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.

Plus as a PP mentioned working private sector has its own benefits (private medical, gym membership when open, firm subsidies for events and entrance fees...)

The blue light card gives firemen the same discount as my DD. 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. So a fireman in full haz suit watched a woman in a plastic apron, gloves and mask run around a three storey house searching for the cause of the fire alarm...he gets discount and she doesn’t. Fair? no

WTF are you talking about? Carers who work in social care CAN get the blue light card- about 20 in my company have one.

Maybe check your facts before you start ranting....

Plenty of other people are “ running” services and working their finger to the bone from home.

By offering NHS workers and other a discount, companies are effectively requiring other customers to pay higher prices. And I’m not sure companies are best places to do that reallocation of resources and make decisions about who is deserving and not, I’d much prefer that front line key workers were properly rewarded in the forms of their salaries in the first place.

Except that they are not. The company will have done their calculations to make sure they still make a profit after offering their discount, just a slightly smaller one. The NHS is a large employer of people who are still earning. Offering a discount to such groups is good business sense.

Seriously? I’m sick of this argument. Supermarket staff are indeed doing a grand job, they already get a discount at their employing store, in fact I believe pretty much all retail staff get a discount via their employer.

Private sector bonuses anyone?? Others in the private sector get discounts in various places too....private healthcare, huge gym membership discounts, motor trade staff get big discounts on cars, airline staff get huge discounts on flights etc etc. Do we begrudge them all.

I’m NHS, not clinical, but I work in a hospital, in a role where I can’t work from home. I have had 10% off my shopping at Morrison’s twice and never queue jumped or anything else. I get 10% discount with Vodafone, but actually so do people working in many other sectors.

The whataboutery I've been reading over this last year is, quite frankly, really pissing me off. Discounts are all about marketing and making more money for the companies offering, end of. Most people in most jobs will find they are eligible for some sort of benefit, do we begrudge them all? Of course not, let’s just pick in the NHS staff...as usual.

@N0Sl33p

No not like everything else- schools, supermarkets....

And virtual means zero risk ie no need for hero status and money off codes.

What?!

So because someone is doing their job over Zoom rather than in the same room it means their job is ENTIRELY different, their qualifications and work are less valuable

It seems no NHS staff actually care about discounts, it's the bitter people who hark things like hErO stATus and genuinely think they're hard done by because they don't have to work unpaid until midnight and don't get 10% off at Morrison's.

How utterly pathetic.

Care workers can get the Blue Light card. They should ask their employers to look into it.

If you feel strongly, boycott those stores and let them know why. It is up to the company to decide who they give a discount to, if you don’t like their choices and philosophy, take your custom elsewhere.

That said, I think it’s a hyperbole to say it’s “sending a message that only NHS workers are important”- it doesn’t, you have chosen to interpret it that way. I think if you look for reasons to feel hard done-by you’ll find them. I don’t think someone else getting a discount impacts me hugely, to be honest. I imagine for most businesses it is a marketing tool and not a moral judgement. I also think the way you have framed your YABU/YANBU is silly. It’s clear you can think YABU without believing only NHS workers are important. Which I think you know.

All key workers play their part and are important. I have no issue with others being offered a discount if a business chooses to do that. I have no issue with business deciding to stop offering an NHS discount or not being offered one at all.

I work for the NHS- to be honest I rarely use the discount codes unless it’s for a large company (like supermarkets) who are raking it in at the minute (and even then I don’t usually remember). However, I dislike the mean-spirited attitude displayed here.

@N0Sl33p

Plenty of other people are “ running” services and working their finger to the bone from home.

Oh but it's from home, why do they need a hero status? This is YOUR logic BTW.

Look if you want to be recognised via a Nando's discount then lobby the company for one, don't look at another sector and stamp your feet saying "well THEY shouldn't get one if I'M not getting one".

But that would require effort rather than moaning so I suspect you won't

In London and surrounding areas, admin and clerical have been working on wards as runners and basic HCA for some time.

