To be fed up with all the NHS discount codes?

[YouDoYouHun]

Don't get me wrong, I have a lot of respect for NHS workers on the front line dealing with the pandemic, that's not what this thread is about, but AIBU to have had enough of shops and businesses offering NHS discount only? Generally, this isn't a new thing and has been around since last March, but this past week or so I have received quite a few emails from various shops/businesses (I won't name) including national and local, offering discount codes for NHS staff only. Great, they deserve it....but what about everyone else too? What about supermarket workers? Council workers? Labourers? Delivery drivers? The postal service? What about the people who have lost their jobs too? Granted, disposable income will be low to non existent so frivolous online shopping purchases will likely not be high on the priority list, but wouldn't that be more reason to offer a discount? for people struggling? How about a pandemic discount code so everyone can enjoy a treat rather than just singling out the NHS and sending the message that unless you work for the NHS you are undeserving?

The NHS also covers a huge variation of roles and I don't particularly find it fair that Mary who works behind the scenes gets the discount just because she is an NHS employee but Barry who works in a supermarket doesn't receive any discount because he doesn't work for the NHS? Not the greatest example, but you hopefully get my point.

This isn't meant to sound grabby. It's not about the discount. Shops/businesses are struggling too and don't have to offer any discount at all. My point is, if there is going to be a discount offered, why effectively invalidate other professions by sending the message that they haven't worked hard enough/suffererd enough to receive the 'prize' that is a discount code?

YABU - what are you talking about? Only NHS employees should receive discounts.

YANBU - This pandemic has affected us all in different ways and we shouldn't be made to feel any less important because we don't work for the NHS.

Know*

I do get its not a binary choice but the ngs is what we have to play with at the moment unless you suggest clinical staff all emmigrate or work in private hospitals.

NHS

It's like when the ballet dancer advert created a storm...." maybe she's a computer programmer and dosn't yet know it" Yes...it is a big tragedy that the arts are suffering but it is big fact of life that if you cannot make money in your chosen field you have to adapt. If you are furloughed or redundant i feel for you but please consider retraining to do a stable career....and i knos it isn't easy...far from it.

How would people feel if there was no theatre, no performing arts, etc., after covid? That's what you're suggesting if you want everyone trained/skilled in the arts (and related industries) to go and get a "stable career". Don't you think the World would be less enjoyable without the performing arts sector? How about instead of shutting down an entire industry that gives joy (and employment) to millions, we just give them a little support to help them through it, so the industry can bounce back quickly once it is able to??

YABU
What this boils down to is 'I don't like the fact someone else gets something nice' and that's before dealing with the silly statements about deserving and undeserving NHS workers. Are you also annoyed that students get student discounts, including those who are part time mature students?

Really weird attitude

Of course i think the performing arts are important and i am desperate to go to the theatre when this is over but my point is...for those of you who begrudge NHS workers for having a stable job....why not retrain yourself?

Some organisations may offer discounts to help maintain / improve their brand while others may have a lot of NHS staff as customers. I used to work in a rough neighbourhood when I was a teenager and we'd always give the police and firefighters staff discounts as both a small acknowedgement / thanks for their service and, frankly, we wanted them showing up fast when trouble occurred. (I know this isn't applicable to your NHS scenario, but perhaps they feel they're doing some sort of 'paying it forward' good deed.)

Personally, it doesn't bother me.

@jacks11 Did I say I felt hard done by? For all you know I could work for the NHS myself and have this opinion? Have I mentioned any desire at all for any discount to be stopped? Please, direct me to the posts where I have made these comments and I will happily direct you to where I have said that I agree with the discount and do not begrudge anyone. I don't disagree with the discount I disagree with the disparity.

