To not understand the animosity towards key workers

[IsItMeOrThemBeingKnobs]

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

And plenty of people have - Perkbox, ThanksBen, YuLife.

Apparently it is only a problem when public sector workers are allowed access to it, as we should be living on gruel and wearing sack cloth and ashes, grateful for any pennies taxpayers throw our way.

I'm an NHS nurse. I work in community mental health. Usually my role is assessing clients as they come into the service but during the first lockdown we weren't getting many referrals so my manager asked me if I'd help with the depot clinic. Depot injections are long lasting injections (a bit like contraceptive injections) but they're anti psychotic meds for those with schizophrenia, as often these clients are chaotic and/or lacking insight so this means they always have meds. So I loved that time, I joined nursing to nurse, it felt like real proper hands on nursing, so was happy to go out to patients homes each day, give them their injections and use that time to check how they were coping.

So yeah I was a 'keyworker' but I felt so embarrassed by that cos there was so many others who were working and putting themselves at risk of catching covid. In London where I am there was so many bus drivers catching it from passengers. And what about shop assistants, deliveries, binmen, emergency services, prison officers, carers etc etc. It all made me cringe tbh.

"So yeah I was a 'keyworker' but I felt so embarrassed by that cos there was so many others who were working and putting themselves at risk of catching covid. In London where I am there was so many bus drivers catching it from passengers. And what about shop assistants, deliveries, binmen, emergency services, prison officers, carers etc etc. It all made me cringe tbh."

Most of the people you mention were keyworkers too. We provided education to the children of keyworkers throughout, and certainly drivers, binmen, prison officers, caters and workers in essential shops were all on the list.

During lockdown there were plenty of nasty comments from key workers against those on furlough, having "lengthy paid holiday " this caused a lot of resentment for many on furlough as they had very little choice and many had to manage on 80% wage.
Of course many also lost their jobs. So maybe a little bit of resentment that some of these people are getting discounts and others who are probably struggling as much and potentially worse, don't qualify for anything

Iceland has just announced 10% discount on everything for over 60s on a Tuesday. Are we cross about that too?

This discount card has been around for decades. It's nothing to do with covid.

Fed up of this keyworkers bullshit. Are you really telling me a surgeon working for the NHS on a high salary needs a discount more than an admin clerk working for a private company on 20k?

Plenty of public sector jobs are well paid...they're not all impoverished angels just as not everyone working in the private sector is on six figure salaries.

What's that got to do with anything?

The blue card scheme has been going for decades. It covers dozens of jobs but not all 'keyworkers' as teachers aren't eligible.

It's similar to the discounts offered to over 60s or students, or any of the other discount cards targeting specific professions.

I'm making an overall point too that public sector doesn't necessarily equal poorly paid.

Nobody said public sector is poorly paid. They don't have access to a discount card because they're poorly paid. Not all students are impoverished but they are often offered discounts. Not all over 60s are poor but they are often offered discounts. Discounts allow retailers and service providers to target and attract a new market. Many private companies are also part of discount schemes. There are loads of them. DHs company gets reduced gym membership and discount at a chain of restaurants. But only the blue light card gets this level of anger ime.

Blue light card is a subscription service - it's something like £5 per year to have one.

The problem is during covid the media made NHS workers the saviours of everything.(not the NHS workers fault)

However there are many industry's that in scheme of things were more important than the NHS, whose workers worked all way through without the glory.

Food production, power and water production and others were not recognised as such and without them the NHS would not function. If my brother hadn't done his job there would have been no bread on shelves of Asda ect.

I just think it needs to be recognised more the many others who are key parts of supplychains.

Sorry I explained it wrong. All those I mentioned were also keyworkers but what made me cringe was all the clapping etc for the NHS when there was no clapping for binmen and bus drivers who were also doing their bit. They shouldn't have focused so much on NHS and care home staff like they were the only ones out there, especially as many NHS staff eg IT etc were working from home.

It also made me angry that many staff like caterers, porters, cleaners etc in the NHS often don't work directly for the NHS but were the backbone, but barely got any recognition for it.

Why are people still banging on about covid on this thread?

Well the clapping started in Europe and was initiated here by a Dutch woman I think

It did seem to grab people's attention though and lots of people joined in, although it wasn't compulsory if you didn't agree with it.

I suppose I don't see recognition for someone else as a slight on me, or anyone else who isn't included, and I don't really understand the thinking behind those who do.

I worked throughout covid too but I don't think many can claim to have had the same challenging working conditions as those on the frontline of the nhs though.

Although covid and recognition of keyworkers is irrelevant when the offending discount scheme is nothing to do with covid or keyworkers.

It doesn't bother me, there are so many other discounts/perks/offers/entitlements that select groups get that no one bothers about. I think it is an excuse to be aggressive for some people.
Students get discounts, free child places for families, kids eat free, OAP free brews, NHS discounts, teacher discounts, free disabled parking etc.

There is always going to be a group that get something that you don't. At some point you will be in a group that gets something when others don't. Would you give that up or say you are entitled to it? People just get so entitled these days and want it all and begrudge anyone who gets something they don't. It really boils down to jealousy.

Apparently Covid went back in time to 2001 and set up an employee discount scheme, and then signed up various professions and paid their annual subscription for them

We didn't 'hide' at home at all, we were told to work from home by our boss, so we did!!

Goodness me ! As an NHS consultant this thread is making me want to go and do a big shop at Asda and claim 10% off with a blue light card just to annoy you all. Get a grip.

@MontagueLeo if a consultant needs to shop in Asda I wouldn’t begrudge them a discount!

Everybody needs to shop somewhere

@MontagueLeo

Treat yourself to a bottle of fizz on them

🤣🤣

What a weird thing to say. Where do you think we shop? Fortnum and Mason? We use normal supermarkets like everyone else. I mostly shop in Morrisons because it’s closest, and do top up shops in the Coop.