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.

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.

@gigglybiz

The full post said police officers should not be viewing their uniform as a tool for power and that it's concerning if they do. HTH.

@Bassettgirl but who are the police officers that think a uniform would be intimidating? The ones on this thread who thinks it's wrong think it so because it goes against their forces rules or code of conduct.

There were plenty of people on the thread who were not police who could identify circumstances were it could be intimidating. Just because it's not right it doesn't mean it doesn't happen.

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.

Well yeah in ideal world but do we live in that world?

I think the poster (and I) are agreeing with all that @gigglybiz.

Ref the discount, I don't have a problem with key workers using a discount scheme designed for them (though I think it should be scrapped now). But if a Police officer asking for it in his uniform is against the code of conduct then it is wrong to do so.

I think you’ll find that discount services like Blue Light and Defence Discounts actually work with the companies/ shops do no one is actually giving a discount if they don’t want to. They sign up to the service. Maybe read up on them to see what they are about and where they came from before spouting off.

I, along with a number of others upthread, clearly stated that I have no issue whatsoever when there is a scheme in place and/or discounts are clearly advertised. This thread is about people asking out of the blue - often in very small independent shops and eating establishments - if they can have a discount purely because of the job they happen to do.

Also being a government employee is not a blood birth right you know. People moan about them with their good pensions and secure jobs like it’s something given to an unreachable elite. You can do these jobs too ya know. But you generally won’t want to as they are often paid less than private sector jobs and have an element of risk.

I've never claimed that government employees are all parachuted straight into jobs and/or paid massive salaries that they don't deserve. I'm just asking why, as salaried professionals, they should feel entitled to ask for random discounts where there is no scheme and no sign offering it, when people in other valuable jobs - including bin men and public toilet cleaners, who are also (directly or indirectly) government employees - don't.

Also no one ever moans about the ridiculous salaries that private sector get, but yes let’s moan at the underpaid and underfunded public sector because they had the audacity to apply for a secure job with a good pension and use a discount service that was created to thank them.

Again, no issue at all with making use of an established scheme or requesting the police/NHS/whatever discount advertised at the checkout. I think the same of anybody, in any job, asking out of the blue for a discount in shops, just because of their job. Personally, even though they are coming from a less privileged position, I also think it's cheeky of students and unemployed people to ask for a discount on a luxury item or service, unless it's clearly advertised. When I was in these two positions, I just accepted that I had less money and would therefore have to go without some of the finer things, unless a discount or freebie was advertised.

@WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll Fair enough. I’m going to acknowledge the fact that I jumped on your response as I was a total grump this morning (neighbours had a party until 2am!) so apologies for misinterpreting your post.

I will say that I do ask myself as I’ve had issues where the App says I can get a discount at X place but then certain branches aren’t aware. So I ask not to be cheeky but because I’m genuinely wondering if it applies in their branch.

@Pinkbunny2811

Yabu, it's the same as students asking or using a voucher.

No it's not! Most students aren't on £30k plus a year!

YANBU

Complete CF bet he tries it on everywhere !

As a key-worker I have noticed that lots of places have advertised keyworker discounts.
I guess it’s personal choice as to what you think about people asking for it.
I will always check online if a place offers discount then present my card. However I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t advertised.
Lots of people think that all frontline staff have been on full pay and full working hours. This is not true for everyone. Some of us with kids had to take unpaid leave or work part-time to juggle childcare and work.

YANBU

I agree with you OP. YANBU. I work as a healthcare assistant and also worked throughout the lockdown.... I still didn’t seek any discount of any sort from anywhere... seemed a bit 💩!!

You don't ask you don't get, worst they can say is no, not that big of a deal imo

YANBU and he would know it’s wrong.

I have checked with DH Ratbum-Hastings.
He says firmly no. Professionally, absolutely not allowed to do that. Discount policy is clear and covid hasn't affected it.

Someone's financial position is not only irrelevant but you shouldn't be imputing something into anyone's private life.

