Key worker rant

[cutie101]

What qualifies as key worker really annoys me.
More to the point the people who benefit from discounts and privileges even though they havent been in critical roles is getting to me.
Yes frontline staff have been absolutely amazing and deserve it, but what about the admin person who works for the NHS, or the optician, or the psychologists etc..their jobs haven't been impacted at all, but they benefit from the same discount as the true heroes. Im a teacher and have honestly never worked more than I have since March, in every day looking after children of key workers and vulnerable children, plus creating and recording lessons, making work available online, marking all work each day as well as so many other things...really annoyed me that looking in a car showroom the other day, those who work for the NHS get the staff discount at the moment, but not me. I am more than happy for the doctors, nurses, paramedics etc to benefit, but random admin who have been working from home or even furloughed...
Likewise I know a couple, both who worked from home throughout, just like so many other people. One is a solicitor in the public sector and the other works for a water company in their IT department. Again neither job critical during this time, but because one works for a water company and the other in the public sector, they are both classified as key workers so their children could carry on going to school, nursery etc.
I'm grumpy and ranting, but does anyone else feel the same?

This is about pizza?

Rosinavera...maybe it's never been relevant for you?

No I'd say it has definitely been relevant for me. I have worked several times covering jobs that were a pay grade higher than mine.

Rosinavera....if for a period of time and not one offs (that often a lot of us do), you could have asked for an acting up payment or an honorarium.

Thank you for the information

There are 1.1 million people who work for the NHS. It is the biggest employer in the UK by far and one of the biggest in the world.
How many of those 1.1 million people are worthy of all the hero worship / discounts thrown at them due to their exceptional contribution during the Covid crisis?
Probably 20-30,000??

Covid has brought out a really nasty side of society.

I couldn't care what discounts anyone gets.

Just go online and type in discount codes op there are 1000's.

Lots of employers offer discounts for different things. I don't think any of these discounts amount to enough to get worked up over.

I'm not going to mention my job because I'm not going to get into a discussion about what it involves. I don't need to justify it either.
I've never discussed how the pandemic has affected me as it has affected everyone. Until I read the OP. I feel compelled to write...
I'm a key worker. I've worked almost 7 days a week since lock down.I've had 2 days off. I've provided an essential service for my local community to ensure the residents of my town get the care they need. I don't qualify for a discount for anything. It's never crossed my mind to question that. It's really not on the top of my agenda at the moment. In fact it'll never be ON my agenda.
We're in a pandemic,I want to do my bit.it's coming at a huge personal cost (family,marriage,exhaustion)at the moment but it is what it is.
When the world gets through this,I and every other key worker,regardless of their occupation, should hopefully come through it,proud that they did their bit.
We're all in this together.

I don't care if you're a shop worker or a medic or a bank manager. You're key workers.You've all helped countless people with whatever they needed to navigate through this unprecedented situation.Often at the expense of your own safety and personal lives.
I'm sorry you feel so bitter. I'm shocked.

The term keyworker was only necessary to distinguish who could get childcare. There was no other reason, as anyone could go to work if they couldnt work from home. And lots of people working at home were keyworkers. It doesnt distinguish who has a more important job than anyone else or whether theyve worked harder or longer than anyone else.

I’ve worked straight through, took on additional work as colleagues off or furloughed. I’ve not had any AL. It’s exhausting. This is all about so much more than a free flat white. I feel completely bonded to the group of staff I’ve worked with throughout this,we have been nearly broken by this still had to keep on keeping on.

I don’t actually care about codes, the coffee chain next to my work was doing free drinks and we were all too busy to go. How’s that for you, free and we still couldn’t make it.

If there is a misconception that we are awash with freebies and having a jolly it’s completely wrong

We did get free food, prepped meals, for a while But hey at the time the shops had sweet fa and we couldn’t get out to shop anyway

And yes my kids were eligible to go to school. I had to scan a copy of my. ID to school

I am effectively a training manager. I was furloughed AND a key worker (due to who I work for). Stick that in your pipe and smoke it, OP.

Absolutely agree with you on many points @SentientAndCognisant we all feel the sane about bonding, we’ve worked through something together that’s been sad, exhausting but we also achieved a lot. I’ll always have a special bond with my current team.

Not all 'random admin' have been at home or furloughed OP. I dont think you've grasped how much those 'random admin' support frontline workers

My role is 'random admin' and I have worked every day, in the office, supporting my front line colleagues as much as I can

I can assure you, admin are not random.Theyre sending my letters,discharges to GP, scanning,uploading,supporting whole teams. Admin are integral to keeping things moving. Also they’ve had to step into unfamiliar roles at really short notice, work in other areas , do reception.

Admin roles are often underestimated, across all industries.

Without admin the whole thing collapses.

Yes, we are all colleagues working in a team.

Oh dear. You really do sound like a bit of a moan. And from your description of tasks undertaken as part of your job recently, I’m sorry but is that just what would be expected from a teacher? If it’s too much for you that you expect discounts and special treatment, maybe time to consider a career elsewhere.

@tootiredtothinkofanewname

IT for a water company IS critical.

I'm a teacher and would love a blue light card or similar. I love a bargain. But I don't qualify. Oh well! Not really worth moaning about imo.

I agree. IT is critical in many roles when systems crash (hospitals) it’s IT that will sort it. The NHS discounts usually don’t knock that much off anyway.

Geez. Stop whinging. There are very few jobs who haven’t been affected. When our ward Clark is having a day off or sick on the ward I work on , we have to do the admin and our normal job. It sucks. Ward Clark’s even tho it’s “only admin” are awesome.

The people who work in admin are 'true heroes' (usually heroines). They're awesome. Some of the most key of "key workers" are on a band 2.

IT workers are key. Prescribing, results, scans, records.

Oh for goodness’ sake. Sorry but working in admin does NOT make you a hero. This is just getting silly now!

Admin are integral to keeping things moving. Also they’ve had to step into unfamiliar roles at really short notice, work in other areas , do reception.

Stepping into other roles like reception at short notice - OMG! Maybe they should all be awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery and heroism!

@cutie101 I’m going to presume working in education you’re in a union right? Check out your union - I bet they offer member discounts/special offers and I would happily put money on the fact they look remarkably similar to the NHS ones. Alternatively get a Tesco club card.

You’re reaction to what amounts to advertising and marketing targeting is utterly ridiculous.

@Dongdingdong have you continued going into work?Feeling anxious, worried about your workplace
Being redeployed, or hearing your colleagues are redeployed
Moved to an unfamiliar area at short notice?
Having to induct new bank workers who’ve never worked in the job
Having to undertake additional work for colleagues who are off or furloughed?

Making A pithy comment , what does that add? What’s the purpose
I’m telling you about colleagues (predominantly female) who’ve continued to work. Having to come into work feeling scared,tired and just having to crack on.

I’m simply telling you working through covid has been gruelling. We are all a team (and that inc admin) we need each other

IT for a water company IS critical.

This. You do realise that it's computers that dictate what is in your water, right? A hacker could increase the levels of chlorine on your water supply if they got access to it. Imagine drinking that. They could do worse obviously. That's why it's critical.

I don't believe admin are heroes though. They are necessary, but not heroes. They aren't saving lives, they are making doctors and nurses jobs easier, that's all.

If you don't like it though op, the solution is obvious. Become a nurse, and leave teaching. Then you'll get all the praise and discounts you demand.