AIBU re hospital staff begging for freebies on social media?

[Biscoffaddict]

I’m fully prepared to get flamed for this, and I want to say I really do appreciate everything NHS staff are doing at the moment, but I can’t help but feel it’s a bit grabby and entitled to be asking for freebies on social media. The post in question was from a HCA who was asking for hand cream for their ‘poor sore hands’. She tagged about twenty colleagues in the post and also named the ward in question (not ICU).

It would be understandable if there was nowhere open to get hand cream from but it’s sold in Boots, Superdrug, all supermarkets and online. Very cheaply available as well, which is why this seems really grabby, entitled and a bit unprofessional if I’m honest. Lots of body shop and Avon reps have been tagged in the post and no doubt they’ll feel pressured into donating stuff and meeting the cost themselves (I’ve done Avon in the past and know how it all works).

For some reason this has really rubbed me up the wrong way. But like Ive said I’m prepared to be told I’m out of order.

It’s also available in pumps in almost all clinical areas.

Yanbu

I agree with you, i would feel the same way

Yanbu

Personally as a HCP I have never used my position to take any freebies or offers, I just don't like it. However I think this is a non issue if that is all you have to be worried about you are very lucky.

100% with you OP.

Also seen posts like ‘my car has broke down and I need to get to work (on the front line as a nurse)’ ... so you want your car fixed for free basically yea?

I've seen one of such post on Facebook. It wasn't for them but the patients!

YADNBU.
Doubt her bosses would be too enamoured with this.

I’ve seen lots of posts on our regional pages of people asking what they could donate to support local NHS staff, and know that several local businesses have made donations at the hospital recently (pet food being one example). So although the asking feels a little off to me, I can kind of see why she’d do it.

Really? That sounds odd - especially as there have been so many MLMs encouraging people to buy hand creams for the NHS. Are you sure it wasn't linked with something like that? You've said that Body Shop and Avon reps were tagged in the post - I imagine that one of them will shortly start a campaign...

@Indecisive12

It’s also available in pumps in almost all clinical areas.

It isn't on our ward.

I wouldn't dream of asking for freebies though.

Report it to the hospital trust then (I'm a HCP and would inform my manager). I doubt it's been approved by them. It annoys me too purely because of the backlash it generates. There are enough resentful comments around without individuals adding fire to it with things like this. The good will of the first wave is long gone and this one is so much harder to cope with.

I'd bet money that this is a MLM scam.

Grabby.
Also I’m not sure if I believe the Body Shop/Avon MLM huns who run a campaign so you buy their products and they then make a donation to the hospital.

I think it’s disgusting to be annoyed by this. Our NHS are stretched beyond breaking point and if I can buy some hand cream and make someone feel as though I value their work then I will.

I've seen a lot of this on Facebook recently. Like people can't possibly post anything without mentioning they are a keyworker. My best friend is a nurse and equally finds it annoying.

Lots of things like PP mentioned 'my cars broken down and I need to get to work (keyworker)'. So you want it fixed for free basically.

I won’t report it. I’m not that petty. It just seems so so, grabby. I know they’ve received lots of care packages from Bodyshop etc. The rep I use has donated a few bags to them and also to care homes without being asked.

@Alloftheboys

Grabby. Also I’m not sure if I believe the Body Shop/Avon MLM huns who run a campaign so you buy their products and they then make a donation to the hospital.

Oh I'm sure they have been donating the hand cream but what they don't say is that every purchase buys them credits in their shitty MLM and that people can donate stuff much more cheaply if they really want to.

Also willling to be it’s MLM.

You’re supposed to by from the body shop/avon friends who then donate their products. They keep their sales targets and commission while helping those poor NHS staff.

Scam.

I saw one on my Facebook community page the other day complaining that someone had cut them up at the junction. It was followed by 'I hope you know you just nearly crashed into A NURSE!!!' as if it would have been less awful to crash into someone of a different profession.

@CodenameVillanelle

I'd bet money that this is a MLM scam.

Not an MLM scam. I’ve looked at the woman’s FB page, she’s a HCA.

I'd agree that this is an MLM scam. If they've not already, someone will pop up suggesting you 'donate' to them and they'll then buy Body Shop/ Avon products for the staff, whilst keeping their commission and sales targets up.

Not an MLM scam. I’ve looked at the woman’s FB page, she’s a HCA

You can be a HCA and sell MLM shit on the side.

Many have second “business” pages to sell from.

I’ve looked at the woman’s FB page, she’s a HCA.

You can be both! The woman advertising on our local group even posted a pic in her scrubs, for dramatic effect.

Really! Didn’t realise how low the MLM’s could go!