CF asking for key worker discount

[rumblingtumtum]

Tonight I was in a small independent restaurant when a police officer (inspector rank) came in to collect a takeaway order. He was wearing full police uniform, as he was paying he asked if they did key worker discount "because some places do".

This really pissed me off. Firstly, he was in full uniform, if they did a discount they would have offered it.

Secondly, he has been on full pay for the whole of this pandemic, the restaurant has been closed for months.

Thirdly, him asking puts the staff in an awkward position, police are supposed to represent authority.

I would like to point out that I am also a police officer and I would never ask for discount like that. I think it pissed me off so much because I feel his actions have a negative impact on the representation of 'The Police'.

AIBU to be so pissed off or was him asking ok and I'm being irrational?

I'm away for the weekend so not in my own force area. I know in my force area there has been a lot on the intranet about not taking advantage of free goods and discounts as we have to be impartial, so maybe that's why I was so annoyed seeing someone of rank blatantly ask.

ITA with OP! If a police officer in
uniform asks for a discount, there can be the implication that if the restaurant won’t give a discount; but subsequently has some trouble and calls for the police, the police might be too “busy” to turn up.

Imo, it’s tantamount to asking for a bribe.

(DS used to work in a supermarket. He said the police used to come into the staff canteen, expecting a free breakfast and the shop gave it to them, for fear next time the shop stopped a shop lifter, the police wouldn’t bother to turn up).

As for key workers, etc - they have been paid their full salaries since the lockdown, while millions in hospitality, probably on NMW have been furloughed and businesses have struggled to survive! My guess is a police inspector earns more than any of the staff he talked to!

I made it an AIBU to gage people's thoughts. It's been an interesting insight that a lot of people seem to think potential corruption is fine... probably the same people who'd have a fit if they were caught speeding because the police should be out catching proper criminals!

Why ask for a person's opinion and infer they are OK with potential corruption if they disagree

If you feel it is so wrong report it.

Guess people have quickly forgotten the whole premise of being thankful for keyworkers

Being thankful to somebody is not the same as being expected to give them money, which is effectively what a discount is. It's not like when you're 12 and your gran slips you a fiver for going to the corner shop for her. We are all grateful for the jobs that so many people do – police, NHS workers, shop workers, delivery drivers, bin men, workers with the utility companies etc. etc. – but they are all paid a wage to do their jobs and have all gone into those jobs by choice. They aren’t conscripts, neither are they charities.

What harm does asking do? Personally I think all blue light workers should get an automatic discount - I am not one of them and I could not do their job.

Honestly these men and women put themselves in danger to keep the public safe. They deserve discounts.

It’s the easiest thing in the world to decide that other people should give away their money/livelihoods to what you believe to be a deserving cause. Why don’t you find the names and addresses of lots of key workers whom you respect and start putting £20 notes from your own income through each of their doors? Simpler still: demand that the government increase your personal income tax by 20% with the extra being handed out to random key workers on their payroll.

I run a small business and people keep asking for discounts because they are this worker or that worker. As you point out OP, they have been on full pay throughout while I had to shut for three months. It's awkward and embarrassing to have to say no, especially if they try and argue. I can't afford to give these discounts and still make a proper living. Prices are set as they are for a reason.

Exactly. I don’t know the nature of your business, but what do you think would happen if you asked your local council (the government) for 25% off your council tax bill in recognition of the service that you’ve been providing for the country? Why is that any less ludicrous than certain government employees asking you for 25% (or whatever) off their bill?

There’s also the issue that, with so many small businesses on the brink of collapse, if word gets around that they give a discount that effectively represents their profit to certain worthy professions, their café (or whatever) could fill up with people who are not making them any money and there be no room left for full-paying customers who might actually help their business to survive.

