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Original poster

To not understand the animosity towards key workers

299 replies

IsItMeOrThemBeingKnobs · 20/05/2022 21:15

Just seen a newspaper post a story about Asda giving an extra discount to Blue Light Card holders and there are 1000s of comments on it just full of hatred towards key worker discounts and so much “what about me”

I’ve noticed this more and more recently. There was another company advertising a discount to all key workers (so not just blue light card but school staff, anyone that holds a key working role etc) and the comments on that were the same.

This is definitely a new thing since Covid has eased and it makes me feel quite uncomfortable that we begrudge others a job that entitles them to a discount card. I’m pretty sure there are similar employee perks in other organisations, and I know times are really tough for all, but the division it’s causing is quite extreme.

YANBU - it’s bloody weird, you’re right
YABU - screw key workers, what about me

OP posts:
LeSquigh · 21/05/2022 15:49

I can't vote because I am a key worker but also I disagree with it. Just lower the prices for everyone. I get paid above average wage, my job is as safe as they come and I have as good a pension as its probably possible to get.

I may be a bit of a hypocrite because I do have a blue light card. I do not use it when I have to brandish it in a shop though as I find it a bit grabby.

Arsewangry · 21/05/2022 17:58

Yes my colleagues I and the large government department I work for did work our arses off throughout the pandemic - some from the front line and others making sure the back office was kept running smoothly at home - that doesn't detract from the fact that everyone else worked hard, but speak to your employer if you're not happy with the pay and benefits you receive instead of begrudging this.

Crikey - some bankers and financial advisors get massive bonuses that are paid for by end users, public servants get bloody 10% off a weekly asda shop and everyone is up in arms. It's all about perspective. Sorry you don't have a blue light card 🤷🏻‍♀️

justfiveminutes · 21/05/2022 19:32

What a horrible thread this is.

People whinging about over 60s getting discount in B&Q.

People whinging about about 30 different jobs being eligible for a discount card that's been around for years.

People whinging about students getting student discount too probably.

Everyone just fucking whinging that somebody is getting something nice because, in their opinion, they don't deserve it. Or they themselves deserve it more. Listen to yourselves.

Shops don't offer discount because they're benevolent, charitable organisations. They do it to attract the business they want to attract. If it works, the scheme pays for itself in increased sales. They can offer it to whoever they want to. You can be furious enough to boycott the shop, or you can go and get a job in the industry that is enjoying the discount.

bigmamaweekitty · 21/05/2022 19:32

I don't really know how I feel tbh. I don't begrudge anybody anything but having many NHS/doctors in my family and being a key worker myself ( retail worker) I can't help but feel it's a way to discriminate low paid workers. Like realistically why are asda doing this? Why not donate more to charity or give a little extra to food banks? Can tell you now my (extremely well
Off) doctor family don't need to discount ( but will be cheeky enough to use it)

justfiveminutes · 21/05/2022 19:39

"Like realistically why are asda doing this?"

It is a discount card you can use in lots of places. Asda has now started to accept it. The card has been around for years. They are doing it to attract customers away from other supermarkets.

justfiveminutes · 21/05/2022 19:41

"Can tell you now my (extremely well
Off) doctor family don't need to discount"

They will be delighted if they lure your doctor family from their current supermarket.

Changechangychange · 21/05/2022 19:50

I thought the original thing during lockdown was that NHS staff were working flat out, with half their colleagues off sick, putting their own lives at risk, and watching patients dying all around them, and not having to wait three hours outside Tesco was some small recognition of that. Not that an ICU nurse or consultant can’t afford to eat.

The Blue Light scheme pre-dates the pandemic by years, and is more like a discount club. I do work for the NHS and don’t have a Blue Light card - it’s a separate company that offers you discounts if you give them your personal data to sell on. Used to be called “NHS Discounts” and definitely existed in 2005 because one of my friends designed their website. There used to be an annual fee, though I think they’ve dropped it.

It’s no different to any other employee discount scheme - Unilever, Shell and Deloitte all have one, and nobody is pretending their staff are needy are they?

