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.

I work for the supermarket that gives NHS staff 10 percent off. On checkout the other day, someone comes through with a velour jacket on, emblazoned with a rainbow, the name of our local health board and her name. After engaging in some conversation it turns out she was working from home as admin. It’s not my money I’m giving discount on so I don’t mind that with those that just flash me a badge, it’s this blatent attention seeking that gets on my tits.

Nurses and doctors and hospital cleaners, porters etc are the frontline people dealing with the coronavirus so they rightly should be rewarded.

The rest of it is just logistics. It’s much easier for companies to offer an NHS-wide discount rather than attempt to limit it to the frontline staff. So yes, Mary who works behind the scenes benefits but it’s ok. It’s only half price donuts or whatever, not a free car or house.

As a PP said, "back office" staff are crucial to running the NHS too. You don't think the people who run payroll and therefore ensure staff turn up to work, or the people in occupational health supporting sick NHS staff, deserve recognition? Remember many of these have been redeployed to the frontline

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

Why does it have to be like for like? I’ve worked NHS and private sector and the perks and benefits in the private sector far outweigh NHS.

In the NHS there’s rarely the opportunity to progress on your own merit without competitively interviewing, there are no bonuses, many roles don’t offer overtime or time in lieu (particularly over the last decade), there’s very little flexibility unless you have a manager prepared to bend the ‘rules’, there is very little provided by the NHS for comfort for things like milk for hot drinks (lol) or even an area to go and take a break, zero social events like Christmas parties etc that aren’t paid for by staff. The annual leave entitlement is good once you’ve been there a couple of years but can be really hard to actually get authorised to take (I haven’t used my full entitlement for three years), sick pay is quite good but expect to be interrogated regularly. Pensions are comparable with private pensions and have been for anyone who joined in the last decade. Accredited training is almost impossible to access in some trusts as they provide their own which isn’t recognised outside of the trust. You know that extortionate parking you have to pay when you go to hospital? Staff have to pay that too if they’re lucky enough to get a space allocated. There’s a huge waiting list in my trust.

If you were to sit down and compare like for like roles between NHS and private allocating a financial worth to all the differences I’m pretty confident that there would be very little difference of not more in the private role depending on how large the company was.

@Terracottasaur

I do think there is a difference between ‘working through the pandemic’ and ‘working in healthcare during the pandemic’. Many HCPs are on the frontline, dealing with the stress and trauma and anxiety of providing care to people dying from this illness. A shop worker is essential, but the emotional toll simply isn’t the same as a nurse working on a Covid ward. And yes ok, some of the recipients of the discounts aren’t working in these environments but it would be too difficult to administer it any other way.

Also - some places are offering discounts to all frontline workers. My sister is a teacher and gets discounts at Morrison’s and a couple of other places.

That’s the point , there’s charity workers and care home workers that deal with covid and they don’t get the discount. All HCP don’t work for the NHS? You can deliver healthcare in lots of roles outwith the nhs. The NHS don’t exclusively do personal care. I have worked through pandemic, used public transport as I don’t drive, received people back to their homes from hospital, supported with personal care and medication administration and I don’t get discount as I’m not employed by the nhs. There seems to be a big misconception that Nhs workers are the only people that get deal with covid patients?! There’s a whole sector in the community that support covid patients as well!

I think the discount should be bigger. I might start a petition.

I'm really sorry for your loss Twinmamma. Paramedics did their best for my mum to no avail.

AGAIN- CARE HOME WORKERS DO GET THE BLUE LIGHT DISCOUNT CARD.

Why do people keep posting this? they ARE entitled to it.

YABU because these discounts are not sending the message that only NHS deserve discounts, you are just taking it that way.

If businesses want to offer a discount to NHS that’s nice (it might also be virtue signalling, but it’s still nice and helpful).

Businesses cannot offer a discount to everyone. It does not imply other people aren’t also having a rough time and/or working hard. It’s not practical to differentiate between front line and other NHS staff.

So - get a life

Hi, NHS staff saved my life before and they are certainly not paid enough in my opinion. They deserve a little perk. Yes others work hard too but I really don’t see how you can begrudge 10% off at Morrison’s to some nurse who is frankly paid about half of what they deserve.

I think you're just being begrudging. They are more likely to catch it than a lot of other essential workers. They don't usually get any extra perks like people might do in the private sector and are underpaid anyway. I'm glad they're getting a bit of recognition.

I've always offered a key worker discount on my services. Way way before Covid!

YorkiePud25

Posted too soon - so I think 10% off at morrisons isn't really something people should begrudge being given to NHS staff.“

Agree but it shouldn’t be limited to just them. Presumably Morrison’s staff receive staff discount already? If not, they ought to. Along with postal workers, refuse collectors, delivery drivers, warehouse staff, everyone involved in keeping our lives going. The list would be enormous though, so cost limits it I guess.

My sister who works in an office gets all the discounts so no it isn't fair.

I was eating to go in Aldi and a staff member told me even they aren't allowed to go in the shop early but NHS are. Shop workers are at risk and run off their feet! And as a delivery driver who was working 10 hour days at some points these past 9 months, I could have done with going in early sometimes.

Jeez. Another NHS bashing thread.

I'm a junior doctor and it cheers me up using the 10% Morrison's discount.

It's a discount to say thank you for health workers during a pandemic. It's been totally miserable with death after death after death, and the fact that some places want to offer a small discount for that is a nice thing.

I know that the pandemic has been hard for everyone, but I don't think discounting our health service should be seen as anything other than what it is. A thank you to a wonderful service that cares for us all.