A 10/20/25% discount might not seem very much, but if the remaining 90/80/75% that is paid equals the cost to the business of providing the goods and services and is basically their means to unlocking the remainder which keeps them in business and making a livelihood, you’re effectively asking the business owner themselves for 100% off. I just had a huge car repair bill, because my trusted local garage had to fit some of very expensive major replacement parts for me. As our family includes an NHS worker, should I have asked them for a 20% discount on the whole total, even though the vast majority of what I paid them went straight to the parts supplier and would have meant that they had to work for hours for nothing?

Is it corruption?

Are you always such a stickler

It always gets very tiresome when somebody starts a discussion on MN, asking for opinions and debate on whatever subject or situation, and you get people asking why they bothered to do so, when it isn't the single most important thing in the world or a life and death scenario.

MN is not an emergency UN taskforce, just a chat forum - anybody is free to ignore threads they don't care about from the beginning or to bow out at any time if they lose interest.

Tut tut

Are you always such a stickler

Is this a bad thing? For a police officer? 🤣

probably the same people who'd have a fit if they were caught speeding because the police should be out catching proper criminals!

Totally, don't you know they pay your wages! 🙄 Clearly they picked up MNs instead of the Daily Fail today.

@CrowdedHouseinQuarantine Is it corruption? could it potentially be?

YABU.

Not everywhere that gives discounts is on blue light card. Lots of places give discounts. No harm in asking.

Don't see anything wrong with this as you cannot know for certain what was going on. Any perception behind it is a projection of how the OP behaves in my view.
I'm slightly concerned that so many police officers think that shopkeepers or the public in general would be so intimidated by their mere uniform that they would feel obligated to provide a discount.
Until someone has behaved criminally a police officer is just another person in another outfit, nothing to fear I would've thought. Or I would hope.

In theory, yes, but I would be a bit intimidated by the uniform, despite not wanting to , if that makes sense.

Lots of people don’t respect the police but I think I still do

• I'm slightly concerned that so many police officers think that shopkeepers or the public in general would be so intimidated by their mere uniform that they would feel obligated to provide a discount. Until someone has behaved criminally a police officer is just another person in another outfit, nothing to fear I would've thought. Or I would hope.*

White privilege in action

@gigglybiz

* I'm slightly concerned that so many police officers think that shopkeepers or the public in general would be so intimidated by their mere uniform that they would feel obligated to provide a discount. Until someone has behaved criminally a police officer is just another person in another outfit, nothing to fear I would've thought. Or I would hope.*

White privilege in action

i agree with this but not necessarily white privilege

do you know the colour of the poster?

He is a CF. End of.

Sounds CF to me
Small independents shouldn’t be put in this position.

@CrowdedHouseinQuarantine I'm
pretty sure they are white. Most BAME would understand the concept of why the police can be intimidating & are not just "another person in a uniform".

What part do you agree with?

@gigglybiz

* I'm slightly concerned that so many police officers think that shopkeepers or the public in general would be so intimidated by their mere uniform that they would feel obligated to provide a discount. Until someone has behaved criminally a police officer is just another person in another outfit, nothing to fear I would've thought. Or I would hope.*

White privilege in action

It's interesting that you take issue with me rather than the arrogance of the police officers who think a uniform demands power no matter the situation.

Are you white?

I'm slightly concerned that so many police officers think that shopkeepers or the public in general would be so intimidated by their mere uniform that they would feel obligated to provide a discount

I'm concerned that people are so complacent in their own privilege that they do not understand why low wage, often minority or immigrant workers, would feel obliged to keep an on duty uniformed officer of the law happy.

@C8H10N4O2

I'm slightly concerned that so many police officers think that shopkeepers or the public in general would be so intimidated by their mere uniform that they would feel obligated to provide a discount

I'm concerned that people are so complacent in their own privilege that they do not understand why low wage, often minority or immigrant workers, would feel obliged to keep an on duty uniformed officer of the law happy.

I completely understand that. You're missing my point entirely.

It's pretty eye opening & to then attempt to deflect when their post is replied too, 🤔