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

Well my friend who works in the nhs earns around £40k, worked from home through the pandemic and can get a discount. I work in a school, worked all the way through the pandemic, earn £19k and no discount.

I thought the key worker crap had gone. Every job is important, I’m laughing at the idea of a well paid, well pensioned consultant who also coins it in privately getting a discount on his shopping, but a delivery driver on minimum wage having to pay full price. Gross. I never went for the thank you, clapping seal NHS shit anyway.

I can't stand the whole discount for key workers thing sorry 🤷‍♀️

I think it must be so hard for companies to do the ‘right’ thing that isn’t divisive at the moment.
Not really. Just stop the divisive discounts and keep prices on basic foods as low as possible for everyone.

The blue light card can be accessed by civil servants too, some of whom are on over 100k per year. Not all of course. Just pointing out that not all users on the blue light card are on a low salary. I’ve seen lots complaining why can’t single parents get same discount as pensioners etc but how can the supermarkets realistically do that? They can only do things like age and blue light card holders.

But why the fuck should someone earning £100k plus be entitled to a discount on their groceries?? Why are they automatically more worthy?
Society functions because we all play our part
Just reduce the fucking prices for everybody and stop being a cunt.

I think they need to stop with the freebies etc now.

All key workers are important, I want them all paid appropriately for the jobs they do - so glad HGV drivers are being paid better these days. I don't want key workers to receive benefits from non employers just becayse they wirk in the nhs. It is nonsensical! Who do you think is making up the loss of profit by giving in these discounts out? Yes, none nhs workers....

It's not really the NHS's fault is it. It's the gov. The NHS GP services now is diabolical. So is surgery waiting lists

I guess my feelings on it are that I just couldn’t bring myself to begrudge someone else for a discount that I didn’t get, regardless of how tough things are for me (I’m low paid, all my bills have gone up and don’t get discounts). It just seems like a really toxic mindset - especially those who commented on the news article with such anger.

I don’t like the key worker discounts. For several reasons.

There are many unrecognised key workers…like bin men who are on much lower wages than NHS and also no furlough for them. I’ve lived through strikes and when the rubbish piles up and starts rotting and having rats pawing through it, you really get a sense that such a job is incredibly vital for health.

Also entire sectors had no furlough and people were simply sacked and had to go on UC. While fighting for jobs against the people on 80% furlough income getting second and even third jobs so they could rake it in during the pandemic. “Key workers” who had jobs and worked them for full pay were extremely privileged compared to those who lost their jobs. There were airline pilots trying to get minimum wage jobs doing grocery deliveries FFS. Why should they then get a discount when others have objectively sacrificed more.

There was also the disabled who did not even get the £20/week uplift that the UC claimants got during the pandemic. This group had to bear the extra costs on already very low benefits plus this group suffered the most deaths due to loss of needed medical treatment due to the NHS having to focus on Covid patients. Yet no discount for them either.

It’s a nice thought to show appreciation to a few privileged key workers but ultimately they were simply doing their jobs. Jobs that most are paid quite well to do compared to the average salary. I feel like discounts should be based on need moreso than some societal value judgement as to which type of worker is more valuable while other workers and the disabled are less than.

So not TA’s who also worked through covid.

I think it’s really odd. Some people get commission,bonus, reduction on merchandise, medical insurance, company car. The list in endless. So if you like the t&c’s, discounts or whatever go get a job with that company. Simple as that really. It’s not as if it’s that difficult to get a job as a key worker…

I thought the pointvwas it was a 'reward' for the job being done, nothing to do with how well paid they are?

So? Does that mean that people that are on low wages and struggling should somehow magically think it's okay? Does it mean that their jobs are not worthy of 'reward'?

My post was not about the reason behind the discount. It was about the reality that people are facing, and understanding why they might be feeling a bit 'what about me'. I agree with a pp. It is better to keep the price for staples low for everyone, than offer discounts to a select few, some of which really don't need them.

Me neither. It made sense in lockdown for some people to be able to go straight into supermarkets or go an hour early but the discounts don't make any sense.

We went out for a big group meal and got 25% off because one of us works for the NHS. It's crazy.

It's unfair that people can be working poor yet over the threshold to claim top ups from the government. Many key workers who are on a low wage will be topped up by other allowances and eligible for many other reductions elsewhere.
Others aren't and can claim a few quid in a shop. It is what it is but I definitely see this hatred that the OP describes

I worked all the way through too, can't stand the term keyworker, but that's nothing compared to the horror that is "front line NHS" 😷😂.....

I guess my feelings on it are that I just couldn’t bring myself to begrudge someone else for a discount that I didn’t get

I don't begrudge them either.

But I can fully understand why someone that is really on the bones of their arse might.

It’s not as if it’s that difficult to get a job as a key worker…

It might be difficult to find one that fits would family commitments though. Many of the key worker jobs that area crying out for people need flexibility, unsocial hours and are part time.

@MistyRuins

Depends on the job. Some are more worthy than others

🤷‍♀️

If some people don't need the discount then don't need low prices either.

I don't begrudge them a discount as such.

I just think it's fucking stupid that people on 100k plus get a discount on their food when others are relying on food banks 🤷🏻‍♀️

@Discovereads

Jobs that most are paid quite well to do compared to the average salary.

thats debatable. And most other jobs aren't comparable to some 'key worker' roles

This is a little spicy….

But to answer your question, no one is “entitled” to anything. Ultimately though Asda is a business and they think that offering a small discount to a small number of people will be ultimately profitable thanks to increased reputation, PR, those people choosing to switch to shop there, maybe ultimately putting their prices up etc.

Im more than a little skeptical of the real reasons big businesses make these supposedly altruistic decisions!

I saw an Asda post about this on Facebook and the comments. Instead of these discounts which exclude so many who are really struggling why not work on keeping prices low for everyone? Food and clothes(which I think are discounted in this Asda thing too) are a necessity, it seems very unfair that some people can get them with a discount simply because they work in a certain job.

It's just a clever marketing ploy. Give someone a tiny little discount and they'll be more likely to shop with that company.

Add to that the whole 'Look at us, looking after the NHS workers/emergency services', aren't we a wonderful company? And they're quids in.

I work for the nhs and I don't earn a huge amount of money at all and there are a lot of staff on the lower pay bands earning barely above minimum wage but equally consultants on £110k

It's a hard one isn't it ? I was told my my managers blue light was introduced as a carrot to dangle to help recruitment for services as sometimes they struggle and it's a "benefit" which I guess makes sense.

I understand people being annoyed tho there are a lot of people on low wages who could do with some help

A lot of people are feeling the pinch at the moment and worrying that it's going to keep on getting worse. For many life is one kick in the teeth after another, having to deny yourself and /or your children treats and in some cases necessities to pay ever increasing bills and working ever longer hours. What joy then to be told by asda's marketing department that your effort and contribution is worth less than someone else's. They work hard, you don't. They care about people, you don't. The world needs them, it doesn't need you.

I'm thankfully not in that position and couldn't give a monkeys who gets a discount, it's just marketing, but I can appreciate that drawing a line between groups of people and deeming some worthy and others not when people are genuinely worried about making ends meet is devisive.

But hey, marketing have got together with finance at Asda and assessed that offering the discount will have a positive impact on their bottom line and they get to write it up in their corporate responsibility report.