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.

This pandemic has really sorted the wheat from the chaff hasn't it. In years to come I hope I can look back and feel proud of my contribution. Which wasn't, and will never be, whining about other people getting stuff for free.

@rawlikesushi
I have often thought of the wheat/chaff distinction over the past year! Very eye opening to say the least!

Threads like this make me feel a bit unclean.

Imagine begrudging NHS staff a few quid off a top or a chain-restaurant meal! These people, at every level, help save lives.

I worked at a supermarket as a teenager and received a generous discount on their products (12.5%). As it was Waitrose I also got 25% off at John Lewis (doubt this is still the case, but sure there will still be a discount). My dicking about on the patisserie counter did nothing to deserve such generous terms but there they were.

I am now in a corporate position which pays significantly more than a junior doctor role, safely tucked away at home. I had the grades and the brains to become a doctor but chose not to because it was too much like hard work, frankly. I have the UTMOST admiration for those who, even in normal circs, work like Trojans and shoulder such responsibility. I fanny about in marketing. Every one of those doctors could have taken my path, the easier route. They didn't. And none of them were expecting this nonsense. They'd be well within their rights to quit and find a nice desk job, but they don't because they are caring people. They get on with it, with minimal fuss. And that includes all the nurses and admin staff. Even setting foot in a hospital or doctors surgery is a risk now. A risk I'm not sure I'd want to take, coward that I am.

So as far as discounts are concerned, I just hope those that are eligible have the time/resources to enjoy them fully. It's the least they deserve. Better pay and working conditions might be a more fitting reward, but that's not up to private companies.

If it's that important to you, the NHS is always recruiting. But in incentive terms, I'm not sure it's such a huge carrot.

@YouDoYouHun

But you quite clearly have got worked up and upset that NHS employees get a discount. It does come across as petty, IMHO. I really couldn’t care less if some other group get a discount in certain shops/for a particular service for which I don’t qualify. I think resenting it or getting angry about it is petty. That may offend you, but that is genuinely how I feel. I cannot understand how a business offering a discount to only teachers, or only those in the police force, or only care home workers or bus drivers, train conductors, shop assistants, HGV drivers or mechanics is upsetting or “pitting” me against them. I really don’t get it. I think whining about this is pathetic. As I said, if you really don’t like it, vote with your feet (well, your money) and tell the businesses you will no longer use why. Maybe they will agree and change their policy.

And as to your other point, you may not have said “NHS employees should not get discounts”, that is true. But you do resent the fact they get them and the disparity that you perceive as unjust. You must, realistically, therefore be arguing for the discounts to be removed as it is quite clear that businesses cannot give everyone a discount (which would then cease to be a discount and become a universal price drop) so in order to get rid of the disparity that causes so much upset/ irritation/ anger, the discounts would have to be removed entirely. Or businesses would have to try to institute a system where key workers/insert whatever group you favour can be easily and cheaply be distinguished from those not in that group, which would likely be so unwieldy/complicated/ expensive to set up and monitor that businesses would be most unlikely to want to go down that route. And even if there was expansion of the people included in the discount, how does that remove the disparity that you perceive as so unjust? If it is genuinely the disparity you resent, isn’t changing/expanding the group who get a discount simply a continuation of the very thing you are arguing against? Is it not still “pitting” one set of employees against another, if that is what you believe NHS discounts to be doing?

I think using terminology like “pitting against” suggests animosity which discounts of this type just should engender. It is petty to choose to get so offended or suggest that offering a discount to NHS staff means that anyone seriously thinks “only NHS employees are important”. I don’t think that. I am more than well aware how quickly everything would fall apart without all sorts of people doing their jobs. I think very few people really believe only NHS employees are important or working hard.

I think that when we look back on this whole thing, complaining about things like who got the discount for a coffee is going to be really unedifying.

I know where you are coming from OP. I remember at the start of the pandemic when there was a massive reaction from supermarkets and shoppers alike, resulting in massive queues and empty shelves. I was queuing to get into Waitrose behind an old lady bent over her trolley who could barely stand up with the most swollen ankles you ever saw.

We were nearing the front of the queue at last, and my neighbour, who works in admin for the NHS but not at a hospital, in a little office nearby that had closed and hadn't needed her to even work from home at that point (she had told me this, and has since started working from home and still is to be fair) sauntered past the security guard with her NHS lanyard.

I used to go to Waitrose twice a week. That was last April and I haven't set foot in there since. It just disappointed me so much but really I'm projecting my annoyance at my neighbour onto Waitrose but I still won't go back. The lecture on the tannoy they were giving was enough to put me off in its own right.

Waitrose also offered priority entry to elderly and vulnerable people at certain times of the day, during that period, to be fair.

What a bizarre thread. I’d quite like the 10% bonus which Aldi gave its workers for working through covid, but err...I don’t work for them! Not difficult to get an NHS job if you want the discounts. I’ll think you’ll be fairly disappointed that a. Your wage is unlikely to be high enough to flash the cash and b. The same discounts are available on the teachers discount website, the carers discount website, Quidco, by subscribing to the company newsletter, student discount, loyalty card etc etc.

