To not give NHS discounts?

[LottieLot]

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!

[RattleOfBars]

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

Who said NHS think they ‘deserve’ a discount? I said I think it’s a nice gesture.

I don’t expect it but if it’s offered I accept it. It’s never occurred to me to ask (I hardly go out apart from work 😂) But I don’t see the harm in people asking ‘do you do NHS discount’ the same way they might ask ‘do you do OAP discount’ or ‘do you do student discount?’ NHS staff might be struggling financially too. And plenty of companies in the private sector still give bonuses for good work, based on performance reviews!

Millions of people worked through lockdown yes, but few faced the same level of risk as frontline NHS and blue light card holders. Most people worked from home in the first lockdown or were furloughed, allowing them to save a fortune on commuting and childcare. And they had plenty of discounts from the government eg furlough pay, hand-outs to businesses and self employed people, mortgage holidays, access to UC or tax credits to top up their income if struggling. Government ‘Eat Out’ scheme was accessible to all.

I’m not sure why people resent NHS discount, we didn’t ask for it and many of us don’t even use it! Same with the clapping. I was often walking home from a long shift and long commute when the clapping started, it gave me a warm feeling inside. Like people were acknowledging us and the life threatening risks we were being exposed to. The clapping also helped people feel less isolated, there was lots of chatting across the street and neighbours asking after each other from their front gardens.

[SentientAndCognisant]

My Id and swipe card remain with me as it gives access to all departments
If the swipe card is in a drawer I can’t get access
Lanyard warriors? So what if some staff got a free drink at pret. It was offered, it was available so Good luck to them. Quite honestly what’s the problem if it lifted someone spirits made their day a wee bit better?

[RattleOfBars]

Why would people who have been on full pay throughout the Covid lockdown expect discounts?

Not all NHS workers were on full pay, lots work bank shifts or locum or were on temp contracts.
There seems to be this myth that all NHS staff are well paid. Spare a thought for all the cleaners, ward clerks, band 2 assistants and others on minimum wage take the same risks and work just as hard as those on higher wages.

[Aridane]

Millions of people worked through lockdown yes, but few faced the same level of risk as frontline NHS and blue light card holders

Incorrect - deaths from Covid for doctors and nurses (not care workers though) was no higher occupation wise than the average. Where death rates were higher were for the unsung heroes of workers in public transport, retail, construction, couriers.

ONS

[mooncakes]

It's absolutely fine to ask if a business offers discounts! "Do you do an NHS discount?" "Do you do a student discount?"

When I was a mature student I asked everywhere about student discounts

If you don't do an NHS discount, you just say no

[SentientAndCognisant]

No one expected,it was spontaneously offered. We didn’t chance our arm for a free latte
We did get free box meals sent in. Because we couldn’t get out,because the shops were either closed or rammed with people buying their body weight in bog roll

[Throwntothewolves]

I think you should just say no OP, if you need a reason the financial impact of Covid is enough. Many businesses won't survive this, so to expect money off when so many are struggling is extremely cheeky and self absorbed.

Locally the supermarkets have started doing a discount for education staff and all council workers. Now granted school staff are at a greater risk than most right now, but why does Mary who works from home doing local council admin need a discount? Same applies to non-frontline NHS workers.
Additionally those who work in the NHS or for the council have secure jobs, which is more than many can hope for right now. Maybe discounts should be offered to the recently unemployed too, or those who've had pay cuts.

The phrase 'key worker' covers many jobs, mine included, but as I don't work for one of the government funded organisations I don't get a discount anywhere. I have had a 20% pay cut because of the Covid impact too. I don't however wear my 'key worker' status like a badge as so many seem to.

Obviously not all those who use their discount are entitled CFs, but those that expect it from small struggling businesses should have a word with themselves

[Pomegranatespompom]

@Aridane the emotional tool of working in itu was horrific, having to phone families to inform them their loved one was dying, trying to provide comfort to people who are dying, plus your colleagues having a quiet sob while trying to look after other patients.
It would be nice to demonstrate some empathy.

