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.

@wonderstuff

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.

I agree in regards to those who stayed home, a lot of those had it very tough too. I know we've all heard the stories of furloughed staff having "constant bbqs and garden fun" throughout the summer when in reality the majority were just hoping they still had a job to go back to! Those of us classed as essential workers did not really have that same type of concern or struggle. Of course we had our own concerns and our struggles about our situation, but there is no hierarchy as to which concern had it tougher.

We had free food and treats delivered from well meaning companies, but we were fine, paid well in a secure role, I'd rather those treats had gone to those not knowing if they would still have a job to come out of lockdown to.

People were so, so kind and generous and there are some that still dine out on that generosity, throwing in the term keyworker makes them more worthy of an electrician? Hinting for a discount? Because that's what it now looks like.

YANBU. I cringed at and raged at the term ‘key worker’ from day one.

DH worked throughout but not a key worker. A ridiculous term that created some division. I don’t think i’ll forget standing queuing for the supermarket in the early days of lockdown and the security asking all key workers to come forward whilst non key workers stayed put. As someone who’s business was wiped out and a year on still not back, it gives me the rage.

I've always found the concept cringeworthy as well as completely misunderstood. It was only about kids being able to go to school on the basis that those workers were more likely to need to physically go to work and were quite essential in the short time. But ultimately many jobs continued throughout and indeed many 'key workers' aren't frontline workers. All jobs are important as otherwise they wouldn't exist so to label certain workers as 'key' is just a bit silly really. It really was only at the beginning to avoid a collapse of the fight against this pandemic. Soon enough the concept was pretty redundant.

I am a "key worker" apparently. I deliver takeaways! I would much rather be furloughed .

My favourite was when one of our drivers had to deliver during a "clap for keyworkers" thing in the village (our livery is very distinctive), it was the start of lockdown proper, he was the only vehicle on the road and had some people clapping him but LOTS of people doing rude hand gestures at him. He was mortified because he had to slow down to find an address and some people thought he was having a one-man parade for himself. It was brilliant and I haven't laughed so hard in ages

@Yesitsbess

I am a "key worker" apparently. I deliver takeaways! I would much rather be furloughed .

My favourite was when one of our drivers had to deliver during a "clap for keyworkers" thing in the village (our livery is very distinctive), it was the start of lockdown proper, he was the only vehicle on the road and had some people clapping him but LOTS of people doing rude hand gestures at him. He was mortified because he had to slow down to find an address and some people thought he was having a one-man parade for himself. It was brilliant and I haven't laughed so hard in ages

Laughed out loud! That's so funny!

@Jumpers268 I cried laughing for some time. He's Swedish which, somehow, made the recounting even funnier. He was utterly bemused.

It's not very British to blow your own trumpet is it. That's why I cringed at the 'I'm a keyworker' Facebook posts and profiles anyway.

But I am quietly proud that my job was considered key in a time of crisis.

I don't think that detracts from the fact that lots of other people were going out to work too, or adapting to wfh, or desperately worried about their jobs or businesses. It is just a term that signified a societal importance during that first lockdown, and some businesses and companies responded to that. I don't think anyone lost anything because some jobs were categorised as 'key'. By the Autumn, virtually every job was considered 'key' anyway.

Realistically it was never a judgment call on how essential those jobs were but merely the recognition that certain jobs were frontline and not v well paid (although the list of keyworkers was wider than this but only because it was hard to define and was easier to encompass a wider group) and as such needed to be able to send their kids to school to continue. A lot more jobs are actually essential but many can be done at home or flexibly.

I've never begrudged them a thing. On the contrary, people took risks themselves to put food on the shelves, deliver post and undertake health and social care. I'm grateful for what they did and I think they should have been treated better. And no, I'm not one, and neither are my family members.

Initially ‘keyworker’ was a narrow selection of jobs but as time when on every man and his dog could claim they were a keyworker and it just lost its status to some degree.

My relative works for a confectionery company and tried to claim he was a keyworker to get his three DC into school during both lockdowns. He is an office worker with no particularly important responsibilities. He was told no by the school - sweets are not an essential food item and he argued back but it didn’t get him anywhere.

Part of my job is being a "keyworker" to a certain child but now I try to avoid the term. instead of "who is X's key worker?" saying "who is X the key child of?"

Keyworker was a word in popular use before the pandemic. So Yabu.

I think the term has been weirdly divisive too. In the eyes of those who lost their jobs for instance the term 'key worker' simply means someone whose job was safe (with free stuff to add insult to injury). I don't even think many folk who were furloughed enjoyed the experience. There must have been a lot of uncertainty over their futures. I speak as someone whose son was furloughed then made redundant directly because of Covid.

I feel sorry for Morrison's staff who have to wear the jackets with the cringed text on

Something like 'keyworker keeping the nation fed ' kind of thing

I worked in social housing so keyworker has had a meaning for decades. However the FB posts were cringe (we are both KWs and would never say it)

@shallIswim that’s true - but I suppose it was balanced against the fact they (the free food seems related to healthcare staff) risked their lives m as nurses doctors etc were working without proper PPE

It was all made out to be very dramatic thi agreed

The term 'key workers should be buried and never heard of again. It was so cringeworthy, people putting im a key worker sticker on their cars, trying to queue jump or blah free stuff, face book posts starting with the phrase.... I was so embarrassed for people that used it.

I have never heard anyone who could accurately be described as a key worker refer to themselves that way. Not once.

I work in an intensive care unit.

@MissTrip82

I have never heard anyone who could accurately be described as a key worker refer to themselves that way. Not once.

I work in an intensive care unit.

The ones using it are probably in the jobs that should have the term..that’s why they feel so insecure and need to let others know at all times.

*shouldn’t!

@SpnBaby1967

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

Sadly this.

Basically what lots of "keyworkers" were asking for was a discount from other keyworkers at some point just for being keyworkers🤦

@MissTrip82

I have never heard anyone who could accurately be described as a key worker refer to themselves that way. Not once.

I work in an intensive care unit.

Totally agree.

On a similar subject, I find it really annoying when TV shows and the like describe people's jobs as, for instance, 'hairdresser', 'accountant' 'delivery driver', then 'works for the NHS'. I just don't understand why they suddenly decide to tell us the employer and not the role like for everyone else. What's wrong with saying, nurse, administrator, ward clerk and so on?
I keep noticing it now I'm annoyed by it!

It’s when people use it as a reason why they deserve something completely unrelated to thd pandemic more.
Some woman on my Facebook was complaining that she’s had to wait for an appointment to get her hair cut the same as the rest of us plebeians even though she’s a keyworker who ‘risked her life’ during the pandemic.

On a similar subject, I find it really annoying when TV shows and the like describe people's jobs as, for instance, 'hairdresser', 'accountant' 'delivery driver', then 'works for the NHS'. I just don't understand why they suddenly decide to tell us the employer and not the role like for everyone else. What's wrong with saying, nurse, administrator, ward clerk and so on?
I keep noticing it now I'm annoyed by it!

Because NHS has been made into an emotional term. As is nurse. No one cares about receptionist in local clinic. They will however, get a reaction of "awww" to "works for NHS".
"Betty, receptionist in women's clinic"
"Betty, works for NHS"
"Karla, anesthesiologist in local hospital"
"Karla, works for NHS"

I am pretty sure that if someone actually used the full name "National Health Service" it would get pretty meh reaction too.
The acronym was forged into an emotional term to keep people quiet about the state of the national health service, because criticising ❤️NHS is not ok.

YANBU