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?

patiently waiting for an someone to start a "teachers have it easy" thread

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

YABU, are you aware admin staff are pulled from other areas to cover admin roles on Covid wards? I know someone in sexual health who is currently on a Covid ward. Psychologists are vital right now when people’s mental health is suffering.

I think NHS managers and admin are very under appreciated and worked as hard as frontline staff during the crisis.

I'm a teacher, yes I've worked bloody hard all the way through this nightmare.
I don't want hero worship or special discounts etc etc (for the record neither does my SIL an itu nurse) all I want is my job to go back to normal and to never hear the words social distancing or bloody keyworker ever again!

Psychologists - dealing with bereavement, massive increase in depression and anxiety patients, mentally unwell feeling stressed and having breakdowns.

NHS admin - higher work load, covering sick/isolating staff, working in PPE, having to deal with new systems in an unsafe environment.

Stop being a martyr and thinking you're the worst done by person ever.

What on earth were you doing for 18 hours a day?

Nhs worker here - not used anything but I did get an Easter egg

YOU GOT A CHOCOLATE EGG?!

Oh my goodness, this is outrageous. I worked so much harder than you even though I have no idea what you do, WHERE IS MY EGG?! I demand it immediately.

I work in a school I am not upset that people get discounts good on them they got them before covid. All I want to do is ensure the children are safe happy and healthy not bothered about receiving discounts just want to do my job best i can during covid. People are dieing and your bothered about discount get a grip . I dont mind paying full price for anything to help the economy at this moment in time. All staff weather cleaning,cook, admin are all needed places couldnt function without them so why are you placing your self above them

You might benefit from a time management course.

I agree with your post OP but couldn't help but grimace at your use of the phrase "random admin". Way to put down people who aren't as qualified as you.

I understand what you are saying op. I don't begrudge NHS staff their discounts, they deserve them, but I am also a keyworker (Childcare) who has worked throughout and we have never had a mention. We cared for NHS staff children through lockdown so they could work but we, as always, are forgotton.

I'm an NHS admin and I couldn't give a stuff whether I'm counted as a key worker or not but your statement that their jobs weren't impacted at all is tbh absolute rubbish.

In the area I work in (district nursing) our work load increased and our staff levels went down. Who do you think sorts all of that out behind the scenes ?

By the way, I don't want a discount on anything but a mention by the government would have been nice....

@CrustyNupple I am so sorry, I ate my egg that day instead of getting lunch 😳
I’ve a left over creme egg somewhere (why oh why did they change the chocolate), I could send you that ?

I work in business intelligence in the NHS and have been working from home for nearly 6 months. I've never worked so hard in my life. So much so, I didn't use any discounts as I was working all hours. You are welcome to get up in the middle of the night to check that crucial data extractions hadn't crashed and therefore stop you from reporting important data about the spread of the disease.

I might not be working in a hospital but all NHS workers are important. We are now busting a gut trying to work out how to get the backlog cleared before the next wave, so it won't let up.

This is literally why people generalise us teachers as being lazy and bitter.

Jesus, I don’t think teachers need discount because if Covid. We can’t all get discount because life is hard - have I worked harder than I normally die during Covid? No. I’ve found it more of a struggle due to the lack of direction, understanding of what was going on, and sheer amount of changes etc BUT I also have been able to work much more flexibly, going to the park in the morning with my kids, recording my lessons in the evening etc.

I’m happy for NHS staff to receive a discount. And my brother is a psychologist and, whilst he has been quieter than usual, he’s actually had more harrowing cases.

This is a distinctly unedifying thread on behalf of OP.

Also, quite a lot of my team have been redeployed. They asked us if we had any experience in hospitals etc and those staff have been moved back into direct patient care. Quite a lot of NHS managers have clinical backgrounds. I have been covering their work, my own normal day job and the additional Covid work.

I'm happy to do it as I'm an important cog in the wheel of the NHS. No one is more important than anyone else.

