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. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[back2good]

I'm just sad that teachers and teaching assistants aren't eligible for them, too. We've been working for the long haul, too, straight through Easter and half term, and are keeping the summer club open for KW children for one third of the summer holidays.

[Crinkle77]

We have a discount scheme in work but they're usually for things that I wouldn't use. I don't begrudge those that have blue light cards. I got to be safe and stay at home while they had to risk their lives to help others.

[Lockdownsucks]

I agree, with your friend. In my eyes 'key worker' (i bloody hate that phrase) should be nhs, firefighters and police

[EatsShootsAndRuns]

I'm still getting discounts in many shops and businesses because I used to be an employee of an international company.

However, as OP doesn't appear to have returned it could be a ”wind them up and watch them froth” thread.

[CambsAlways]

She’s pathetic

[DefConOne]

Teachers can sign up for the CSSC discount card which I have as an NHS worker and is pretty good.

All jobs have pros and cons. Most of the discounts are commercial decisions to offer discounts to employees in large organisations. People in private sector jobs often get Christmas parties paid for and bonuses, teachers get long ‘unpaid’ holidays, NHS and armed forces often get discounts (which are often no better than discount codes available to the public). Loads of vacancies available in the NHS and social care for anyone desperate for 10% off local hairdresser/theme park entry/whatever.

[BuggerOffAndGoodDayToYou]

@OhMyDarling

My cousin works in an office for the NHS. She’s in an office and doesn’t mix with the public- so admin. She earns the same as me (teacher) and gets the discounts the OP was talking about, plus had Supermarket queue jump privledges through lockdown. She hasn’t been near her office in the hospital at all during lockdown (I’ve been in with the more challenging group of vulnerable/keyworker children throughout and juggling single parenthood).
It stings but I wouldn’t cause a row about it.
It’s not a race to the bottom, but some discounts for us too would be nice!

There actually quite a few discounts available for school workers. Just google! Paperchase for instance had 10% off. You can get discounts in the Apple store.....

[Ginfordinner]

She is not talking to you because of this?

She sounds pathetic and immature. I would just ignore her.

[WhoWouldHaveThoughtThat]

If she wants staff discounts to be illegal then I suspect that next, she will want all pandas to be euthanised because they are too cuddly. 🐼

[okiedokieme]

I can understand why some discounts are unfair eg consultants on 100k + getting free stuff because they are nhs yet they are an elective specialist nothing to do with Covid. That said I use my DD's defence discount card quite a lot for outdoor gear and got an amazing computer deal! I don't get any discounts myself despite being a key worker except an excellent deal on funerals... hardly something you want to use!

[Beebeet]

Let's hope she hasn't heard of student discount.

[Nachonacho]

@Ifailed That's the best expression I've ever heard

[ChristmasCarcass]

consultants on 100k + getting free stuff because they are nhs yet they are an elective specialist nothing to do with Covid

They all got redeployed to be SHOs in the COVID ICU in our hospital (liver transplant surgeons, MaxFax consultants, dermatologists, etc). So definitely earned a discount!

[Amberfest]

I do find this bizarre. As a PP said, we have Pekbox through work, but I have never used it. I glance at it occasionally but it either does not have anything you want or I need to send off for a voucher and CBA.

Discounts on things are really not rare. On the PTA of my DC primary school, I had the idea of setting up discounts for parents with local businesses e.g dry cleaner, hardware store, decorators and went round the businesses explaining that they would appear in a monthly email to parents if they offered a small discount. No-one said no and some offered a decent 10-15% without me pushing at all. They saw it as an easy way to build up a regular client list. I think these discounts are (or were pre-Covid) there for the asking.

[Ginkypig]

You're friend is just being an arsehole.

Of course if there is a scheme or a perk or f some kind that someone in a job can access they should and it's nothing to do with anyone else!

I do get the argument that for some it's not fair.
My Dp has been classed as a key worker but despite going out everyday and making it safe and possible for other (more importantly viewed) key workers to do their job he isn't eligible for any type of scheme even if others at the same place of work would be and hardly anyone would think of workers like him when they think respectfully about "key workers" but he is happy in his job and proud of the work he does and I'm proud of him too and that is enough.
It would never occur to him or me to be resentful or jealous of someone else because they get a perk of some sort!

[Divoc2020]

Last year I was doing an online uni course, so qualified for student discounts. I had a friend who was outraged for some reason that I could get discounts off my contact lenses or at Pizza Express.

She said it was 'disgraceful' and that they should be only for 'proper students' .

[LabradorGalore]

@okiedokieme - that’s not true at all. My senior consultant was redeployed onto a Covid ward. She is bloody brilliant but also massively at risk. She deserves every penny and more of her NHS wage and discounts if they’re offered to her.

I’m amazed people would begrudge doctors discounts - did the sympathy of the horrors they’ve faced wear off that quickly?!

[LegitSnack]

I get 5% off a new build house 😬

[WhySoSexist]

Given that she's being so rude, maybe say that, as a SAHM, her entire life is a discount.
For the record, I don't believe this to be true and completely understand the work that SAHM's do and the value they add to their families and society - I just think it'd be a nice snap-back to knock her off her high horse.

[PlanBea]

When I worked in banking I got 25% off my Orange phone contract, for no obvious reason, among other discounts. I might have been a lowly admin then but even investment bankers on 6 figure bonuses would have got it too.

Now I pay my £5 for my blue light card and got 5% off my new living room furniture. It's not exactly the reason I joined the NHS...

[TowelHoarder]

That is too funny! Some people have really weird jealousy issues.

I used to work in a call centre that outsourced to other companies, so different contracts had different working hours and pay depending on what the client wanted.

We had two energy suppliers, one was more well known than the other and the more well known one had difficult sales targets and required weekend working whereas the other was just short calls giving out info. The more well known one paid a basic salary of £1,000 a year more.

Several people on the easier contract put complaints in to management that it wasn’t fair and everyone on the other contract should be paid the same as them (ie £1,000 per year LESS) to make it fair. I never once heard them ask for their own pay to be increased, which to me would be the obvious request. I mean who’d want to work for a company that would retrospectively reduce your pay?

[Bluntness100]

She thinks discounts should be Illegal and she won’t talk to you because you get them?

That’s as batshit as it gets.

[Viviennemary]

I agree. I don't see why they should get discounts. I'm not jealous of them though.

[Goyle]

I work in public transport and we have a staff discount scheme giving us 5-20% off all kinds of things. I share the benefits with my family. But then I'm also a holiday club member and use Groupon a lot. The perks are there for everyone if you are willing to give up your email address. and be used as a data mined practice hamster