AIBU to be p*ssed off with Scottish Government £500 Covid Bonus

[AnnieHoo]

I work in Health and Social Care in Scotland. I am not being given the £500 Christmas bonus from the Scottish Government budget that all of my colleagues are getting. I know that some of them deserve it for putting themselves in the frontline but a lot of them have been working from their living rooms for the last 10 months. I don't fit into the criteria and as far as I'm aware neither do those in Education or Transport or private sector or community trusts... just a kick in the teeth.

@Snufkin2 It is so good of you to donate it. I feel the same that I have a relatively secure job compared to others on furlough and facing redundancy.

I'm in a project management role so don't qualify at all but I am 100% deployed to supporting people on a daily basis who need support when self isolating / shielding.

I know it's frustrating but they can't consider the bonus on a 1:1 basis for every single health and social care employee in the country. They have to make blanket rules, which look like they've tried to be as inclusive as possible. Doesn't make it any less frustrating though, I get that.

Social workers take the piss. Got the vaccine first here and haven't been seen outside a zoom meeting since March.

I'd guess its the adult social care but which will cause issues. If you're a local authority employed manager you might not be eligible, but if NHS employed you will be? Agree that in these days of Partnership working that will lead to unfairness

I just question the need to give it as a blanket £500 bonus. Seems political when in some board areas there are less than 100 positive cases of Covid.

don’t be jealous

I agree it's political and makes me really cross when there are so many better things it could be spent on, eg. our local High School's staff budget has been cut by a third this year.

I thought it was just for full time workers, I didn't think it was paid out on a pro rata basis?

What about the part time nhs staff, like one day a week, do they get it too?

In some board areas there may have been less than 100 cases however they will still have been working to the same covid restrictions ie full PPE, picking up the slack caused by staff shortages due to nationwide shielding of vulnerable colleagues and have the worry of catching the virus. I think they deserve it but yes, it's a shame that some people fall through the cracks of the scheme (such as myself; I'm waiting to hear if I'll be eligible although not sure I am).

@Hercwasonasnowball

Social workers take the piss. Got the vaccine first here and haven't been seen outside a zoom meeting since March.

Well that’s not true. I have a huge amount of social worker friends and although they have perhaps worked at home to complete reports, they have been carrying out the same duties, including home visits, and still being in the office. Child protection and adult care didn’t stop because of covid.

The ones working with my school openly admit they haven't left home or the office since March and have done everything remotely. They won't come into school as its so risky, yet get the vaccine before teachers...

Apologies to the ones you know who don't seem like the ones I've had contact with.

I'm a social worker and have been visiting all the time including in the beginning when there was no PPE to be had. I'm in the office almost every day, even though they don't want us there. We've never stopped.

Meetings have been virtual which is about the only thing that was different.