To wonder why people are jealous of discounts for employees

[FluffyKittensinabasket]

I’m a key worker (not NHS) and entitled to a Blue Light Card and Defence Discount Card. The discounts are actually pretty good right now because of Covid19.

One of my friends said that it was ridiculous that I was claiming discounts and that they should only be for the police, fire service or NHS and capped at 10%. She said it’s daft to get discounts for doing a job you’ve chosen to do.

I pointed out that airline staff get travel discounts, rail workers get free rail travel and retail staff get store discounts. She is a SAHM and said discounts should be illegal.

She now isn’t speaking to me. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[sashh]

Businesses can give discounts to who ever they want. When I worked for the NHS in Oxford we got cheaper theatre tickets, it meant the theatre got more people in who all bought drinks and/or ice cream so win win.

Lots of places have loyalty schemes too, is she bothered by people getting a 10th coffee for free when they have paid for 9?

Or sales? Most shops have a sale every so often.

And does she get the bus? How much do her children pay? Does she want them to pay full price?

[GrumpyHoonMain]

A friend of mine was like this about my Costco membership. Some people are just looking for ways to take offence - ignore.

[WitsEnding]

I used to work for a public utility which gave a negligible employee discount and claimed it was legally impossible to offer more as it would be anti-competitive, so I can see where the ‘illegal’ comes from.

I generally take the view that outlets offering discount to students or armed services (most visible locally) are probably overpriced to the extent they can take that hit on their margins. They aren’t my first choice of places to visit.

[IamtheDevilsAvocado]

She sounds....

I'm not sure why you should argue with someone who is clearly pretty silly....

Every job has its perks /discounts.... If she wants these perks/discounts she needs to be in work....

[LabradorGalore]

She sounds very bitter.

Most people acknowledge the good rewards for key workers as a positive thing. In fact most companies in my area are trying to promote discounts just so key workers use their products! It’s a little bit of recognition for the important roles and everyone I know backs it 100%

[Racoonworld]

There are perks in many jobs, this just happens to be yours. If she is jealous she can always get a job herself that gives her something!

[jessstan2]

I didn't know people were jealous of staff discounts.

Some firms give them as a perk, all good, other firms offer something else, some nothing. So what? It's how it goes.

There's nothing to stop the 'jealous' people applying for jobs in places that offer discounts. On the other hand, there may not be a job they like or the jobs may pay less than they get now.

Swings and roundabouts.

[mrsBtheparker]

there are public sector discount schemes available for teachers and school staff

Really? There used to be some discounts through the NUT but that's all I recall.
The list of what's defined as a 'key worker' is huge, maybe that's what caused your friend's outburst, bank workers apparently qualify as key workers for one.

[lola006]

I worked at The Body Shop in another country where we got a 50% discount. My manager told me that if a customer asked if we got a discount we could say that yes, we did. I was surprised how often people asked and how often they took offence that I got a discount and they had to pay for price. I actually suggested once that the person apply for an open part-time position!

[JoeCalFuckingZaghe]

I’m sure she wouldn’t feel like that if you were offering her to use to the discount. What job does she do? Most jobs I’ve had there has been some perk, ranging from left over meeting biscuits / food in offices to free use of facilities in leisure centres. She needs to get a grip. I used to work in a university and was entitled to a student discount card, what an odd thing to feel bitter about. I can’t imagine she’s a happy chappy about life if THIS is bringing her down.

[Cramitmaam]

She's an arse

[Daisy12Maisie]

Well I'm jealous of people that get to stay at home with their kids.
Single parent, emergency services worker. I havent actually used any discounts but I have brought home donated sweets and chocolates for my children. Compensation because I've missed 3 christmases in a row with them.
It's my choice to do this job and overall it's best for our family but we miss out on a lot so would it really matter if we got a discount for something.
Your friend might be jealous but its tough

[flirtygirl]

Some people are jealous.

Some people are stupid.

Your "friend" is both.

[Daisy12Maisie]

Not just missed christmases. Loads of occasions I've been at work protecting vulnerable children, staying late and missing events with my own children.

[BlingLoving]

I have never worked in retail but would prioritise a job at John Lewis, waitrose or Mark's because their discounts are good.

Your friend is an idiot. And jealous.

[AlexisCarringtonColbyDexter]

She's jealous AF.
I have a blue light card and just got a huge amount off a bulk buy at cult beauty and look fantastic. Its brilliant!

[LakieLady]

I expect she's one of these bitter types who resent public sector workers because of their "gold plated pensions, too. (Mine is a whole £254 a month, before tax - I'm rolling in it, me ).

[HansBanans]

@Ifailed I've never seen anyone else say that before. I say it all the time, it's one of my favourites 😂

[echt]

Gosh OP, your numpty friend would be soooo pissed off at the red biros I get from my school.

Oh, and my gold-plated pension, as mentioned upthread.

[StillCoughingandLaughing]

Tell her to go and take her face for a shit

Love it

OP - your friend is a couple of stops short of Upton Park. Tell her you were planning to take her out for dinner using your discount at her favourite restaurant, but now she can eat from the gutter.

[BlingLoving]

Also, I hope.shes never accepted a parent discount? You know - where kids eat free in restaurants or Boots offers extra points for baby stuff?! Because clearly that would he crazy unfair....?

[igotmyreddressontonight]

Ridiculous! She must be jealous. I'm NHS staff and I'm loving the discounts mainly in b&q and the range as I've not long moved and have lots of decorating to do so it's great to be able to save a few quid here and there. I don't have a blue light card I just use my ID badge. I'm a student also doing a course through work so have student discount aswell. She would hate me.

[Elieza]

What does your jealous friend work as?

I’m sure there are companies who she would be eligible to get discounts with. Like her union membership, her car insurer etc. We are all members of something that entitles is to something. Usually overpriced and crappy so we don’t bother. But still we can join.

Sounds like her beef is because you are ‘fraudulently’ taking advantage of a discount intended for others in your profession.

But that’s not the case, it’s not the government that’s giving the discount, I think it’s a private company.
And any company can give discounts to anyone they choose for any reason.
She needs to get a grip on reality. To fall out with someone over a discount scheme is nuts. Perhaps she’ll fall out with her next pal over a netflix membership or a Costco membership ffs. She’s nuts.

[julybaby32]

echt I bet you spend a lot more of your own money on stuff for school than you save in red biros to use when you do your marking. At home. With you paying for your own heating and lighting.

I hope OPs friend does not make use of any family discount tickets. It's obviously daft, by her reasoning, to get discounts for children she has chosen to have. Oh, and of course she pays full fare if her children take a seat on any form of transport?

I don't get discounts of any type with my job. Discounts are mostly there for the benefit of the company giving them.

[Fluffytail1]

Maybe she’s struggling financially as it’s just magnifying the fact that people who are still working and earning right now are also getting discounts? Like rich people get gratis all the time ( obvs not in this scale!) maybe it’s just a bit of a peeve for her right now? Maybe she not meaning to be nasty? You are her friend so you know her best- is this likely or is she just a bit of a moaner in general?