[Pomegranatespompom]

*emotional toil

[SentientAndCognisant]

It’s not a competition to see who’s got it worse. It’s awful for everyone working through this
Of course I’m aware of the risk and impact upon others eg retail,couriers,bus drivers,the domestic staff who have all continued to work
don't however wear my 'key worker' status like a badge as so many seem to can you give an example, what have you seen? What does the key worker status badge say...
Hello my name is Key worker status give me a freebie
Hello My name is key worker status kneel to my badge

[Aridane]

It’s not a competition to see who’s got it worse

No - and in my view it’s about celebrating the key workers who drove our buses, delivered our food, worked in our shops, kept our streets clean. What we used to call ‘unskllled’ labour and what some of us now accept is ‘key’ work.

[MrsDThomas]

@Retiremental clapping? Absolutely NOT. Didnt see why anyone would.

[Pomegranatespompom]

I absolutely agree that many people - retail, travel, bins etc were fantastic and are not acknowledged enough.

[WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll]

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

You would have thought so back when this all kicked off, going by all the neighbourhood bullies (not NHS workers) trying to make out that applauding and bashing saucepans was mandatory.

They used NHS workers as a pawn for themselves - gaining influence and virtue-signalling bragging rights and enjoying the passive aggression, all the while ignoring intimidating and threatening nurses for going out to work (and in at least one case, slashing her tyres).

In the same way that school bullies don't actually care about protecting Nike's huge profit margins - it's just a handy excuse for them to throw their weight around and bullying kids with cheaper brand trainers.

[SentientAndCognisant]

Is it a legal requirement for businesses to have NHS discounts? NO Alf course not

[RattleOfBars]

in my view it’s about celebrating the key workers who drove our buses, delivered our food, worked in our shops, kept our streets clean. What we used to call ‘unskllled’ labour and what some of us now accept is ‘key’ work

They did a good job too, and were brave and without adequate PPE, nobody’s debating that.

But you can’t compare those professions to someone who has to give personal care like bed baths, clean up bodily fluids, sit with dying patients, carry out swabs to test for covid or insert NG tubes and artificial airways. They are at much higher risk of catching covid. If you’re working on a ward with covid-positive patients you’re at higher risk than someone working out in the fresh air, or a delivery driver dropping food on doorsteps, or a bus driver or someone in a shop. Unwell people tend not to use shops and buses.

Death statistics don’t mean as much as infection rates. Many NHS staff had covid early on and recovered (often with few symptoms although a few people in our Trust tragically died). And we don’t know the total number of people who were infected, only those who had symptoms or were able to access a test within the time frame.

[Retiremental]

[quote MrsDThomas]@Retiremental clapping? Absolutely NOT. Didnt see why anyone would.[/quote]
Absolutely. Fucking plebs.

What is it you do for a job again?

[Kokeshi123]

Don't give discounts you can't afford, seriously!

And public sector employees probably have less income instability to worry about than everyone else right now.

[MrsDThomas]

@Retiremental a key worker.

[MrsDThomas]

Oh and why “again”? Cant see where I mentioned my job....

[Spidey66]

At the start of lockdown #1, my local NextDoor group were wanting to send pizzas up the hospital “for all our hardworking NHS staff”. I suggested that actually donating to Foodbanks for those losing jobs, or to charities like St Mungos to get homeless people off the streets during the lockdown would be better, and that if they really wanted to help the staff some hand gel for to and from work, or hand cream for the extra hand washing would be much appreciated. I was told in no uncertain terms I didn’t know what I was on about, it was easy to say such things from the comfort of my own home office. Looked pretty stupid when I said I was just back from my job as a mental health nurse in the NHS.

[Glitterbubbles]

@Itsalwayssunnyupnorth

Stop the discounts, I say this as frontline NHS. I don’t expect a discount for doing my job, the appreciation is lovely but I see it that I am in one of the most secure professions there is in a global pandemic, I don’t need discounts I would rather small businesses stayed afloat.

Frontline NHS too and I agree with this!

[Spidey66]

Me as well. While it’s nice to be appreciated a pay rise would be better..

[Murphs1]

I’m an NHS worker and I think you should absolutely stop your discounts! Most NHS staff are reasonably paid and although working conditions have been tough for some, there are many others who are in the same position who are non nhs such as supermarket workers, public transport drivers, who wouldn’t dream of asking. It makes me feel a bit ashamed actually

[EllyNC]

I work in the nhs, I’d never ask a small business for a discount!! Infact I often buy from some small businesses where I know I could use a code to get a referral discount but I don’t, I’d rather support the small business! I’d politely say no if I was you, and don’t feel bad.