@TattyDevine

I know where you are coming from OP. I remember at the start of the pandemic when there was a massive reaction from supermarkets and shoppers alike, resulting in massive queues and empty shelves. I was queuing to get into Waitrose behind an old lady bent over her trolley who could barely stand up with the most swollen ankles you ever saw.

We were nearing the front of the queue at last, and my neighbour, who works in admin for the NHS but not at a hospital, in a little office nearby that had closed and hadn't needed her to even work from home at that point (she had told me this, and has since started working from home and still is to be fair) sauntered past the security guard with her NHS lanyard.

I used to go to Waitrose twice a week. That was last April and I haven't set foot in there since. It just disappointed me so much but really I'm projecting my annoyance at my neighbour onto Waitrose but I still won't go back. The lecture on the tannoy they were giving was enough to put me off in its own right.

In fact, I've just checked at Waitrose are still offering priority access to elderly and vulnerable people 'at all times'. As are Sainsburys.

Tesco, Aldi and Co Op are offering priority access at specified times.

Only on MN do loads of people seem to have a neighbour who works in NHS admin who spent the first wave waving their lanyard about to push past grannies in the supermarket queues. It's always a justification for why they don't deserve any perks as well.

I think most people wish that there was a separate 'front line' scheme for NHS (or medics working in private hospitals for that matter) who are on the front line, and before they were vaccinated were risking their lives.

I would also be happy to extend this to hospital cleaners, those working in the kitchens etc.

The issue is that the NHS also employs hundreds of thousands of admin / managers / paper pushers who are nowhere near the front line and never will be. In fact they've been working from home since March. And they have pensions / decent salaries and job security that most people right now can only dream of,and many of them have already been vaccinated despite no or very little patient contact.

I think the reason why people feel resentful is for every hardworking nurse who benefits from the discounts, there's some backroom admin person that does too. And I think we'd all rather that discount was allocated to other essential keyworkers that have put themselves at similar levels of risk as the NHS instead, eg non NHS careworkers or support workers.

Not everyone can have a discount, I think most of us just want the discounts to go to those who deserve it, and I don't think Marlene who works in HR does, sorry.

Only on MN do loads of people seem to have a neighbour who works in NHS admin who spent the first wave waving their lanyard about to push past grannies in the supermarket queues. It's always a justification for why they don't deserve any perks as well.

But there are hundreds of thousands of them so it is quite likely! We probably all do know one!

I know someone in an internal comms role WFH who lapped up all the special treatment and brags about the discounts. I actually really like her but this just makes me quietly seethe.

@Backbee

Only on MN do loads of people seem to have a neighbour who works in NHS admin who spent the first wave waving their lanyard about to push past grannies in the supermarket queues. It's always a justification for why they don't deserve any perks as well.

This x100. I don't believe a word of it. I can almost guarantee it never happened.

Such hatred and spite towards the NHS admin I really can't get my head around it.

All these people dying & your complaining about a 10% discount!!

As previous posters have said, the NHS discount has been around for years, not just since the start of the pandemic. My mum worked for the NHS for 20 years before she retired last year and every one of those 20 years she was able to get various discounts in various shops. It's just a perk of the job to make up for shitty wages.

I don't think Marlene who works in HR does, sorry.’

Marlene in HR co ordinates the redeployment of staff between the departments most in desperate need of cover in conjunction with ward sisters,
Martha in payroll makes sure I get paid so I don’t lose my home.
Mary in stores spends eight hours a day sourcing PPE and overseeing it’s distribution.
Paul in estates services syringe drivers and makes sure we have enough in circulation to ensure people die peacefully.
Robert in laundry is working overtime because of the amount of infected linen being produced.
Susan in the labs is processing rapid covid swabs from A&E so staff can allocate patients to red/green covid wards asap.
Betty in the kitchens spends 12 hours loading dirty dishes into dishwashers.
Lucy the consultants secretary books the scans and ambulance transport to get Bobs spinal cord compression diagnosed.

None of these people have laid hands or even eyes on patients. Our NHS is a team effort. Sure there are a fair few middle and high level managers who are very definitely surplus to requirements.
But people like the OP and you who begrudge these people a fucking 10% discount because they’re not beside us on the front line? Pathetic. Spiteful. And very, very sad.

This is a tough one because if you extend those discounts from NHS to all key workers then even more people will want them and we'll end up in a situation where companies have to increase prices because they are losing profit and struggling and no-one is any better off in the end.
Just as an example when the first posts about NHS discount appeared in my local FB group there were then lots of posts from care home staff, then from other carers and eventually from people saying things like "I live with my mother who is elderly so can I have discount?"
I work in the NHS, clinical role, not frontline but not WFH. My role is working directly with patients, not Covid positive, but definitely busier as we are dealing with patients whose treatments and specialist reviews are delayed on top of our normal workload, in addition to having days when our staffing is reduced due to vaccinating.

