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!

I think its fine to say sorry you can't do discounts. I dont think its cheeky to ask though, quite a few places do nhs discount without advertising it very well so sometimes if you dont ask you miss out! A lot of places dont do discounts and its fine to be one of them, I doubt any nhs workers will kick off about it and if they do then they ABU

I think it's ok to ask IF a business is going NHS (or student/oak/whatever) discounts

I think it's rude to ask if they WILL give a discount.

Don't feel obliged to say yes!

Front line nhs and would never ask for a discount! In fact I barely take them even if offered.

It doesn't feel that lucky, 2 of my colleagues died due to exposure at work, but there was only one way this was going to go after all the clapping, which we didn't ask for btw

I'm NHS and also say stop. As tough as it's been for us this year we still have a job to go to! I can't believe any NHS workers are pulling that line now given the state of the economy but then I never did in the first lockdown other than one trip to The Range for essentials and they are a big company able to absorb the losses.

Very cheeky to ask small businesses outright. Would it help to put a note up in store on website to say no discounts are possible, to avoid offence please do not ask.

Even if people are going from word of mouth from previous months there is nothing wrong in now saying that due to your own circumstances it isnt possible to carry on.

I want to acknowledge your post @Pomegranatespompom, that’s indescribably hard to lose your colleagues.

OP if you feel awkward about stopping NHS discounts is there something else you could offer that wouldn't have as much impact on your bottom line, e.g. free giftwrap? You still get to look generous, NHS staff still get a perk, but it's not affecting your profitability as much?

@trixiebelden77

I think it’s very unlikely that the people who actually have been ‘frontline’ are the people asking for discounts. IME it’s the people much further away from what we’re dealing with.

As an ICU dr I don’t know anyone who asked to be hero-worshipped as you charmingly put it or who refers to themselves as a ‘key worker’. The contempt you and others seem to be feeling is a shame and I hope it’s appropriately reserved for those taking the piss who frankly are simply not those working alongside me.

You will usually find that this referring to themselves as key workers, frontline NHS etc are being hazy about their exact role for a reason.

Please realise lots of us do not think you're 'lucky' or begrudge you ANY discounts/front of queue/school placements or anything else 🌷

There is NOTHING that would get me working on a Covid ward, absolutely nothing...certainly not 10% discount at the supermarket 🤣

I am appreciate anyone who 'worked through' the lockdown to provide ANY essential service & don't begrudge them 'keyworker' status/perks

But I do think 'frontline' staff deserve a title/help/'perks' all of their own

...Christ knows what though as I can't think of anything 'good enough'

Maybe set up an automatic response to say ‘Rather than continue to offer NHS discount I have decided to vote for fair pay and conditions’.

I would shop purely for that

@Pomegranatespompom I’m so sorry

Thank you @SentientAndCognisant It's been difficult but it has been for many people.
Thank you for being kind.

Again in relation to the 'hero worshipping' comment, it was not in any way to suggest that NHS staff or keyworkers themselves have asked to be worshipped. Just that the public seem(ed) to be doing a lot of it and it contributed to me feeling unable to say no.

One of my parents is front line police and they have witnessed it themselves, as PP said, people bringing in all sorts of free goods etc... Most people I know in these jobs don't like it and find it a bit awkward.

But it has obviously obvious to some (not in any way suggesting all) because I now receive multiple messages from workers directly asking for discounts which I never did before the pandemic.

I'm sorry to hear about your colleagues Pomegranate, truly.

There’s no adequate way to convey the emotional and physical burdens working on through covid, and I can see it’s been called a pity party to crack a light about the realities of being in NHS

I don’t seek a discount
But if it’s offered of course I will take it

What I see is that it’s non clinical/non frontline NHS staff who are asking for discounts constantly. The rest of us are too knackered to care.

@Pomegranatespompom &@CoffeeRunner
And all the other frontline NHS

THANK YOU 😘🌷

I honestly couldn't do it & am immensely grateful to those if you who do! & I'm very sorry for the colleagues you've lost

I’m bemused These mythical free goods
We did get free boxed meals (because we couldn’t get time to go out)
Free coffee we were to busy to collect

@PuzzledObserver

“I really appreciate everything NHS staff are doing - but I’m afraid my business is only just hanging on and I don’t have the scope to offer discounts at the moment.”

After all - NHS staff haven’t had their income cut, have they?

Just one point to remember though is that for many of us, our husbands/wives/partners/household incomes may have been affected by Covid. Whilst my wages have stayed the same, DH has taken a massive drop.

From a frontline Nhs worker, stop the discounts!

I’ll admit I have used my ID a few times but I would never use it in a small independent shop. Only massive companies who would never miss a wee 10%.

I’ll be frank I didn’t like the clapping,none of us did,we waited on the inevitable backlash
And it came
I am inexplicably bonded to the group of staff I’ve worked with.I've never known anyone like it. Being told in whispers about ill or deceased colleagues, people you know .Honestly sometimes I’m broken. I go to the toilet to have discreet cry. And then just keep on keeping on
We aren’t swimming in the latte lake or chancing our arm to get a freebie from small businesses
we aren’t Lucky to have our jobs,we have the job we trained for. We turn in By choice.
We also aren’t heroes nor do we need worshipped

As an NHS worker myself, I say stop the discount.
I'll admit I do take discounts when I'm aware of them from large chains, but I'd never ask on the off chance.
I'd certainly never ask a small/independent business.

Thank you for those discounts you've already given, but you need to do what's best for your business in these difficult times.

A lot of your post resonated with me @SentientAndCognisant I will forever hold a special place in my heart for the people I have worked with through this.
@WitchesBritchesPumpkinPants @Audreyseyebrows thank you for being kind, apologies, I felt briefly emotional !

Yes me too @Pomegranatespompom. The indescribable relief at seeing them turning in, and feeling They had my back

@Underadesk

Erm no..... A) you’re a small business trying to survive through this, you don’t have a guaranteed (and rising) wage each month B) not all NhS workers are frontline and can pull the ‘exposed’ line, and tbh, other keyworkers who are on less money (supermarket staff) or have been also in dangerous situations (par for course for somejobs normally) are gettinga bit peed off with the heroworship and special treatment.

Please don’t feel you have to, or bankrupt yourself out business to pander to people

This. My husband works for a supermarket, and is exposed 9 hours a day, 5 days a week. It’s just as scary for him/us. It doesn’t help that I’m in the vulnerable category either.

YA definitely NBU

I am making a conscious effort to shop small this year (hence my name), I would never ask for a discount! Most of us still receive full pay, so while discounts at I don’t necessarily feel entitled to them