The term "keyworker"

[Neoncoral]

ABIU to think that the label "keyworker" is now redundant? For quite a while now, a lot of people have been back at work, keyworker or not. The first lockdown it made sense as the lockdown all felt so scary and real, almost movie like and those having to venture out to keep key services going were just that "key".

But when I hear people refer to themselves now as a keyworker my inner self cringes for them.

I write this as someone who works in an essential frontline service.

That should have said "AIBU"

YANBU

The term critical worker is slightly better.

For me though the name keyworker was forever ruined by everyone on FB bleating that they're keyworker during lockdown 1 and demanding free stuff or discounted stuff

And I say that as someone who is a keyworker, as is DH

I disagree. I love how jobs that were previously dismissed as low status, were recognised as vital. I think it would be a real shame if we all forget that.

I mean, those key workers literally kept the world turning when all was madness.

I appreciate them a bloody lot.

The word keyworker makes me cringe. I was technically a keyworker but honestly I have never (until now) called myself one. Actually physically cringed haha. YANBU.

@Jumpers268

The word keyworker makes me cringe. I was technically a keyworker but honestly I have never (until now) called myself one. Actually physically cringed haha. YANBU.

I'm the same, I would have been/am classed as one too. I have no idea why it makes me cringe but it really does!

Many, many people have been back at work for a while now, doing their bit for the economy. I still see messages on local Facebook groups along the lines of "can anyone help please, I'm a key worker and need a quote from an electrician.."

Cringe

I think it has, as is often the case, lost term any real meaning due to the flexibilty that was used by people/employers. And I say that as a keyworker .

There are loads of roles outside the frontline nhs workers which are essential to keep things going, such as refuse collectors, supermarket workers etc. They have been undervalued and taken for granted by society for years. That is until for whatever reason they are not able to perform their role as before and everyone kicks off. It is really cringe to describe yourself as one to try and get recognition for personal gain/validation. We were always keyworker just because some roles always will be.

What do key workers and dinosaurs have in common? They're both extinct.

My dp hasn't stopped going in throughout lockdown and he wasn't a keyworker. People assumed the only people going to work were and it isnt the case.

I appreciate jobs that everyone does. Always have done. I hope the lockdown has shown how much the low paid mean.

Oh I still am (further cringing). It's more the assumption that you're valued more because you're a "keyworker". But I'm one in financial services so not the typical clap your hands one 😉😂.

I hate the term and I say that with hubby and I both being keyworkers and critical workers. I really did hate all the fb posts that said I'm a keyworker. As someone has already said it's been interesting to recognise the jobs that are really vital to run the country and I hope that when things are more normal that people start to appreciate these occupations more rather than look down on many of them.

willstarttomorrow Tue 13-Apr-21 20:19:13

There are loads of roles outside the frontline nhs workers which are essential to keep things going, such as refuse collectors, supermarket workers etc.

In WW2 cinema projectionists were considered 'key workers' and were exempt from being conscripted into the forces.

YANBU, the list of jobs for keyworker status is huge. My DS and DBIL are on it and both of them have said whilst technically they are, they really aren't! My job on the other hand teaches a life skill that if not mastered could lead to fatal consequences , but not a keyworker.

@tanguero

willstarttomorrow Tue 13-Apr-21 20:19:13

There are loads of roles outside the frontline nhs workers which are essential to keep things going, such as refuse collectors, supermarket workers etc.

In WW2 cinema projectionists were considered 'key workers' and were exempt from being conscripted into the forces.

Yes, and I absolutely don't intend to dismiss the importance of let's say, "practical" key workers when I say that those providing entertainment and arts services are vastly underrated too.

I'm not talking big stars, but everyone further down the food chain.

It was always utterly cringey for people to use the phrase to describe themselves.

I think it was well meant but ended up covering so many people that it lost much meaning.

I have to say, I was quite charmed by my Tesco delivery driver during the first lockdown who was so completely awed at how very important his shitty, underpaid job had become that he was positively glowing with pride at being a newly-minted keyworker. He knew I was NHS frontline so his beaming little face said, ‘I’m one of you now!’ I thought it was quite heartwarming.

Apart from that, yes, cringey. And the massive expansion of the definition of ‘keyworker’ so parents could get their DCs a place in school during the second lockdown was...interesting...

@40tanguero it makes total sense really. No other news outlets or entertainment/moral rousing apart from limited radio. I know I have radio 5 on all day and night apart from the sport and so can bore people to death on loads of news subjects.

I have worked for nearly 20 years in the public sector (after spending a decade in nursing) in a front line role no one wants to acknowledge is needed or really understands. To be honest we just laugh off never being mentioned when discussions about pay, conditions etc when it comes up. We certainly did not get the clap.😁

I think that a lot of people not working also had it tough. Public adherence to lockdown was far higher than expected, everyone did their bit (well I'm not convinced Bojo did but that's another thread).
I hope we come through this with more respect for how we support each other.

@ElphabaTheGreen

I have to say, I was quite charmed by my Tesco delivery driver during the first lockdown who was so completely awed at how very important his shitty, underpaid job had become that he was positively glowing with pride at being a newly-minted keyworker. He knew I was NHS frontline so his beaming little face said, ‘I’m one of you now!’ I thought it was quite heartwarming.

Apart from that, yes, cringey. And the massive expansion of the definition of ‘keyworker’ so parents could get their DCs a place in school during the second lockdown was...interesting...

Aww bless he sounds so sweet ! 🥰

I appreciated the phrase when it was restricted to people actually essential, especially the underpaid and unappreciated ones (doctors always command respect anyway but not supermarket staff or truckers or farmers ...the people who keep us from starving!)

Now however as the descriptioj has expanded so much that half the country are keyworkers. Also people like NHS clerical workers who have been working comfortably from home , pretending they’ve been hard done by.

I assumed it referred to those who worked in the Timpsons kiosk...

I think it’s just become one of the many ‘Covid Lingo’ words that’s entered our vocabulary over the past year that we’re all sick to death of. I say that as a “keyworker”.

I think that's why the government has dropped the term in favour of 'critical' worker. '
Too many people have been using the term 'key worker' and abusing that term.
It accounted for so many children in our school having allocated places when we knew that their parents were not actual key workers.

I agree the whole key worker thing has been done to death, people declaring themselves hero's on SM. 🙄 A woman in the supermarket was asking people to let her jump the queue as she was a key worker, she was flashing her badge like she was a special agent in the FBI 🙄
Didnt like to burst her bubble and tell her that I too am a key worker, I never mention it, iv worked through the whole pandemic, some in an office and some at home.
I work in the rail industry and we have gone pretty unnoticed, just the way we like it