BalloonsAndWhistles · 21/05/2022 19:56

People need to get over it. Discounts can never be for everyone otherwise they would just be ‘the price’.

theyhavenothingbuttheaudacity · 21/05/2022 21:42

bigmamaweekitty · 21/05/2022 19:32

I don't really know how I feel tbh. I don't begrudge anybody anything but having many NHS/doctors in my family and being a key worker myself ( retail worker) I can't help but feel it's a way to discriminate low paid workers. Like realistically why are asda doing this? Why not donate more to charity or give a little extra to food banks? Can tell you now my (extremely well
Off) doctor family don't need to discount ( but will be cheeky enough to use it)

Low paid workers can get a blue light card though

GerronBuzanDoThaWomwok · 21/05/2022 23:10

I'd have loved to sit at at home with my tea and toast and have a good old struggle to get to grips with new technology ......hardly taxing, is it? And anyone who saw the teaching union zoom meetings and received their emails knows exactly what they were up to, that's not hearsay.😴

hulahooper2 · 21/05/2022 23:45

A lot of folk getting blue light discounts work in jobs where they were nowhere near covid patients , eg admin , I don’t understand why they should get same as a staff who were risking their health , and I know of lots who abuse it by using discount to buy on behalf of friends/family

theyhavenothingbuttheaudacity · 22/05/2022 00:11

hulahooper2 · 21/05/2022 23:45

A lot of folk getting blue light discounts work in jobs where they were nowhere near covid patients , eg admin , I don’t understand why they should get same as a staff who were risking their health , and I know of lots who abuse it by using discount to buy on behalf of friends/family

Like someone above said earlier it's nothing to do with covid. The blue light scheme has been around for many years. There are also many people who work in the nhs who get literally no perks elsewhere whatsoever. Most employers will at least provide employees tea and coffee , not something me and my colleagues have ever had. Many places will have paid for Christmas meals out, bonus schemes and other things that most in the nhs don't get. So seriously why so envious about a quid off some groceries? It's weird

justfiveminutes · 22/05/2022 06:20

GerronBuzanDoThaWomwok · 21/05/2022 23:10

I'd have loved to sit at at home with my tea and toast and have a good old struggle to get to grips with new technology ......hardly taxing, is it? And anyone who saw the teaching union zoom meetings and received their emails knows exactly what they were up to, that's not hearsay.😴

Why the teacher bashing on a thread about a discount card that teachers aren't eligible for though? Seems a bit unnecessary.

justfiveminutes · 22/05/2022 06:21

hulahooper2 · 21/05/2022 23:45

A lot of folk getting blue light discounts work in jobs where they were nowhere near covid patients , eg admin , I don’t understand why they should get same as a staff who were risking their health , and I know of lots who abuse it by using discount to buy on behalf of friends/family

Because the discount card pre-dates covid by decades.

oblada · 22/05/2022 07:44

Some people don't seem to understand why others would be miffed - personally i don't care but i get why others would. Those discounts are not actually paid for by the supermarket/government/whoever is providing it. It is obviously paid for by all of us in that the prices stay high enough otherwise to balance out the small loss made by the discount. Take away the discount and the prices could be very slightly lower for all of us. Which would be right.

MissyGez · 22/05/2022 08:55

hulahooper2 · 21/05/2022 23:45

A lot of folk getting blue light discounts work in jobs where they were nowhere near covid patients , eg admin , I don’t understand why they should get same as a staff who were risking their health , and I know of lots who abuse it by using discount to buy on behalf of friends/family

The services that are eligible to apply for a Blue Light card need admin staff, they might not be frontline but still do an important job so why shouldn't they get it, these are likely the ones on a lower wage as well

Newmumatlast · 22/05/2022 08:58

MistyRuins · 20/05/2022 21:17

There are a lot of keyworkers that are well paid. There are a lot of non keyworkers that aren't.

I can understand why people that are struggling feel it's unfair.

This. And every household in my family has a key worker. I just don't think we need to reward people for a job they choose to do when they are rewarded for that job by their employer. If it isnt enough their employer should step up and they always have the choice not to. There are lots of people who earn less than qualifying key workers. And also there is a bit of debate anyway about what is key - alot of jobs you could argue are necessary in some way to the smooth running of the country and therefore key but arent necessarily included.

