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]

[olivehater]

To be honest I think those that say I am a key worker but I would never dream of saying it are just as guilty of virtue signaling. Just get on with it. Obviously some professions need to be prioritized over other if it gets to that point. Obviously not all nhs staff have to drive to a hospital.

[Doris86]

There are signs that panic buying of petrol is starting to subside, as people’s tanks are full and they beginning to realise that petrol stations are still getting deliveries. This should all calm down within a few days before there is time to implement any ‘key worker’ priority system.

[ncking]

here's a funny analogy: what happens when it snows heavily overnight and a lot of people can't get to work for a couple of days?
Most people's jobs are suddenly not 'essential' and they work from home.
Kind volunteers with high grade 4x4s come out and take those workers are really essential to work. Typically these are doctors and nurses and other NHS staff.

[ancientgran]

@Chishelled

People need - and i mean - truly need - fuel for other reasons than going to work though; one example would be caring for elderly relatives.

All sorts of people need fuel for vital reasons; it should not be prioritised for just key workers getting to work - particularly when many key workers have and are able to also work from home.

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

They could prioritise all carers like they did for vaccinations. If we had a competent government it wouldn't be that hard.

[Chishelled]

The NHS is failing simply because of the catastrophic lack of staff.

The lack of staff has not been caused by people not being able to get fuel for their cars though. Now, or in the past.

It's caused my a multitude of other reasons which start with the Government.

@Judashascomeintosomemoney absolutely terrifying - I am glad you are all OK.

[Foxyloxy1plus1]

I’m not a key worker. I can get to a shop on foot if necessary. My car has been unused for a week, because I’m not prepared to battle a queue and the wrath of others. Instead of taking a journey, I’ll stay at home. But I hope that I will be able to use the car again, to go to places I can’t get to on foot or public transport.

During one fuel difficulty, I’m told, garage personnel were checking fuel gauges and anyone with half a tank or more was sent on their way. No to filling up cans too. If people had considered something like this, there wouldn’t be as much of a difficulty as there is now.

I have a small amount of fuel, which I’m saving in case there’s an emergency, or an appointment I have to keep.

[Chishelled]

@ancientgran it's not just carers though - it's everyone who needs fuel for transport, for whatever reason, when there are no other transport options available to them for that specific journey

[MiddleParking]

It was always mortifying for anyone to describe themselves as a key worker, even in lockdown 1. Just use your job title and it’ll speak for itself if you’re that essential.

[CovoidOfAllHumanity]

The fuel issue isn't really about being a 'key worker' though is it?

I live 10mins walk from my local hospital and if only I worked there I would not need any petrol. In fact I am based at a hospital 30 mins walk away but again doable to walk it and I often do.

The problem is that my job is a community one and is based on home visits which I continued to do throughout the pandemic (with PPE). Some of them I can cycle but that is more time and energy and I can get less done. Some of them are too far away and I need to drive. My job is about preventing people from being admitted to hospital so it is pretty important right now that my team and I are able to function to take pressure off A&E and this stupid fuel crisis is making it really hard.

I have not bought any so far and can probably last this week by cycling to whatever I can and no out of work journeys but after that I don't know what I will do and am just praying that everyone's cars must be full by then. The Trust says we should look on social media for any petrol stations that are prioritising NHS so they are not hugely helpful.

Not all 'key workers' need priority fuel but so of us do.

[MadamMalkin]

I agree with burritofan

"It DOES need the government to ensure no employee is penalised for being unable to attend work, and for our society to be less race-to-the-bottom, dog-eat-dog, with shitty zero hour contracts and other penalties that will make non-key workers desperate to get to work."

Key workers keep the country running, and should get priority on fuel, but other workers shouldn't be penalised for not making it in. There should be an emergency benefit or scheme of some sort, available at times like this.

[ancientgran]

@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.

Don't you think some jobs are a bit more time sensitive than others? If someone has a catastrophic accident it might be vital that a surgeon, nurse etc are available immediately. If I want to buy a load I can probably survive till tomorrow.

[WoodchipNightmares]

YANBU. I'm dreading the idea of petrol only being available for key workers. I'm a key worker - an artisan food producer who supplies local shops - and need my car for the distribution. Fuck knows how I'd prove that though - I don't have a work ID (why would I?) and my car isn't signwritten.

[ancientgran]

A loaf not a load. Although I suppose I could buy a load of loaves.