My Mary and Barry example was a bit off, which I did say in the op. I of course know that every role has a part to play in the running of a business, but that isn't unique to the NHS, it is across the board. Some office based roles of the NHS, whilst being fundamental to the running of the organisation aren't particularly any more life risking or intense than other roles at other organisations, just because they fall under the blanket of the NHS . Again, I have never said that NHS employees should not be entitled to anything or minimised what some staff endure (I have actually said the opposite.....multiple times), but the NHS isn't a standalone organisation that is single handily seeing us through the pandemic. Going off topic here (but the comments have lead this) if there was no NHS then yes we would be up shit creek without a paddle, but what if tomorrow every single other worker just stayed at home. Teachers didn't log in. Council workers didn't go to work. Labourers decided to stay at home. Every supermarket closed its doors. There were no deliveries or post. The NHS would not keep the country running on its own. Other professions have importance and each organisation plays a part in the country's infrastructure. There are some jobs that carry a lot more risk and are a lot more mentally taxing than certain roles in the NHS and vice versa....again, it's all subjective, but my point is that is isn't purely just NHS that are carrying a heavy burden with the pandemic yet in my experience that is what the focus is on (hence the thread being started). My personal experience this week is that I have received an increased number of emails from both national business and local independent businesses emphasising the fact that certain discounts are available as a "reward" to NHS staff. Yes, granted, the discounts could have been round for years. But everyone on the company mailing list wasn't send an email about this on a weekly basis before the pandemic, just like yes, I know student discount is available at a number of stores, but I am not regularly sent emails from stores praising students and offering something as a reward for their hard work . No I don't want the discounts. No, I don't begrudge the NHS. No, I am not underplaying that there are awful situations that NHS staff are dealing with day in and day out. I am purely saying, there are other occupations that are also in the same boat. E.g. I am not a teacher, but I have not once seen one marketing email from a company praising teachers for their efforts. or "thank you to all the delivery drivers who have driven through all conditions for crap money to enable us to keep enjoying the luxury of ordering for delivery, thanks guys, enjoy this discount for our appreciation". It is always for the NHS. Like I have said, which posters seem to ignore, I think it is a good thing and if that gesture helps someone feel a bit better when things are bleak then great. And yes a Covid nurse working ridiculous hours on crap pay seeing the horror they will see is not the same risk or trauma as a delivery driver will endure (or other employees of the NHS at varying levels), but each are important in their own way and fundamental to lockdowns and navigating the pandemic as a whole.

I will also never understand posters who speak in a derogatory way to other posters either. I can never imagine calling someone pathetic or spitting venom telling people to get a reality check or name calling all because they had a different view to my own.

Yep.

How about discounts for the millions who don't have a secure job with pension and guaranteed sick pay.

NHS starr signed up to work with sick people and germs.

Shop workers didn't. None of the people in the industries that have been decimated signed up for losing all their income.anz not being able to feed their family.

Simply PR by businesses who if they really want to help should just cut prices by a fixed percentage for everyone instead of expecting the rest of us to subsidise people with guaranteed income when we have none

Eg. I am not a teacher, but I have not once seen one marketing email from a company praising teachers for their efforts. or "thank you to all the delivery drivers who have driven through all conditions for crap money to enable us to keep enjoying the luxury of ordering for delivery, thanks guys, enjoy this discount for our appreciation". It is always for the NHS.
I don't work in the NHS but the discounts have been around for years.
The emails are just marketing and trying to get the company good publicity.

I can take or leave twee marketing emails, but don't really care that NHS workers get a discount.

You sound about 10. "Its favouritism"

Is this really such a big problem? I spend a lot of my time now volunteering for an organisation who support people with mental health problems who are really struggling right now and here we are banging on about trivialities like this. What ever happened to having a bit of perspective and just being pleased that some people are being rewarded for the incredibly difficult jobs that they do. Why is everything a competition?

NHS employee here - YANBU. I don’t use mine. I used to raise an eyebrow at NHS workers who flashed their ID to get to the front of supermarket queues. Some are, but the vast majority of NHS staff are not as “front facing” as they would have the public believe, and certainly no more so than those in other professions - social work, police, supermarket workers, teachers, to name a few.