I get really hacked off with all these companies offering discounts to people who are in full time employment at around average wage levels. None of them ever offer discount to those (often women) who are struggling to afford to feed themselves on benefits and/or in exceptionally low paid work. It seems very unfair

YABU and utterly ridiculous to boot.

I work for the NHS and have a Blue Light Card. I often ask if it's accepted and have done for the last 4 years: that's what it's there for.

Furthermore the majority of restaurants offer a keyworker discount at the moment and they wouldn't have known he was in the force when he called the order in.

You're just one of those people who look down your nose and feel embarrassed at the thought bargain hunting and the only one who loses out is you.

If you walked into a shop that offered a 50% discount on clothes that were sale items would insist on paying full price? No. It's the same thing.

Why don't you just mind your own business and let others be?

The only person making the police look bad is you; I would hate to come into contact with someone as unreasonable as you in a position of power. It's actually quite worrying.

@FelicisNox as plenty off pp have explained, using blue light card is definitely not the same as being a police officer on duty ASKING for discount.

I have a cafe and I always give police officers free coffee, they never ask for it but I don’t charge them...just like I don’t charge the binmen or postie etc

Many restaurant owners are immigrants from countries where saying no to a policeman would land them in serious s*. It is really insensitive to go in and ask for a discount knowing that they will be scared to say no.

Also if he had have asked the question when he called in the order he wouldn't have put the member of staff on the spot at the point of payment when he was stood there in full uniform

@Bodynegative as someone who has been on various benefits I know there is plenty of help on offer:

• rent paid/partially paid
• Council tax paid/partially paid
• 70% child care paid
• milk vouchers
• free school meals
• uniform vouchers

Is it easy? No. But there is plenty of help and what you fail to understand is that unless you're management level the wages in NHS/police etc. are absolutely shocking and many full time staff are using foodbanks.

Do your homework before attacking others just because you're jealous.

It's bloody hard work: shocking pay, crap shift patterns, abusive behaviour and we've been working through a bloody pandemic, often unwell ourselves and greedy idiots like you STILL begrudge us the slightest thing.

If you're that bothered and you think it's that easy, get off your arse and go work as a frontliner.

It might teach you some humility.

@FelicisNox you clearly don't get it hun. A police officer asking for discount while on duty could be seen as being impartial... if something happened at the restaurant would they expect a different service from the police because they give officers discount on request? It's actually a serious issue which is why it is written into the code of ethics that the police must not do this.

It is not the same as being an nhs worker or even an off duty officer using the blue light card. The blue light card does not state who you work for.

@FelicisNox blue light workers aren’t the only people who have worked hard during this pandemic and been at risk, there are loads of forgotten people who have too and haven’t received any extra perks. That’s the point people are making. There are loads who are struggling, risking theirs and their families lives, who get paid next to nothing, who work stupid hours, who have lost everything, and they don’t get any extra discounts or freebies and don’t expect them.

The point is we are focused on a few sectors, and there are loads of people who are really suffering right now, including those who are being asked to give discounts. I have been shouted at previously for not giving a discount even though it wasn’t my choice whether to or not. It’s that sense of entitlement, especially when others are really, really struggling financially, that is frustrating people.

But there is plenty of help and what you fail to understand is that unless you're management level the wages in NHS/police etc.

The police inspector in the OP is management level, is well into the upper rate tax bracket and breaching the Nolan principles which as management level he should be enforcing, not just following.

You’re concerned that asking for a discount has a negative impact on the representation of the police?! Why don’t you concern yourself more with your corrupt, lying colleagues that destroy people’s lives.
Typical of your professions priorities.

@Twofingers

You’re concerned that asking for a discount has a negative impact on the representation of the police?! Why don’t you concern yourself more with your corrupt, lying colleagues that destroy people’s lives. Typical of your professions priorities.

I feel like i’m taking crazy pills. The whole point of this post is that op is concerned that this is corrupt behaviour, and other pps have pointed out that it is against the rules of professional conduct. What are you angry about exactly?