YABU purely because NHS workers have always received these codes, BlueLightCard and NHSdiscounts (websites who email codes) have been around for years, I've been using my discounts for over 10 years and the only one I get now that I didn't used to is Morrison's (it's actually cheaper to shop at Tesco with their club card offer). It's just highlighted more because of the pandemic. Also reception staff (people who sit behind screens) deserve the same discounts. Our receptionist has been spat at, sworn at and attacked/threatened numerous times because they're the first port of call... the screens finally offer protection.

@MarinaMarinara

Plus as a PP mentioned working private sector has its own benefits (private medical, gym membership when open, firm subsidies for events and entrance fees...)

These are paid for by the employers though. Not comparable.

Soon to be an NHS employee again. Funnily enough getting a discount wasn't uppermost in my mind when I applied.

Supporting people was.

The same "people" who would begrudge a minor discount on something or other.

Funny old world innit?

I don’t need or want a Nando’s voucher. Pretty sure many who have lost their jobs or who are working face to face in non secure roles on a minimum wage probably do.

I am simply agreeing with the op. NHS discounts for NHS workers at very little risk compared to other sectors not even doing face to face let alone the front line are a bit distasteful. I think they belittle the hard work going on in many other sectors too.

Do you also have an issue with stores offering discounts to students?

LOL.

I work for the NHS. The staff in Morrisons and Aldi are on a higher wage than me. I love my job but it's been tough, I very much doubt retail staff are having the same sorts of shifts we have been. They do a grand job and I'm always sure to thank any and all staff still working whether it be a supermarket, petrol station, food outlet. But do I grudge them their staff discount when they get paid more than me? No. I think that's good they get something a little extra! Why more people don't have this attitude of 'good for you/them' baffles me. Now I know I'm lucky as nhs do offer good pension schemes/sick pay etc. However I wont retire for another 40years or more so in actual fact there are no staff benefits other than the blue light card, which btw, council staff and teachers etc are also entitled to. Email the companies if you take issue with it but don't suggest NHS staff are being grabby for taking offers intended to make their lives easier!

Don't get me wrong, I have a lot of respect for NHS workers on the front line dealing with the pandemic

Yeah yeah OP we believe you

I’d like to see it extended to all key workers, though.

I like it.

@N0Sl33p but they aren't given based on risk/need they are a marketing tactic to capture customer because the NHS is the biggest employer. Places ALWAYS gave NHS discount. If you want it to be given based on risk then YOU boycott/complain/lobby for changes rather than whingeing about it

It's. It just since March
There is a scheme called the blue light card for emergency service staff to buy for a nominal fee, it gets a wide range of discounts for a wide range of companies.

Teachers get discounts at all sorts of places

Students get discounts at all sorts of places

Loyalty card holders get discounts

Put you green eyed monster away OP

'Mary from the back room' has been redeployed since March last year working shoulder to shoulder with clinical colleagues. Your lack of understanding is understandable as the NHS is a large organisation but ill informed statements are still demoralising

Oh and I get discounts for being a scout leaders at some of the outdoor pursuit shops.

Get over yourself

I have worked in the NHS for 15 + years and let me tell you, there are bugger all benefits working in the NHS. Not a damn thing. Pay is well below what it should be, there is no progression once you are at the top of your pay bracket and you become firmly stuck. Sick rates are high as your colleagues burn out around about you and you have to pick up their caseloads as there is not enough staff. You are tied up in paperwork and policies and spend far too little time working with patients which is why you trained for the job in the first place. You are managed by idiots who think a perk is getting lateral flow testing each week.

So, whilst I don't have much cause to use NHS discounts, its nice to finally feel appreciated by the public. But please don't clap us, we need more money not clapping.

Oh, and why don't we leave if the NHS is that bad? because we do what we do because we care, and what else can we do?

P.s. I know this is probably not the right thread, but needed a good rant this morning!!

You are ill informed. Its not been since last March, the NHS has had a discount scheme for as long as I remember being a Nurse.

I run an online shop and offer a discount to blue light card holders. I do this because I watched a team of doctors and nurses battle for nearly 6 hours to save dd1’s life. Even though it didn’t work I am so grateful they tried, relentlessly. This is why I offer a discount, for me it’s nothing to do with covid.