To be fed up of the "I'm a key worker" line now

[Chishelled]

Fair play, I do understand that not every key worker is pulling this out at opportunity and that not all key workers are acting like entitled selfish twits, plus the fact DP and I (although only on day two) are both NHS - him as a doctor and me within mental health.

Our entire local facebook page is full of "I am a key worker, I need to get petrol, people are being so selfish" BUT why do key workers expect to be prioritised for petrol now, particularly when many of the ones posting work in our local hospital which is a 20 minute walk away??

It's just all adding to the scare mongering and hype by trotting out the "I'm a key worker, I need petrol priority...[it's going to run out again], plus plenty of people are having to commute back to work due to the end of furlough and the fact that offices are well and truly reopen - are their jobs seen as lesser?

I propose on the spot fines for anyone who uses the phrase "I am a key worker" to get preferential treatment from this point forwards [unless of course we go back into Lockdown again]

[Zilla1]

I loathed the key worker clap. The feral response to the NHS pay rise debate and 'lucky to have a job' reinforced my view of the broad public response to key workers - Make some nice noises if it makes the person feel and appear good and virtue signal but back to normal business as soon as possible and especially if it involves any personal disadvantage or cost.

All the 'all GPs are closed', 'all hospitals are empty' 'why should NHS have a pay rise after ten years of real terms pay cuts when someone in the private sector, a real tax payer you know, hasn't had a pay rise this year'. It all feels so orchestrated that, as with some COVID, anti-vax and Brexit communications, I doubt the good faith and the geographic location of the origin of some of the communications.

[MsHedgehog]

My issue with the phrase “keyworker” is that it incorporates all NHS staff, so it includes admin staff who were able to WFH during the pandemic. I used to be on wedding planning groups on Facebook and I kept seeing brides asking for suppliers who gave NHS discounts. You go on their profile and they worked as a PA, etc, so not exactly frontline but still classified as key worker.

[Peoniesandpeaches]

You’re not wrong! Or at least not entirely wrong, there should be some kind of provision for those to whom it is a necessity like the community nurses etc but I’ve literally just blocked one of the admins from our service for this nonsense. Honestly if she doesn’t make it in the only difference it’ll make to me is I have to file and photocopy myself and I’d gladly do both not to have to listen to her all day (this isn’t a dig at admins btw some are incredible and vital).
I find that those who crow the loudest and are all about those freebies tend to be those who are a pain in the ass to work with.

[MissTrip82]

I work in ICU.

Have literally never heard any of my colleagues describe themselves like this. Not once. Not ever.

IME it tends to be a phrase used by people quite a long way from genuinely key roles.

[ilovemydogandmrobama2]

A million years ago, there was a fuel shortage caused by blocks at fuel depots. Me and DH had been away and when we arrived at airport in Manchester we were fairly stuck as there wasn't enough petrol in the car to get us home.

We were planning on places to go in Manchester, when a manager got in touch and said we had priority for getting petrol. Can't remember the term that was used, maybe, 'critical worker,'

But there was a priority system.

[ToastandJamandTea]

@MsHedgehog

My issue with the phrase “keyworker” is that it incorporates all NHS staff, so it includes admin staff who were able to WFH during the pandemic. I used to be on wedding planning groups on Facebook and I kept seeing brides asking for suppliers who gave NHS discounts. You go on their profile and they worked as a PA, etc, so not exactly frontline but still classified as key worker.

I fully agree with you!
I am a childminder and was open throughout providing care for teachers and nurse/gp's children. Having people in my home in the scariest point of it with little PPE or guidance from the DFE/LA but I was given abuse from a NHS admin worker for using the priority shopping time as it was genuinely the only time I could get supplies as I was working 12 hour days.

[QueenoftheKarens]

I don't know why people keep using the key worker line - we aren't in lockdown now. Time to stop.

[DressBitch]

I'm not a key worker. My husband isn't a key worker. Luckily we both WFH.

I'm pregnant, and suffering with PGP (which pelvic pain for those who don't know) so I can't walk more than a few minutes. We are running low on fuel so we are saving what we do have so I can attend appointments next week.

I'm not leaving the house because I can't even walk to the bloody shop, and now I can't drive there either. I'm feeling trapped and anxious.

It's really beginning to worry me.

(Not much point to my post other than to illustrate why non-key workers might need fuel).

[Bounce55]

I'm a key worker and what fucks me off royally is those shitty decal car sticker things with
'I'M A KEY WORKER' stuck to the arse end of their car.
Ugh!