Do I get some discounts? Yes. Do I feel I don't deserve them? No, but I am working in a very deprived area so am giving far more to local food banks and soup kitchens as I am aware I am lucky to have a steady salary.
Don't assume these discounts are all claimed out of greed and being pocketed. I know many NHS staff who, in addition to working extremely hard are also donating as much as they can to help others less fortunate

@Noconceptofnormal

I think most people wish that there was a separate 'front line' scheme for NHS (or medics working in private hospitals for that matter) who are on the front line, and before they were vaccinated were risking their lives.

I would also be happy to extend this to hospital cleaners, those working in the kitchens etc.

The issue is that the NHS also employs hundreds of thousands of admin / managers / paper pushers who are nowhere near the front line and never will be. In fact they've been working from home since March. And they have pensions / decent salaries and job security that most people right now can only dream of,and many of them have already been vaccinated despite no or very little patient contact.

I think the reason why people feel resentful is for every hardworking nurse who benefits from the discounts, there's some backroom admin person that does too. And I think we'd all rather that discount was allocated to other essential keyworkers that have put themselves at similar levels of risk as the NHS instead, eg non NHS careworkers or support workers.

Not everyone can have a discount, I think most of us just want the discounts to go to those who deserve it, and I don't think Marlene who works in HR does, sorry.

Your level of ignorance is atrocious. You have absolutely no idea, clearly, what goes on behind the scenes within the NHS. Nobody I work with has been able to work at home, I would love to have that luxury. As for decent salaries? Come on, surely your not that stupid or are you deliberately making a show or yourself?

I've never met anyone in real life who is as spiteful and shows this much anger towards the NHS admin like I have on this thread. All because of a 10% fucking discount. Get a grip.

@Doublefaced

I don't think Marlene who works in HR does, sorry.’

Marlene in HR co ordinates the redeployment of staff between the departments most in desperate need of cover in conjunction with ward sisters,
Martha in payroll makes sure I get paid so I don’t lose my home.
Mary in stores spends eight hours a day sourcing PPE and overseeing it’s distribution.
Paul in estates services syringe drivers and makes sure we have enough in circulation to ensure people die peacefully.
Robert in laundry is working overtime because of the amount of infected linen being produced.
Susan in the labs is processing rapid covid swabs from A&E so staff can allocate patients to red/green covid wards asap.
Betty in the kitchens spends 12 hours loading dirty dishes into dishwashers.
Lucy the consultants secretary books the scans and ambulance transport to get Bobs spinal cord compression diagnosed.

None of these people have laid hands or even eyes on patients. Our NHS is a team effort. Sure there are a fair few middle and high level managers who are very definitely surplus to requirements.
But people like the OP and you who begrudge these people a fucking 10% discount because they’re not beside us on the front line? Pathetic. Spiteful. And very, very sad.

Great post. The NHS works as a team but while those of us who are within it appreciate all those roles, sadly, many people who are less aware, do not see the value of anyone other than doctors and nurses

As my friend who is a paramedic said "we're not heroes anymore... We can go back to being under paid, swore at and spat on again"

Well said @Doublefaced

And the people who make everything work in the background are the band 2s,3s and 4s so all are earning less than nurses. Who do people think recruited the staff that care for patients? Who checked their identity, their qualifications, sorted their visas, gave them contracts, put them on payroll, made sure their salary was correct, made sure they got the right amount of leave, arranged cover when they were off sick, ensured revalidation etc ad infinitum? What about ward clerks? Lab technicians? Kitchen staff? Cleaners?

I was clinical years ago when porters went on strike due to appalling pay. The whole hospital slowed up. Operating lists were shortened, everything took longer and we became even more aware of how vital support staff are. I hate this thing about only doctors and nurses matter. It always comes from a place of ignorance.

‘ I hate this thing about only doctors and nurses matter. It always comes from a place of ignorance.’

Don’t worry. People like the OP object to nurses getting discount as well.They just dress it up with the old faux ‘frontliners’ bollocks.

"I think the reason why people feel resentful is for every hardworking nurse who benefits from the discounts, there's some backroom admin person that does too. And I think we'd all rather that discount was allocated to other essential keyworkers that have put themselves at similar levels of risk as the NHS instead, eg non NHS careworkers or support workers."

Ah so companies offering discounts need to stop offering them to NHS employees and instead offer them only to 'worthy NHS employees'. I wonder who will draw up that list and vet them all at the door?

There are no unimportant, backroom, take it or leave it NHS jobs where I am, it's all hands on deck at the moment, everyone doing what needs to be done to keep services going.

Completely agree OP.
Ex -colleague does an envelope stufffing admin job 16 hours a week in the NHS (16 hours to maximise benefits /natch) abd not only crows about the discounts but blags other things (eg queue jumping) on the back of it.
Given this whole lockdown life is to ‘protect’ the sainted NHS which is bureaucratic dinosaur it is likely to create a backlash of resentment.

Private hospitals have frontline staff saving lives - why no discount fur them? The chippy Sadiq Khan (soon to be gone thankfully) waived the congestion charge fir NHS, not private hospitals which reduce pressure on the NHS.

CAMHS services are still doing face to face appointments, how do I know this, my daughter has had 2 within the last three weeks