@Tunnocks34

This is literally why people generalise us teachers as being lazy and bitter.

Jesus, I don’t think teachers need discount because if Covid. We can’t all get discount because life is hard - have I worked harder than I normally die during Covid? No. I’ve found it more of a struggle due to the lack of direction, understanding of what was going on, and sheer amount of changes etc BUT I also have been able to work much more flexibly, going to the park in the morning with my kids, recording my lessons in the evening etc.

I’m happy for NHS staff to receive a discount. And my brother is a psychologist and, whilst he has been quieter than usual, he’s actually had more harrowing cases.

^ This. The OP's post made me feel pretty angry, is it really why any of us went into teaching?

I was in school throughout the lockdown period, sometimes on a rota but then full time as numbers increased. DId I expect a discount on anything? No, I didn't. I was thankful we got hand sanitiser that we didn't have to pay for.

Are threads like this still fucking rumbling on?

Yes, agree with you. I'm technically a key worker but I don't see myself as critical to the effort so I haven't exploited any 'privileges'. Whole thing is ridiculous, and don't get me started on hospital appointments. How can I go to the pub or for a haircut but my terminally ill father hasn't had an appointment with his consultant for over 6 months!

@hibbledobble

I'm an NHS doctor, and worked on the coronavirus wards during the peak. I saw the most harrowing things. Your post is absolute nonsense.

NHS admin staff were redeployed to support roles on the ward in many cases: helping with flow and discharges etc. Their jobs are very important regardless, as the need for admin does not disappear during a pandemic: it increases!

NHS psychologists have been playing a key role looking after mental health, which has unsurprisingly deteriorated.

Everyone who works in the NHS, including the cleaners and admin staff (in fact especially the cleaners and admin staff) have played a key role.

I hate this. We are all important.

Key workers who work from home are also vital, helping to provide key services. I don't understand the school of thought that just because someone works from home, they don't need childcare. It's impossible to work effectively and care for or school a child.

I'm really dismayed to see all the key worker bashing posts lately. I don't consider myself a hero, in fact I think the 'hero' mantra is toxic. We are normal people, who deserve safe working conditions and reasonable pay. Calling us heroes detracts from that.

see above

I'm a nurse - my speciality during covid peak changed, I saw harrowing things I never would wish anyone to see.

I caught covid from a patient, but thankfully wasn't hopsitlised, some off my colleagues were.

Everyone in my trust has been affected by cornoavirus and are important in thier role they play.

I hate ther term 'hero' I'm not a hero - during the peak I was a terrifed nurse going to to work everyday and trying my best to help those I cared for.

A lots off companies, I believe our using the "Save NHS", 'Hero's" mantra for their own personal grain - publicity etc.

Just a guess @CountreeGurl but could it be because your hairdresser is not treating dozens of Covid patients per day but your local hospital is therefore the liklihood of coming into contact with the virus at the hairdresser is infinitesimally lower than it is at a hospital?

I'm sorry to hear your father is unwell, though. I hope he is as well as possible in thd circumstances

@FaithinWashing

I'm a teacher, yes I've worked bloody hard all the way through this nightmare. I don't want hero worship or special discounts etc etc (for the record neither does my SIL an itu nurse) all I want is my job to go back to normal and to never hear the words social distancing or bloody keyworker ever again!

Oh God, this! Yes, yes, yes please!

I work in a shop and classed as a key worker, lm not bothered about the discounts or when they get extra time to shop as lm not dealing with or seeing what they have had to deal with ( my niece and sister both work as nurse and where in Covid wards). I didn’t use the school for childcare as my dh worked from home (also classed as a key worker) as l was scared of putting teachers and other people’s children in danger as l had mixed with 1000’s of people each day.

They only thing I would like is when tax goes up to pay for all this that l am not affected too much, but then again l have job security (at the moment at least) so l should really just be thinking how lucky l am to have a job.