NHS discounts have been around for decades.
Same as student discounts and union discounts.
Ultimately companies offer them as it makes them more money. It’s marketing.

@StormcloakNord Thank you. I have just read most of the comments and agree.

Too many posters to individually respond to everyone, but all comments have been taken on board. Some are fair and noted and it is good to see individual points of view and issues which I had overlooked, but some comments are quite frankly rude.

The whole idea of the thread was to gain opinions. Some people seem to struggle with the notion that two people can have differing opinions without it meaning one is in the wrong? I have been called childish, I don't see how having an opinion that you don't agree with is childish. I might not agree with you (I am not sure, you had nothing else to say other than I was childish) but even if I didn't agree with you, I wouldn't be making comments like that.

I have also read comments saying that I need to be humbled? Listing their experiences telling me I need to go through the same and jobs are available to apply for me to see what it's like? Without realising, you've proven where my thought process came from in the first place really. I will repeat what I said in the op. Everyone has been affected in one way or another, some have suffered more, some have suffered less, but who are you to judge where on the scale someone falls. Have I judged you? No. Do you know my circumstances? No. So who are you to tell me I need to be humbled? Someone also patronisingly asked how many people I had seen die in the last week. Two. Is two satisfactory to you? Is two enough or does it need to be more to warrant me starting this thread?

I have suffered my own losses, I have also encountered unfavourable working conditions. I am close to people who work in the NHS. I am also close to people who work in other roles and have seen how they have struggled. It isn't a competition as to who has had toughest time in all this? Most have had a tough time to differing degrees, but what gives anyone the right to judge whether that time was actually tough enough which is what a lot of posters on this thread seem to be focused on. I didn't list all my experiences in the op because why does it matter? Why do people feel the need to list what they have been through? Some people have had awful experiences and I wouldn't wish for anyone to go through what they have, but it's turned into some sort of competition as to who is the worst off?

I have specifically said I don't begrudge NHS staff receiving a discount, but a lot of posters have gone on a rampage and been very defensive which also supports what I was originally trying to say that the disparity creates bad feeling.

My op wasn't about the amount of discount. Any capable person can type in "discount code for X" in Google and more often than not bring up plenty of voucher codes. The post is aimed at the businesses and their marketing strategy and how the message is communicated. I saw a local business advertising recently "To all our amazing NHS workers, to thank you for all you do, have a free pedicure when we reopen and in the meantime arrange to collect a goody bag from us". Do I begrudge the NHS having that treat? Do I hell. Brilliant, it is nice. It's not going to end the pandemic, but if that little gesture makes someone's day that little bit better then great. But, what about other people who have been on their feet all day, exhausted, struggling? Because they don't work for the NHS - to that specific organisation - they are not recognised. It causes bad feeling (wrongly then aimed at the NHS). Imbalance. People feeling a bit put out that their own hard work goes unnoticed. From a business perspective (to balance any losses) why not "It's been a shit year, why not cheer yourself up with 10% off X product/X treatment" to keep the community spirit up and even though I am not a fan of the slogan - reiterate the message "all in this together"?

If you don't agree, fine. But there is no need for some of the vicious comments which have been made.

NHS workers should receive a discount (which is unchanged from my original post) but it would be great if other roles could also be recognised as having been put through the ringer and not fall under the radar for a marketing strategy.

NHS worker here not front line. YANBU. What about supermarket workers, binmen, delivery drivers etc. I feel my job is more secure than many so I already feel privileged, not to mention the free food we got in March/April

Can you tell me where all these discounts are so I can take advantage please? I'm only aware of Morrisons and B&M, and the latter is only until the end of the month.

Nothing to do with a particular group being more deserving, it’s marketing and PR by companies who think it makes them look good. If the tide of public opinion turned they’d soon stop going on about it. I don’t care be way or the other what they offer and to whom but that’s the one and only reason for it in 99% of cases.

@YouDoYouHun the obvious answer is that if you would like to receive the NHS ‘perks’ you should apply for a job with them!

Oh bollocks- your post comes across as petulant and whiny.

You say the NHS deserves the discounts but then in the next breath whine that its not fair that everyone is getting it. You then say you dont have to justify your hard time- well neither should NHS staff should they?

This whole post is just a nasty, negative and mean spirited dig during a time when we are all suffering.

I work in the NHS 'behind the scenes' taking calls from people which range from callers being suicidal, through to people with very little common sense asking very non emergency non medical stuff. It's draining 10 hour shifts at a time.
So sorry if you think 'admin' staff have it easy.

@AlexisCarringtonColbyDexter I never once said that any NHS member needs to justify their hard time? Again, another comment going off topic. My comment re personal experiences was in response to comments up thread. Who really needs to know anyone's hard time on this thread? Noone.

@hashbrownsandwich I have never once said admin staff have it easy. I appreciate your role is draining, but others too have draining roles but because they are not employed by the "NHS" they seem to fall under the radar.

I do see your point that others are deserving too @YouDoYouHun. NHS pay is notoriously crap I think even Tesco would pay more.
For the record I've never used the NHS discount code, mainly because I've never seen anyone offer it.

What kind of validation are you looking for exactly then?

What kind of discount would satisfy your need to be "recognised"? and who should fund this discount? because if companies are giving out discounts to everyone who has had a hard time, that would include everyone in the UK wouldnt it? - are you suggesting that companies who are already struggling with the financial effects of lockdown should give everyone in the UK a discount? Do you think thats reasonable in this climate?