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

I also believe that if people are entitled to something they should use it! Always take your break for example, even if you have too much work to do or are board (strange but some people say this 🤷‍♀️) etc. If you work the extra time without pay you still won’t get promoted and more will be expected of you for less. Sorry if that is a news flash to anyone.

This is so true and ironic that your post was followed by a "why should over 60s get money off" post, proving your point.
We seem to be a "world should revolve around me" society now. Everybody is out for themselves and complains about any good fortune for others.

I am lucky in being a bit more financially secure now that we are older and DCs grown up so I claim my discounts then give the equivalent (often more) to the foodbank. I do feel desperately sorry for young families who are struggling though and would love to find a way to help other than the food banks

I get really annoyed with the key worker thing. There are some key workers who are on exceedingly good money. I'm glad they do the job they do, but why should they benefit from discounts when my son who deals non stop with people's computer hardware including health, council, retail etc does not. People in key worker roles often benefit from far better long term benefits and pension provision than the average private company

I think it's perhaps because a lot of people's definition of 'key work' is very narrow.

People shouted through the gates of my husband's workplace 'they told you to stay at home' during lockdown one, as though they were there for a jolly.

Yeah that's fine. But if you want a functioning crane to offload all the PPE and medical supplies we were desperate for, they were very much needed.

I'm not sure he'd qualify for this though. If you don't work for a large organisation like the council or NHS you go unnoticed.

I wasn't technically a key worker but because of the rapid change we were busier than we've ever been and, like so many, has to work really long hours and look after a child and a toddler at the same time. It was hell. A different he'll to those on the front line but arguably worse than a clerical NHS role where you had access to childcare as a key worker (I'm in Scotland and both parents had to be key workers to get any childcare in any of the lockdowns).

So like many, we are low earners who pushed ourselves to the brink but get nothing - much like any benefits or help with anything

Ooo, this is a tough one!

In the height of the pandemic, I'm stood in the queue to go shopping with an elderly gentleman in front of me. A NHS worker flashed her badge at said gent and said "I'm a key worker" and he said "I'm old and have been here for a long time!" but she just fucked off in to the shop without a second glance!! That made me cringe!

The second cringe moment was my friend and I took our kids to the park, she flashed her NHS pass to get money off at the ice cream van! She didn't need to save that 50p, she teaches midwifery, not saving lives in A&E during the height of the pandemic!

I don't know, I guess there's different levels of key workers, some worked their arses off, some others rode on those coat trips, can't deny that!!

*coat tails

I don't understand the comments 'I worked all the way through and there was no furlough for me'. Lucky you, you were paid in full and continued to work. I was furloughed and then made redundant. No discounts for me either.

Yabu, I don't want a discount but I am sick of companies promoting themselves by offering discounts to NHS staff. I'm sick of hearing about NHS staff and covid.

Blue Light cards predate the pandemic. I don’t know why some people are getting themselves twisted over it now.

1. the blue light discount card does not include all keyworkers
2. its a marketing ploy
3. the keyworker covid thing is over. Everyone is struggling
4. most the keyworkers I know are on £30k+ (obviously many aren’t) any there are some who earn £70k+
5. if ASDAs profits are so good they can afford this, they can afford to do smaller discounts across the store for all consumers. People on the breadline on the whole won’t be helped here.

so yes, keyworkers are amazing etc, did fantastic through covid. But everyone is struggling right now and this is bad timing and yet another slap in the face for many.

Moreover, ASDA just want shoppers through their doors.

It’s challenging isn’t it?

I’m a journalist (local news, not threat stealing type). Throughout the pandemic I worked hard to keep the public updated on the latest developments, restrictions, access arrangements for vaccine centres, details of school closures etc. We were in a top tier area so national, London centric news wasn’t relevant. It was horrible, and there was no escape from it. I heard teachers saying - ‘we don’t know what’s going on till we read it on Xxxx’.

But in the next breath, that’s my job. I’m paid to keep the public informed in any emergency. I’m not front line emergency services and I do r feel worthy of a discount in Asda. I just kept on doing my job in challenging circumstances- WFH for example, was really shit, but they closed our offices and cut our pay by 20% (we’ve since been reimbursed thank god).

