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.

@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.

YANBU. I cringe too.

What makes me cringe REAL hard though, is people who put that message around their facebook photo... 'I can't stay at home, I'm a key worker!' Just fluffing their feathers, and polishing their halo.

It really pisses me off, especially as some of them, work on a checkout in Tesco for 8 hours a week, and crow 'I'M A KEY WORKER!'

Also, the underlying suggestion that people who are 'key workers' are somehow more worthy than those who are not, really pisses me off.

@HeddaGarbled

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.

Bankers, investment bankers, financial analysts, surgeons, petroleum engineer...

"key workers" have never been synonym with low status!

Surely the key/critical workers of 2020-21 are the “reserved occupations” of wartime.

I work for the government, and was issued with a letter stating I was critical within a few hours of each Lockdown being announced. DS’s school is planning to do a careers fair about critical work when they are able to have visitors in school again.

@BikeRunSki

Surely the key/critical workers of 2020-21 are the “reserved occupations” of wartime.

I work for the government, and was issued with a letter stating I was critical within a few hours of each Lockdown being announced. DS’s school is planning to do a careers fair about critical work when they are able to have visitors in school again.

That would be very interesting combo of doctors, shop staff, chefs, delivery drivers, warehouse workers, bank staff, car rentals, bus drivers.

Very diverse!

What annoys me is that certain supermarkets are giving 10% off to teachers, nhs, police but not the many others who are just as critical. If you remember the rubbish strikes in the 70's you will remember how important refuse collection is! I go to work, I did get a keyworker status letter from my council in lockdown 1 but I'm not unionised so no discount or people arguing for early vaccination

It’s so cringe!

YANBU.

Technically I fell into the category of keyworker. I'm under no illusions that the world would cease functioning if I stopped turning up to work!

It started well meaningly enough but I think it lost impact when some people were using it as a reason why the rest of the world should revolve around them
On our local FB page a woman pretty much demanded that RM collection office should change its opening hours to suit her because 'I'm a key worker' - and I've seen a few similar comments

As others have said, many people have worked all the way through without having sense of entitlement

I know someone who describes herself as a key worker.
She is a HR manager for a chain of care homes and works from home.
She has also taken part in those nhs memes on Facebook.
I know her job will impact on the older people in those care homes but it still makes me cringe.

@moochingtothepub

What annoys me is that certain supermarkets are giving 10% off to teachers, nhs, police but not the many others who are just as critical. If you remember the rubbish strikes in the 70's you will remember how important refuse collection is! I go to work, I did get a keyworker status letter from my council in lockdown 1 but I'm not unionised so no discount or people arguing for early vaccination....

That annoys me too. I know teacher-bashing is rife on here, but I do sometimes think they bring it on themselves... I really don't 'get' why teachers get 10% off, when - as you say - they are no more 'special' than any other profession. And there are a lot more professions who work much harder.

And IMO, they moan more than ANY other profession. So even if they do have a genuine grievance, I still roll my eyes because I get sick of their moaning. Way more people have much harder jobs than them, and with much less pay and time off! So I think 'oh do STFU!'

@SamW98

It started well-meaning enough but I think it lost impact when some people were using it as a reason why the rest of the world should revolve around them.

On our local FB page a woman pretty much demanded that RM collection office should change its opening hours to suit her because 'I'm a key worker' - and I've seen a few similar comments.

As others have said, many people have worked all the way through without having sense of entitlement.

I have come across a few of these. Last year, a woman I knew who had never worked until the age of 39, became a carer - 8-10 hours a week, and started a fucking petition for carers to get much more pay, like £15 an hour.. She said they are the most important profession of all, after doctors and nurses. 2 months she had been doing this when she posted this. Silly cow.

But yeah, the ones like the woman you knew who made demands on the Royal Mail, are the same type as this woman I know. They are the same type who say 'holibobs,' 'hun,' and 'babes,' post 20 pics a day of their precious kiddiewinks, and gossip at the school gate with the 'schoolgate mafia.'

They also try to palm off 'bodyshop at home' shit on their facebook friends, post pics like one of a dog with a leg missing saying 'I bet I don't get one share.' post the 'don't be offended if I didn't tag you, but this message is to all the strong and feisty women on my friends list, who I truly admire,' and makes sure all the women she HASN'T tagged manage to see it.

And they put a pic of something sad and emotive up (like about cancer or suicide,) and 'share if you are affected by this' followed by 'I KNOW who will share this, and who won't!'

Yep, it's always the same type of annoying twat person

I know someone who describes herself as a key worker.

she doesn't describe herself, she IS, and absolutely fits within the list of "critical workers" from the government website.

I stopped telling people what I do and changed the subject if mentioned because it got so cringey.

