's a job that needs doing but it's not key because in an ideal world we would all have stayed home, not gone to supermarkets at all and been delivered our goods.

I definitely think that now there's more of an issue with room in schools etc, who gets a place and who doesn't isn't quite right.

Why does someone with one key worker parent, working or not, get a place at school where someone with a non key worker parent working and another parent wfh (or having to resign as the employer now wants them back) doesn't get the place.....

It worked fine in April but not now.