I think we should be able to argue for an Adsa discount, but everyone hates us ☹️

Fair enough but actually this isn’t about Covid. It’s a blue light card discount. Hundreds of retailers offer discounts and have done pre pandemic.

Asda are doing this for marketing but they didn’t say “oh it’s to thank NHS workers”, it’s simply part of the blue light scheme.

You clearly don't know any NHS band 5 nurses then!

The Blue Light card is a great company perk and covers a lot of roles. Wish I could get one, but I'm a Nursery Worker and it doesn't seem to cover us.

For me, it's not so much "screw keyworkers, what about me" as opposed to being sick of the "NHS first" that got rammed down our throats in lockdown.

NHS covers a broad range of roles, some whom still work from home and never even went near a persistent cough during lock down.

There was no furlough for many people. Not all were classed as keyworkers.

I voted YANBU but I get that everyone Knows key workers who have been a bit annoying.

I suppose there's been an element of martyrdom from some key workers. There's a comment upthread "we didn't get furlough". No neither did I. I'm not a key worker. I don't want or need the discount. I think people everywhere have become rather tiresome with victim mentality. We went from pandemic "don't you know there's a pandemic on?" Attitude to "cost of living crisis".

Before the pandemic people were hang dog about poor pay not acknowledging better hours and pensions than private sector jobs. Swings and roundabouts.

Aah but we’re you exposed to Covid ? I had absolutely no choice about going to work and was lucky enough to get the best text on Christmas Day 2020 informing me I had Covid…my family all scattered and 12 residents died!!

People seem to forget that people who were out on furlough did not choose it, they lost 20% of their income which can have a massive impact if you are living month to month as it is. Many of those people would have preferred to be at their place of working earning their full wage.

Crikeyalmighty
I get really annoyed with the key worker thing. There are some key workers who are on exceedingly good money. I'm glad they do the job they do, but why should they benefit from discounts when my son who deals non stop with people's computer hardware including health, council, retail etc does not. People in key worker roles often benefit from far better long term benefits and pension provision than the average private company

I also dislike the whole keyworker thing, but insofar as pensions and benefits are concerned for public services, people who seem to resent that provision could always try working in the public sector. Spending your working life there takes its toll. Not asking for sympathy, but that's the reality.The pensions really aren't that great after giving over 40 years to keeping people safe, despite restructures, mass redundancies, deaths and preventable tragedies, health-destroying caseloads and corruption.🤕

I am sick of hearing about nhs keyworkers getting discounts. What about the poor minimum wage keyworkers who worked in the supermarkets and shops providing discounts for the NHS workers, whilst thinking their lives were on the line but without PPE protection? What about the poor minimum wage bus drivers who also got fuck all? Dont they count?

It makes me smile when I'm out with my friend, who is a senior midwife working part time (and mostly from home during lockdown) married to a financial director, with a joint income if about £150,000 pa and both inheriting very substantial amounts from wealthy parents in the last 2 years - and she'll still claim her 10% off from her lunch from Leon or whatever. I just think what a crazy old world.

This x 1000

I'm a TA
Low paid
Worked all through lockdowns every day of every week including some school holidays with key workers children and vulnerable children ...never get a discount .

Many of the discounts and offers are found online it’s mainly a marketing tool not free gifts apart from my Nando’s discount

it was hugely appreciated the free coffee or free lunch delivery when working during lockdown especially for those on the icu wards and I know some care homes were getting deliveries too.

we got the occasional lunch (mh unit) really appreciated this and felt appreciated by the locals restaurants

of course some didn’t need to take advantage but it’s companies losing out not customers

@Calmdown14 Yep that's how I feel- many jobs are 'key' in terms of being needed to make stuff function- but because they aren't all 'public sector ' aren't ever listed as'key' and hence no priority for discount cards or part buy housing etc in some areas -- I know someone who has done nurse training purely to be top of the list and then aims to leave- this is not good!!