All the, ‘anyone got anything at for me for free because I’m a key worker’. ‘I’m really important because I’m a key worker’. Etc.

Also I found a couple of professions (including mine) either got put on a pedestal or were hated because big companies tried to advertise by offering freebies or massive discounts. One minute people were clapping and the next bitching on Facebook.

You can’t win so better to keep quiet and look forward to just being ignored again.

The list of key workers was so wide, you’d be better asking who wasn’t a key worker.

I was living in hospital accommodation during the first wave, and had to use my NHS ID to get in and out of the accommodation block. I kept my lanyard on so I didn’t forget it and get locked out, but then I’d suddenly realise I was picking up a takeaway on a Saturday in trackies, wearing it. It was really embarrassing that people probably thought I was trying to show off my ‘key worker’ status.

All the, ‘anyone got anything at for me for free because I’m a key worker’. ‘I’m really important because I’m a key worker’. Etc.

Never before have customers decided to tell me what they do for a living when ordering from me. All of a sudden I had people just casually dropping it into an order that they're NHS nurses.

Some of them were clearly expecting a discount when they're still on a full wage, while I had all my scheduled contracts cancelled, got zero help from the government, and was trying to stop my business collapsing.

The cheekiest of cheeky fuckers.

@AvocadosBeforeMortgages

All the, ‘anyone got anything at for me for free because I’m a key worker’. ‘I’m really important because I’m a key worker’. Etc.

Never before have customers decided to tell me what they do for a living when ordering from me. All of a sudden I had people just casually dropping it into an order that they're NHS nurses.

Some of them were clearly expecting a discount when they're still on a full wage, while I had all my scheduled contracts cancelled, got zero help from the government, and was trying to stop my business collapsing.

The cheekiest of cheeky fuckers.

Same here. I had guys telling me about people coming for takeaways doing "oh, I've just finished my shift. You know. as a keyworker" and holding some badge" 😂😂 Bitch, you are talking to other keyworkers😂

I did tell them to ask for a discount back if anyone asks, you know as keyworkers helping each other. Apparently that didn't go down well.😂

I've heard of bus drivers being asked for free rides for keuworkers. Again. They themselves are keyworkers gettinch jackshit back.

Hope your business survived @AvocadosBeforeMortgages !!!

@AvocadosBeforeMortgages

All the, ‘anyone got anything at for me for free because I’m a key worker’. ‘I’m really important because I’m a key worker’. Etc.

Never before have customers decided to tell me what they do for a living when ordering from me. All of a sudden I had people just casually dropping it into an order that they're NHS nurses.

Some of them were clearly expecting a discount when they're still on a full wage, while I had all my scheduled contracts cancelled, got zero help from the government, and was trying to stop my business collapsing.

The cheekiest of cheeky fuckers.

Yes! People are crap. @AvocadosBeforeMortgages I hope you are on the up now. @SchrodingersImmigrant good for you!

I am one of these so called keyworkers. The term is ridiculous.
I also dislike frontline workers too. Frontline of what? We're not in the trenches

I like that so many undervalued but essential roles suddenly got recognition. The people and services that keep society functioning. I suspect it won't last.

I think OP the problem is your social media. I've never seen or heard I'm a keyworker give me free stuff/ favours or whatever.

From my POV, and we never even knew there were discounts etc. DH has worked all the way through in an org which has had a large death rate from covid. I don't know anyone who has died. His is a big org, but public facing. He had 4 people he knew die of covid in the first couple of months.

So it's neither here nor there really isn't it.

People who were at risk and kept society going

Vs

Twats

I'm guessing there was a fair amount of overlap.

It's not the term that's the problem it's what some people did with it.

So maybe go for AIBU to think that the concept of keyworker meant some people who were dicks anyway turned into total dicks.

?

Ok didn't RTFT

mistake. I've gone against the grain.

Sorry to grab this one (nothing personal!) But just was near

'I also dislike frontline workers too. Frontline of what? We're not in the trenches hmm'.

You are aware that some roles and occupations had a pretty elevated death rate?

DH had 4 colleagues die of it. That's not a nothing, surely.

@SchrodingersImmigrant

Hope your business survived *@AvocadosBeforeMortgages* !!!

Still here thankfully! Not in the format it should be, and as a result not as profitable as it should be, but still standing - no thanks to the government.

@AvocadosBeforeMortgages 🤞🤞🤞 for you you get it back to where it was.

Now schools are open fully I can’t see why anyone would need to use the term ‘keyworker’ anymore. It was useful at the time because Heads could say if both parents were keyworkers and working out of the home, children could attend for those hours when both parents were away. (I know some schools were more relaxed than that if they had the space). Now schools are fully open, what’s the point?