[Angrymum22]

Apparently I’m classified as a ‘critical’ worker does that mean I can jump the queue in front of ‘key’ workers.
On a more serious note I hope the team that are removing my breast tumour this week have enough fuel, if not my DH would happily taxi them to the hospital. My surgery has already been delayed because a kind patient thought it was ok to attend his appointment with Covid.
Our local garage has just had a delivery but I’m being very selfish and not sharing it on SM.

[LST]

@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'll tell my none key worker dp that he doesn't need to get to work anymore then. See how long we'll last on my wage alone ay? Ffs. Of course everyone 'needs' to get to work. What a stupid thing to say

[SoyLatte2Shots]

@Foxyloxy1plus1

I’m not a key worker. I can get to a shop on foot if necessary. My car has been unused for a week, because I’m not prepared to battle a queue and the wrath of others. Instead of taking a journey, I’ll stay at home. But I hope that I will be able to use the car again, to go to places I can’t get to on foot or public transport.

During one fuel difficulty, I’m told, garage personnel were checking fuel gauges and anyone with half a tank or more was sent on their way. No to filling up cans too. If people had considered something like this, there wouldn’t be as much of a difficulty as there is now.

I have a small amount of fuel, which I’m saving in case there’s an emergency, or an appointment I have to keep.

YABU to place this onto minimum wage retail staff at petrol stations. You do understand the level of abuse they'll be subjected to for this?

[ancientgran]

[quote Chishelled]@ancientgran it's not just carers though - it's everyone who needs fuel for transport, for whatever reason, when there are no other transport options available to them for that specific journey[/quote]
Well that was your example.

[littlepeas]

You're only just getting fed up of it op? I got fed up very quickly - especially when it is people who work in HR and accountants (not thinking of anyone specific ).

[hotelharibo]

@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.

Yep this 100%

[CatJumperTwat]

"Key worker" got irritating about two weeks into Lockdown 1!

[MissyB1]

And yet here you are OP causing more division (by way of virtue signalling). You are also part of the problem by stoking the fire.

Some patients might not get seen because their Dr or Nurse wont have petrol, those patients may have waited the best part of a year for that appointment. Not all NHS staff live within walking/ cycling distance, and buses are patchy and unreliable in some areas (in our town they frequently just dont turn up). NHS staff will always do their absolute best to get to work because they abhor letting patients down. So lets stop having a pop at them eh? No wonder public sector staff morale is so low when some of their own can be so quick to put the boot in.

[Crinkle77]

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??

What if someone is working a night shift? I think lots of women would be worried about having to walk 20 minutes in the dark.

[ancientgran]

@Angrymum22

Apparently I’m classified as a ‘critical’ worker does that mean I can jump the queue in front of ‘key’ workers.
On a more serious note I hope the team that are removing my breast tumour this week have enough fuel, if not my DH would happily taxi them to the hospital. My surgery has already been delayed because a kind patient thought it was ok to attend his appointment with Covid.
Our local garage has just had a delivery but I’m being very selfish and not sharing it on SM.

Good luck. I hope they all get there and your op goes ahead and is a complete success. These are hard times for people waiting for important treatment, stressful enough at the best of times.

[Turkishangora]

YANBU it was irritating straight away. During the first lockdown I was classed as a critical worker, still a "key worker" now but less critical (healthcare).

I know people who exploited their key worker status massively and revelled in the drama of it, employees of legal firms etc. I do think community health and social care staff, hospital and care staff need to be prioritised as well as those working in the logistics supply chain. An acquaintance who works as a personal injury solicitor absolutely not.

[supermoonrising]

@ichundich
It was the same at the height of the pandemic - blaming people for spreading Covid when government advice was contradictory (eat out but stay home) or for booking Covid tests 'unnecessarily' when there were hardly any tests available.

The trouble is, right wing ideology, when it fails and is called out, encourages deflection of blame for all government cock ups onto individuals/the masses. It does this by its very nature.

“It’s not that our schools are overcrowded and underfunded, it’s that the TEACHERS or YOUR kids weren’t putting the work in”

“Its’s not that the NHS is starved of funding, it’s that people are going in for every little sniffle”

“It’s not that house prices in half the country have become unaffordable on an average salary, it’s that you guys are too busy buying the latest iPhone and expensive lattes”.

So this is the go to Tory line of defence for literally everything that goes wrong. For poor planning, management and general incompetency. But people often believe it as the overwhelming right wing press amplifies this message and it’s on repeat decade on decade.

Of course there’s such a thing as individual responsibility. But there’s also such a thing as competent and aware government managing the structures of our society and running things in a beneficial and harmonious manner. The Cameron, May and Johnson governments have forgotten about the latter, too enthralled with their Brexit and kowtowing to the right wing rags.