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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not give NHS discounts?

300 replies

LottieLot · 20/11/2020 20:35

I own a small business making and selling a product.

As you can imagine it's been quite tough during Covid but we've stayed afloat and things are picking up a little thanks to Christmas. It's been hard going though and a bit worrying at times.

I seem to have a lot of people messaging me asking for discounts for NHS staff and I've felt under pressure to agree most of the time.

AIBU to stop though now? I am of course appreciative of everything NHS workers do, but I have struggled to get my business through this pandemic and I could do without offering discounts frankly.

Is it rude to ask a small business this in your opinion? I personally cant imagine ever doing so. I'm not a huge franchise, I am a genuine small business which is obvious from my page!

OP posts:
ArranBound · 21/11/2020 23:55

Why would people who have been on full pay throughout the Covid lockdown expect discounts? I think it's bloody rude and, when a small business is involved, it is blatantly taking advantage.

I'd never in a million years have thought of begging for money off a small operation.

Audreyseyebrows · 22/11/2020 00:22

@RattleOfBars I would clap for you (but I’m in handover). Ace!

PortalooSunset · 22/11/2020 00:35

Totally not unreasonable. Don't feel pressured. I gladly take the freebies from Costa etc (though only from the machine when I'm buying petrol!) but figure big organisations like that can well afford it and are doing it to look good. Would never dream of asking for a discount from an independent retailer/small business though!

Madwife123 · 22/11/2020 00:59

Frontline NHS staff here, stop the discounts!!

I’m just grateful to have a job and have no financial impact due to this pandemic. Many people have it worse than us right now.

TalkingToMyselfAndFeelingOld · 22/11/2020 02:32

@LottieLot

It just seems a bit rude imo, to ask when it's not offered iyswim? Especially of a small business just trying to sell a niche product. Surely it's quite obvious that these sorts of business will have struggled throughout. I feel like there are people trying to take advantage essentially of the current public appreciation for keyworkers. I was never asked before all this.
It does seem a bit cheeky when they ask.

completely different kettle of fish if your company has a sign up saying they offer them.

Is it a legal requirement for businesses to have NHS discounts?

TalkingToMyselfAndFeelingOld · 22/11/2020 02:34

Because of there isn't a law saying you have to give them, i would be like well it's your business, your rules

In really feel for small business owners at the moment. I wish that instead of lockdown we had just enforced masks and social distancing from the outset

DPotter · 22/11/2020 03:04

I run a small business and I know many others who do as well. I don't offer discounts to anyone (other than my Dad) and I know most of the other small businesses don't either. Sorry - simply can't afford to. Some people just treat it as a game or a way to get one over on you - they simply have to have a discount.

If you run your business from a shop or other premises, you could put up a little sign by the till - "Please don't ask for credit or a discount - we don't offer either"

Umbridge34 · 22/11/2020 04:49

Then when there’s an accidental exposure (patient or staff unexpectedly test positive): all the people who worked with them have to quarantine and use annual leave or unpaid leave when the first runs out. Many of my team have run out of annual leave now as they’ve had to isolate so often. If you have a kid(s) with a cough they can’t go to school so it’s 10 days in isolation unless you can get them tested quickly! So that’s a lot of unpaid leave for many NHS staff

Seriously?? Even in my shit show of trust we get paid for self isolating. I've been off 4 times since march, thankfully only did the full 2 weeks once at the beginning before they started proper testing and I've been paid every time. And the time off does not count towards any sickness triggers either.

As for the OP, I've had a blue light card forever so do use that online. I've never used it in a proper shop though and would never actually ask for discount.

We had a name for the queue jumpers during first lockdown... lanyard warriors. I dont actually know anyone who takes their ID lanyard home, everyone leaves them in their drawer. And no one is wearing them outside of work because we can't wear uniform outside of work so wouldn't bother leaving the lanyard on

bloodyhairy · 22/11/2020 04:57

Such an entitled attitude.

YANBU and hope your business continues to pick up Thanks

Backbee · 22/11/2020 07:15

Thought of you OP, just saw on Instagram an account saying they have donations from small businesses and they'll choose a winning entrant to win said small business prize every week. Not sure why the emphasis on small businesses, it's a lovely gesture but most people would be happy to win something from a big business also Confused

MrsDThomas · 22/11/2020 09:38

I’m still puzzled as to why the NHS think they deserve a discount every where.

Millions have worked through the lockdown snd don’t get discounts/bonuses etc.

PortalooSunset · 22/11/2020 09:47

@MrsDThomas

I’m still puzzled as to why the NHS think they deserve a discount every where.

Millions have worked through the lockdown snd don’t get discounts/bonuses etc.

There are entitled people in every form of employment I guess.

You're having a laugh if you think regular NHS staff get bonuses though.

SentientAndCognisant · 22/11/2020 10:00

I’m still puzzled as to why the NHS think they deserve a discount every where
Everywhere you say? Well off I shall trot to Fortnum & Mason to demand my chutney discount.