They turned up at a care home the other day stood in the porch and advised the low pay carer how to check for a fire (fire alarm continuous and home full of vulnerable disabled adults) because it was too unsafe to enter in case of Covid

Well yes, it is unsafe unless absolutely necessary for a fire person to enter a building of vulnerable people, when they are in a job where they cannot socially distance, and more than likely due to their jobs have children in school still etc which makes them more likely than an average Joe to have it . It doesn't mean they were saying that it was too much of a danger for them. So much money is wasted by attending alarms where care home staff haven't checked the dash, people are ridiculous.

I absolutely agree that other people should get discounts. However nhs discounts are not in anyway new just more advertised as previous poster said to get the buisness

@youdoyouhun how do you honestly have the energy to get yourself so worked up about a small discount code? A few pounds off a weekly shop? The way you are looking down your nose to the non patient facing, office based NHS workers is quite frankly appalling. It's becoming very hateful on here and spiteful. I'm still riled off the sitting at home with their feet up comment. Your have well and truly showed your ignorance. What is your job out of interest?

Meh. The businesses aren't doing it for charitable purposes, it's a marketing tool. They can't/won't offer it more widely, it wouldn't be profitable. They're businesses at the end of the day and if it's helping their marketing then I'm not going to begrudge NHS staff a small discount.

On the other hand, should the government ensure that all key workers are paid an actual living wage? A thousand percent yes.

@Backbee

They turned up at a care home the other day stood in the porch and advised the low pay carer how to check for a fire (fire alarm continuous and home full of vulnerable disabled adults) because it was too unsafe to enter in case of Covid

Well yes, it is unsafe unless absolutely necessary for a fire person to enter a building of vulnerable people, when they are in a job where they cannot socially distance, and more than likely due to their jobs have children in school still etc which makes them more likely than an average Joe to have it . It doesn't mean they were saying that it was too much of a danger for them. So much money is wasted by attending alarms where care home staff haven't checked the dash, people are ridiculous.

Yes, the health centre I used to work in wouldn’t send out a fire engine until they’d spoken to the fire officer to confirm that there were actually signs of a fire. Too many call outs for peoples inability use toasters/microwaves which were subsequently banned.

But what about MEEEEEEEEEE.

People on here need to go back to primary school and redo reading comprehension.

The outrage the OP is getting is totally unfounded and it stifles intelligent debate.

Critical thinking skills 0/10 for most of the raging folks on this thread.

I think there’s a huge difference between ‘keyworkers’ and ‘Frontline’

Frontline workers such as respiratory ward/ICU staff and A&E have really dealt with the most risky and scary part of this pandemic and they should absolutely be rewarded.

I am also frontline - I work as a support worker in a carehome and have very much been at the sharp end.

We could all begrudingly have a moan but ffs let’s just be glad of the perks some people are getting as they’ve bloody earned it IMHO.

@Perpetualheadache

People on here need to go back to primary school and redo reading comprehension.

The outrage the OP is getting is totally unfounded and it stifles intelligent debate.

Critical thinking skills 0/10 for most of the raging folks on this thread.

I don't see this as an issue of comprehension though.

businesses offer NHS staff discounts because they are the Uks biggest employer and it is good for business. As I said upthread I get far better perks from my private sector employer than the NHS discounts that are identical to offers I can access through my car insurance company, my credit card and being a scout leader.

Trust me, i haven't gone back to the NHS for the discounts

Perpetualheadache
Disagreeing with someone isn't lacking comprehension, however much some posters on mumsnet think it's a clever putdown.

'But whatabout... but whatabout... but whatabout...' line is just silly.

Different jobs have different benefits.

I get a discount at outdoor shops because I lead outdoor activities for teenagers. Why don't we start some whataboutery on that too?
Or student discount. Some students are more affluent than I'll ever be so why should students get 10% off when there's people on low incomes earning less per year than some students get in loans?

The mistake you've made is thinking the OP was after intelligent debate.