I don't agree with people posting vitriol about key workers though. But people are entitled to query why they are not valued as much.

Changechangychange · 22/05/2022 09:05

hulahooper2 · 21/05/2022 23:45

A lot of folk getting blue light discounts work in jobs where they were nowhere near covid patients , eg admin , I don’t understand why they should get same as a staff who were risking their health , and I know of lots who abuse it by using discount to buy on behalf of friends/family

The Blue Light card has nothing to do with covid. It is an employee discount scheme that has been around for years. Lots of employers have them.

Are you also writing to Shell and Unilever to say that, as their staff mostly worked from home and weren’t at risk of covid, they should get rid of their employee discount schemes?

My husband’s employer gives them discounted gym membership. Would you like his CEO’s address so you can complain? No? Why not? Why is it just NHS staff who shouldn’t be allowed any perks?

justfiveminutes · 22/05/2022 09:09

oblada · 22/05/2022 07:44

Some people don't seem to understand why others would be miffed - personally i don't care but i get why others would. Those discounts are not actually paid for by the supermarket/government/whoever is providing it. It is obviously paid for by all of us in that the prices stay high enough otherwise to balance out the small loss made by the discount. Take away the discount and the prices could be very slightly lower for all of us. Which would be right.

The discount pays for itself if you attract a ton of new customers.

Changechangychange · 22/05/2022 09:11

I don't agree with people posting vitriol about key workers though. But people are entitled to query why they are not valued as much

The person you need to ask about that is your employer, surely. Many many employers offer employee benefits - corporate discounts on gym membership, free coffees, money off theme park tickets, wide range of random discounts. The Blue Light card just happens to be the scheme the NHS uses, but there are plenty of others.

Look up Perkbox. An employee discount scheme used by Wasabi and Purple Bricks estate agents. Gives their staff supermarket discounts too. Are you going to be complaining to Asda about that as well?

justfiveminutes · 22/05/2022 09:12

"I don't agree with people posting vitriol about key workers though. But people are entitled to query why they are not valued as much."

Contact the company that operates the blue light card and ask them why the discount card they've operated for decades doesn't include your industry. It doesn't include mine - teaching - either but then I don't expect to be eligible for every discount card going. I'm not mad at B&Q for valuing over 60s for discount but not me either.

PurassicJark · 22/05/2022 09:25

GreatBigBeautifulTommorow · 20/05/2022 22:22

Lots of vacancies in the NHS if people are that bothered……

Yeah and police forces up and down the country are hiring, not even just officers.

Funny how too people on here admitted to having benefited from it, but found it 'bizarre'. Bet they didn't pay the extra that they benefited from.

yellowsuninthesky · 22/05/2022 09:59

I'd support supermarkets giving the over 65s a 10% discount on a weekday to encourage them not to go into supermarkets on Saturdays when it's busy with people who work during the week. B&Q used to do it on a Wednesday, not sure if they still do.

As for discounts more generally, every time anyone posts in our local Facebook group about the best place to get things, most people will say Costco. They don't seem to realise that not everyone can join Costco (although I think they may have extended the eligibility recently as I definitely wasn't eligible last time I looked a few years ago but now I am).

And regarding blue light, it is a bit ridiculous if well paid hospital consultants claim it. I would be embarrassed to if I were that well paid but I guess that's how rich people stay rich!

justfiveminutes · 22/05/2022 10:21

"And regarding blue light, it is a bit ridiculous if well paid hospital consultants claim it. I would be embarrassed to if I were that well paid but I guess that's how rich people stay rich!"

I don't think it matters how rich you are really. If someone's offering you a discount why would you say no? I make a point of not paying more for something than I need to.

Having said that, I doubt many consultants bother to register and pay for the card.

BungleandGeorge · 22/05/2022 10:27

The blue light card isn’t affiliated to the nhs. It’s independent and paid for by card holders. Anyone who wants to can set up their own scheme