[vivainsomnia]

This thread is hilarious when not far from it you have numerous thread about the nhs falling apart, bit fit for purpose, long waiting lists, not being to access treatment, how outrageous it all is...

The NHS is failing simply because of the catastrophic lack of staff. It's not just one doctor, or even nurse, it's the whole chain of people required to treat one person.

The NHS is desperately trying to hang in and for that needs ALL the staff available to be there.

It's not about paying ones mortgage, it's about saving lives. Utterly despairing that this thread would be started by someone who works for the NHS themselves!

[SoyLatte2Shots]

YANBU.

Are you us, btw? Both NHS workers, I'm in mental health and DH is a doctor!

The whole 'who is and isn't a key worker' nonsense has been irritating and arbitrary from the start. It creates an 'us v them' mentality. Very few jobs are unnecessary for the running of our society.

We've both noticed quite a few people really puff themselves up with self importance since the key worker mentality began, people using it on their facebook frames, 'I'm a key worker I can't stay at home!' martyrdom, people dropping it in at every opportunity to get special favours or perceived social gravitas. It's incredibly dull at this point.

[pelosi]

@Lalliella

YABU. Key workers need to get to work. Other people may want to but don’t need to. Key workers should be prioritised. After everything they’ve done for this country during the pandemic, being able to queue-jump at petrol stations is the least they deserve.

I need to get to work because I need to eat.

Or is only key workers who need to eat and everyone else only wants to eat?

[Comedycook]

I know a woman who works in a health food shop and calls herself a 'key worker' Lots of people seem to be revelling in their key worker status. It's pathetic

[MajorCarolDanvers]

If they really were 'key workers' I wouldn't mind. Its the entitled hangers on I object to.

[Saz12]

I get why you’d be annoyed at “I’m a key worker so shouldn’t have to get (perfectly quick, frequent and convenient) public transport” or whatever. Also, the petrol issues are going to resolve in a few days - so some pandemic key-workers stop being quite as strategically essential in a crises that lasts 3 days rather than several months. Theoretically I’m a key worker, but in practice the world wouldn’t stop turning if my client group had service cut for a few days - it’s be pretty crappy, but not as bad as waiting 3 days for a&e to open would be.

[Whammyyammy]

Agree..I thought the self awarded key worker status had died, now I'm seeing lots of "im a key worker, and need fuel..." posts.

[sst1234]

OP this is not the fault of people who just want to buy fuel. The governments incompetence led us here.

[SoyLatte2Shots]

@MissTrip82

I work in ICU.

Have literally never heard any of my colleagues describe themselves like this. Not once. Not ever.

IME it tends to be a phrase used by people quite a long way from genuinely key roles.

You're absolutely right. Quite a few times I've noticed people on social media really hyping up the 'key worker' thing and seeking sympathy for what brave soldiers they've been on the 'frontline'... when in reality they're in an admin role working from home. It's necessary, important work, but it does speak to a certain lack of self worth and confidence to absorb a recently made up government catchphrase and have it form such a big part of your personality and how you present to the world. It's quite cringeworthy in all honesty.

[AngelicaElizaAndPeggy]

I think there are key workers and key workers. The actual key workers are the ones who just get on with it and try and make plans as best they can. Then there are those who performatively rant on Facebook about being stuck in 'ques'.

[bigbluebus]

What amazes me is the number of people still using cars for journeys where they could walk in spite of the petrol shortage. The school run here is no different to usual - people driving the 1/2 mile journey to school or 'popping' to the shop 1/4 mile away (all on safe pavements)And I'm not talking about people rushing off to work or with a disability. This is people more than capable if walking the distance.

[Judashascomeintosomemoney]

Judashascomeintosomemoney I really hope you are OK - Emergency vehicles are being prioritised for fuel where we are

Yes thank you, bloody scary though, and couldn’t get to sleep after, probably a bit of shock kicking in.

[BrilloPaddy]

Any kind of shortage brings out the worst human behaviour.

[MrsSkylerWhite]

DecadentlyDecisive

Every scrote with an NHS pass gets to jump the queue??

I don't think so.....“

“Scrote” with an NHS pass? Delightful.

[Whammyyammy]

I'm NHS, husbands military. We do not consider ourselves as key worker at all.

But laugh at some of the roles that do, one being a woman that worked on the cigarette counter in a supermarket 🤣🤣

[ncking]

@DecadentlyDecisive

Every scrote with an NHS pass gets to jump the queue??

I don't think so.....

My advice to you, should you ever need to be treated by the NHS, is not to call the staff treating you 'scrotes'.