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!

[Audreyseyebrows]

@Pomegranatespompom don’t apologise! We are a team, no matter how far and wide.

(Just don’t cry into your visor/goggles because they will count it as a tea break)

[Pomegranatespompom]

@TiggerOfThigh that sounds so stressful, I’m sorry. So many people are working in very difficult conditions. Wishing you the very best.

@SentientAndCognisant we can do this, vaccine soon.. we’re more than half way.

[Pomegranatespompom]

@Audreyseyebrows absolutely

I wouldn’t want to waste my paid for coffee anyway ...!!

[SentientAndCognisant]

@Pomegranatespompom yes we can do this, we’ve got it
But fuck it tough

[Tootsietoot]

I can't get passed the hero worshipping comment. My DPis a paramedic of over ten years and the pandemic has broken something inside of him. I'm pretty certain he isn't interested in 10% of whatever shite you're selling for a profit.

[Retiremental]

[quote Audreyseyebrows]@Pomegranatespompom don’t apologise! We are a team, no matter how far and wide.

(Just don’t cry into your visor/goggles because they will count it as a tea break) [/quote]
Have you noticed how quickly even the sneakiest tear drops absolutely soak through an FFP3? I haven’t worn mascara since March
Solidarity elbow bumps-the vaccines are nearly here-we’ll get through it m, tears, snot and free coffee included!

[Funatish]

Yeah I'm over the hero worship comment too. I'm frontline NHS and it is hellish, I have consistently worked full time with a young family and honestly did not sign up for this pandemic, the strain on my physical and mental health and impact on my family. I certainly would not expect a discount from small businesses. If its offered from large businesses then I assume it is fair game.

[Audreyseyebrows]

@Retiremental haha! No need for make up, I don’t think I have an inch of space free on my face to put anything! I do occasionally put strawberry lip balm on so it makes my mask smell good which is probably incredibly bad.

Sorry op, completely hi jacking

[Wineiscooling]

I'm a nurse and mortified people are asking. I've never asked or used a discount anywhere or queue jumped (except once when I was dropping a prescription off for a patient who couldn't get out, the queue was massive and it was in my lunch break but I'm still gutted at the comments and looks I got from the other people in the queue). Yes, this year has been tough but I am grateful I have a job and a wage coming in to pay the bills. I know others have it tough at the moment financially so you are definitely not being unreasonable to stop the discounts.

[Strictlysilly]

Nhs nurse here and have used discounts for large retailers. Dh got made redundant so for me does help with 2 young children. Wouldn't expect a small business to offer a discount.

[FluffyRabbitGal]

As a frontline NHS employee, I would ask for discount if I had seen a sticker/sign on display advertising it’s availability. I wouldn’t dream of asking if I hadn’t seen anything though.

[Keeping2ChevronsApart]

I sell on eBay, nothing handmade just mass produced stuff. I was asked do I do discounts for key workers as she'd been working hard and it was her little treat each month 🙄

[Viviennemary]

I don't think they should be given a discount.

[Retiremental]

[quote Audreyseyebrows]@Retiremental haha! No need for make up, I don’t think I have an inch of space free on my face to put anything! I do occasionally put strawberry lip balm on so it makes my mask smell good which is probably incredibly bad.

Sorry op, completely hi jacking[/quote]
I use neat lavender oil on plain surgical masks and olbas oil on FFP3. Purely psychological but I swear they are like my comfort blankets now

[Pomegranatespompom]

@Viviennemary I think you will see all the posts on here from nhs staff have said they wouldn’t ask and don’t want a discount.

paid for of course - we’ll get through this.

[SentientAndCognisant]

@Viviennemary ”they” are not an amorphous mass
We are the parents,siblings,partners,aunties,uncle,cousin,next door

[KitKatastrophe]

It's ridiculous. NHS workers are people who have been on full pay the whole time, while many others have been furloughed or had their income slashed or lost their jobs entirely. If anything there should be an "unemployed due to covid" discount! I dont have an issue with large companies offering discounts if they want, but to ask for a discount especially from a small business, is beyond the pale.

FWIW my husband works for the NHS and would be entitled to 15% off at our local indian but we didnt claim it.

[SpillingTheTea]

Jeezzzz. Our NHS discount and Blue Light Card discount is a little gesture of a thank you. For most in the NHS it isn't a standard 9-5 job like the rest of many workers complaining that NHS get discount.

But no, I would never ask for discount if it isn't stated so stop OP.

[ChasingRainbows19]

I’m NHS ward staff, I’ve barely taken any discounts this year. I certainly wouldn’t ask a small business for one Why are people so grabby? Loads of businesses offer NHS discounts this isn’t a new thing. No need to pester for more.....

It’s not been a great year for many people and it’s been tough at work to say the least but I’m getting a wage so I can afford to pay a full price. I’ve done most of my Christmas shopping with small businesses.

[malificent7]

I'm NHS and don't want a discount...a pay rise from Boris would be nice though!

[MRC20]

If you can't afford it don't do it!

[AwkwardSquad]

@SD1978

Juts have a set message ready to go. As a small business which has struggled- like most small businesses, this is not something we can provide as our business would not survive. I appreciate all the effort of people who have and continue to work during these difficult times, and hope you are still able to support our small business to survive during these unprecedented times.

This is a really good suggestion. It bats the ball right back into the court of the person asking for the discount and hopefully will make them think a bit more carefully about the impact of their request.

[Frazzlefrazle]

I'm NHS too and I would be mortified to ask for a discount from a small seller. In the summer I went away for one night to a lovely hotel and when I checked in there was a sign saying they were giving 10% discount to NHS but I just couldn't bring myself to say anything. They must have made a loss this year and who knows if my 10% would make a difference to them.

OP just politely decline

[Aridane]

@MaelyssQ

No-one should be getting discounts, least of all NHS workers who have had a regular income throughout the pandemic with no interruption. I can afford to buy my own toiletries, I don't need to queue jump for groceries, and I don't want money off a takeaway because I'm caring for Covid patients, it's what I do, it's my job.

Thank you, @MaelyssQ

[rwalker]

No don't offer wife used to work for the NHS and after first few years she certainly wasn't low paid.