To think all keyworkers should have their tax stopped for the next two years

[marysuzairn]

All of those that worked throughout covid need to be rewarded. Why not just stop all tax for every nurse, care worker, teacher (and assistant), gas engineer, pharmacist etc. They kept the country going and weren't just at home on 80% pay (and actually better off with less outgoing). Isn't it time to now reward them appropriately?

Ridiculous idea. Will we also be stopping them from using the services that their taxes pay for? If not, who is going to pay for them? Do you have any idea just how many people continued to work and qualify as "key workers". It is millions. The country is already in massive debt and can't afford the existing coronavirus bill. We're trapped in a global recession. And this would make it worse.

A totally ridiculous suggestion.

I am a key worker. I and most of my key worker colleagues earn well over the higher rate tax threshold. Many key workers do. The country really does need those taxes. It is one of the most ridiculous ideas I have heard of.

No, key workers where just lucky enough to continue doing their job.

@TorysSuckRevokeArticle50

I've worked full time from home all the way through as has my DH, while homeschooling a 6 year old, working from early morning till late night. Had to accept a 20% pay cut for the privilege with no reduction in hours and way more work.

But I don't have 'keyworker' status. Getting a bit fed up of all the 'keyworker' entitlement to be honest. You weren't the only person working, you were able to access childcare, you were able to access discounts and special status in supermarkets while the rest of us unfurloughed folk stood in queues. In the early days of lockdown that meant working till 7pm, going to stand in a queue getting the scraps left over in the store, then heading home and doing more work till 11/12pm.

I'm in private sector, no hope of a pay increase any time soon but this month my money will go up to 90% of what my wage should be instead of 80% so yay!

Us too - me and DH both worked full time throughout with no hope of a school place- we both work in corporate/finance jobs but not in financial services. It’s been incredibly hard, made harder that the business I work for was decimated for 3 months so we were working harder than ever, raising finance and negotiating with banks etc to get the business through the crisis

And I beg to differ that “investment bankers” should have qualified as critical workers. The intention of that category was clearly aimed at the retail banking infrastructure, not investment bankers.

I am a key worker (civil servant). I would like to have pay that at least keeps up with inflation instead of below it for the last 10 years at least.

Ridiculous to suggest that key workers shouldn't pay tax/NIC for so many reasons apart from being unworkable.

I’m a key worker and, if anything, I’ve had less to do. I’ve been bored off my tits some days. I’d feel very guilty to pay less tax.

I don't think this post is going the way op hoped.

I'm a GP so it's been really tough. We have been very busy and we have seen patients.
I would much rather they put money into the care sector and looked into giving a decent amount of money to them and the people who work in them instead of trying to do care on the cheap. It isn't fair.
I don't require a pay rise. I've been paid through- out...maybe a bonus to those who had leave cancelled like my colleagues' husbands.
But I have had a steady income and can pay my way and my tax.
Yes we have worked but I think some people deserve it more. I'd rather nurses got it too.
I would like more income to my practice then I can give my staff a bigger rise as they have been amazing. But I earn well and it's wrong to expect more.

Lots of industries we had to keep working- I was lucky enough not to be furloughed and kept on working albeit from home.

I’ve also not had a pay rise for 2 years - this isn’t just affecting key workers.

So yes you ABVU.

What about all of those people who continued to work at home, full time whilst home-schooling children, whilst taking a 35% cut in pay?

Those that were put on Furlough should slowly but surely pay it back once back in employment.

There is no magic money tree for any of us, let alone further tax breaks for those that earned in full!

I have a slightly dull acquaintance, Emma, who works for the NHS in HR. She has been a mix of WFH / Office based for about 5 years. She's not stopped bleating on about key worker status for the whole of lockdown. Her (equally dull) husband is on 50k+ working in council infrastructure and was also at home full time with their twin children too. I just know she totally thinks she deserves a tax break / pay rise whatever.

I actually have a relative who works in a neighbouring department who says she's the most inefficient member of the team they could happily lose her and not notice but it's NHS and HR so no one bothers as it's a blank chequebook of a department.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that there's key workers and then there's key workers

2 key workers here, this idea is stupid.

@Babymamaroon

What about all of those people who continued to work at home, full time whilst home-schooling children, whilst taking a 35% cut in pay?

Those that were put on Furlough should slowly but surely pay it back once back in employment.

There is no magic money tree for any of us, let alone further tax breaks for those that earned in full!

I don't remember being given a choice about being furloughed whilst I currently sit here still wondering whether I will have a job to go back to and, oh yes, I still paid tax whilst furloughed

The key worker definition is huge. Both me and my husband are keyworkers but we are not who you are thinking of! My husband works in financial services. I work for a charity.

So Op...I believe the answer is a resounding NO. 🤔

91%

Those that were put on Furlough should slowly but surely pay it back once back in employment.

It makes me sad reading that so many are so ignorant. People PUT on furlough have paid tax since the start of their working lives. They still continue to pay tax on their furlough pay. They don't need to pay twice or three times FFS

@Pollypocket89

Those that were put on Furlough should slowly but surely pay it back once back in employment. --

It makes me sad reading that so many are so ignorant. People PUT on furlough have paid tax since the start of their working lives. They still continue to pay tax on their furlough pay. They don't need to pay twice or three times FFS

Absolutely. This is making my blood boil. Furlough is NOT a choice

I've read some nonsense on MN but your post may well be the most ridiculous I've ever read! You clearly have no idea about how it all works!

Hilarious 🤣 what a shit idea!!

OP I'd assume you meant only for key workers who had to go out to work in the pandemic, as opposed to working from home? I'd agree it would be great for something to be done for them but actually there's a lot of people who need so much more help. In Ireland people who work in hospitals are getting a free night away in a hotel which is kind of a nice something

And sorry I didnt mean key workers I meant all workers who had to work outside their home in the pandemic

I'm a keyworker and voted YABU. Ive saved lots by working all day and not going out I'll be happy with a chocolate bar. Where would it end.

Those that were put on Furlough should slowly but surely pay it back once back in employment.

How about public sector workers who havn't worked their full hours pay back their wages for which they havn't worked????