PurpleDaisies · 22/11/2020 10:01

I’m still puzzled as to why the NHS think they deserve a discount every where.

Isn’t it more than they know the discount is offered so they’re just enquiring about whether this particular business is part of that?

Ffsffsffsffsffs · 22/11/2020 10:20

YANBU op.

Recently I got involved on a thread about school staff discount at Morrisons. Sure, all in jobs so are grateful for that, plus some staff in schools are earning way over national average. Support staff are often on little more than nmw though, so I would absolutely claim my discount from a national retailer.

Local independent retailer/cafe? Struggling way more than Morrisons, I wouldn't dream of asking!

Retiremental · 22/11/2020 10:26

@MrsDThomas

I’m still puzzled as to why the NHS think they deserve a discount every where.

Millions have worked through the lockdown snd don’t get discounts/bonuses etc.

Where you one of the kerbside clappers back in the day?
Pomegranatespompom · 22/11/2020 10:28

Just don’t give it - no need for a huge discussion. I really feel you have posted to fuel anti nhs sentiment.

Btw the majority of nhs staff wouldn’t dream of asking or expect a discount.

burnoutbabe · 22/11/2020 10:34

I am a student so I check if places offer student discounts usually and have got it set up with boots and Superdrug and Ryman's.
I don't ask restaurants for any discounts right now as I know they need all they can get (ie one could set up multiple accounts fir first time buyer discounts)
But I'll take the usual student discount, even though I am a mature student and have a well paid job. Shops shouldn't offer discounts if they can't afford them. Nor should they offer any discount if they don't want to.

I generally use an app to see what places have a student discount anyway.

Skipsurvey · 22/11/2020 10:42

@Pomegranatespompom

Just don’t give it - no need for a huge discussion. I really feel you have posted to fuel anti nhs sentiment.

Btw the majority of nhs staff wouldn’t dream of asking or expect a discount.

absolutely concur
Funkypolar · 22/11/2020 10:49

I have a Blue Light Card and I use it where it’s advertised. I don’t work in the NHS and I’m not frontline. Earlier this year Hobbs and Hotel Chocolat were doing 50% off!

DH has his military ID, we get discounts using that where they are advertised.

RattleOfBars · 22/11/2020 10:53

Even in my shit show of trust we get paid for self isolating. I've been off 4 times since march, thankfully only did the full 2 weeks once at the beginning before they started proper testing and I've been paid every time. And the time off does not count towards any sickness triggers either

Not all Trusts offer this. Ours gave everyone 10 days special covid leave (paid) in March but it could only be used once, even if you’d only used 1 or 2 days of it! So someone with 3 kids who had to isolate for a few days waiting for kid’s test result, used covid leave, and next time a kid got a cough they had to use annual leave. And the next time and the next. It’s the same in my friend’s trust too. A lot of people have run out of annual leave especially with tests now so hard to book and results being slow to come back.

We had a name for the queue jumpers during first lockdown... lanyard warriors. I dont actually know anyone who takes their ID lanyard home, everyone leaves them in their drawer. And no one is wearing them outside of work because we can't wear uniform outside of work so wouldn't bother leaving the lanyard on

If I left my lanyard at work I wouldn’t be able to swipe through the many doors to get in and out of the building! It goes home in my bag.
I’ve never used it for the family shop.
But I did use it to jump the queue on the way to work, if I needed to buy sandwiches for my team or other work related things! No way would I queue for an hour behind people with trollies when I just needed to pop in and out then get to the MDT meeting on time. The supermarket staff were always lovely about it, some thanked me for the job I was doing and waved me straight in. I also had some nice comments from the people in the queue I was ‘jumping’ (who overheard me saying I’m frontline NHS and just need to nip in quickly). ‘Lanyard warriors’ is a cruel term. Supermarkets offered priority to NHS staff at that time because they knew we had to rush to work! Same as the lovely kind companies who sent free food deliveries and snacks to the wards, totally unexpected but a kind gesture and a big boost to team morale. NHS staff often miss lunch due to work pressures so it was like those companies understood a bit of what we were going through.

nosswith · 22/11/2020 10:57

If you are offering no discounts to anyone, and make it clear in as friendly a way as possible, then YANBU.

RayOfSunshine2013 · 22/11/2020 10:58

Ex NHS - very appreciative of NHS discounts but would never ask for it unless advertised. I still feel awkward asking for my blue light/ NHS discount in the big places eg new look, Nando’s

Skipsurvey · 22/11/2020 11:05

i dont understand why the op is querying Hero worshiping in November, been there, done that, seems like the op just wants to relight the fire of anti NHS

Retiremental · 22/11/2020 11:08

@Skipsurvey

i dont understand why the op is querying Hero worshiping in November, been there, done that, seems like the op just wants to relight the fire of anti NHS
Yep hero worshipping was so last March/April Wink

We’re back now to being shit on a shoe with 12 hour shifts without toilet or lunch breaks. Still at least we get paid top dollar Grin