How to deal with friends claiming to be 'key workers'

[McDougal]

Just as the title says, really. I know a lot of admin staff in the NHS. A lot support inpatient services and have a real impact on keeping things moving. Others are PAs to managers who will be making decisions impacting upon patient care, but could do this themselves without a PA forwarding this communication on their behalf.

How do you deal with this? One friend is continuing to take her child to nursery as she's a 'key worker' when her husband is temporarily at home as his job has come to a standstill and I'm struggling to be sympathetic.

Its got buggar all to do with you really. You can't make a decision about who is and who isn't a key worker (unless you are the PM perhaps ?) , so don't worry about it. You don't have any say in it, to be quite frank, so there's no point getting angry really is there OP? OK I see your point , but unless you are going to become a governor of the NHS , you have very little say in it...

Ps I lost my job last week because of the coronavirus. I think the op needs some perspective on the realities of life and what we do need to worry about and what we don't.... like those of us worrying where the next meal is coming from and those who are dying because of this thing ...not whether admin (whose work is essential probably) are or are not "allowed" to be at work "by her standards,". Some people really need to get a) some perspective b) stop placing themselves as judge , jury and executioner.

A lot of you are judging the OP while telling her not to judge?? School atm is for keyworker's children who cannot stay home while the parent is at a keyworker job. The advice is: IF the child CAN stay at home, then they should. Since OP said her friend's partner is at home, not working, then the guidance would be to keep the child at home.

As a family of keyworkers (not directly caring for Covid patients) I can say it’s not a nice position to be in at the moment, we have no choice but to work. I have no desire to expose my children to any risk, or put them in childcare. Posts like this are decisive and unhelpful. We have no other option but to work. It’s a privilege to be able to stay at home, not every job affords that - and payment is nil for keyworkers who choose not work. I am not in admin I am face to face, and my husband is also in a very much needed role that also puts him at risk. In relation to your friend some admin is probably needed so the nhs doesn’t grind to a halt. I doubt your friend wants to go in, that decision is down to her management as to whether she is needed to go in. Childcare is only for those who do not have some one at home to care for their children and is strictly limited In our area so I also wonder about the accuracy of this post. There have been a lot of posts recently by teachers resenting caring for who they deem to be inessential. My only thoughts about this are the teachers who don’t want to care for kids in hub centres have the same choice as the worker they deem to be ‘non essential’ - quit their job. This is a really tough time, and I think more understanding is needed. I am yet to meet a keyworker who is over joyed at working. You may not see a particular roles worth but they would not be identified as a key worker if they were not, eg shop assistants (100 % needed and putting themselves at risk for us to be able eat, those driving the food to the supermarket, care workers etc the list goes on.

It all just sounds like a bit of envy to be honest.

We all have to sit at home with our kids and how dare these "unnecessary" ' keyworkers try to get out of it. You are not really worried about the teachers are you?
You are comparing your situation to theirs and feeling hard done by. That is how your post comes across.

There have been a lot of posts recently by teachers resenting caring for who they deem to be inessential. My only thoughts about this are the teachers who don’t want to care for kids in hub centres have the same choice as the worker they deem to be ‘non essential’-quit their job

The only complaining I’ve seen is from other parents complaining that they won’t get free childcare when other people who have a SAHP or one WFH shouldn’t have been trying to wangle a place!

Teachers have generally just been urging that only those who have absolutely no alternative come in.

I haven’t seen any posts from teachers resenting anything, tbh.

Schools are not just open for key workers. They are also open for the vulnerable. The child may fall under this criteria.
Even though I'm not a key worker mine come under vulnerable because of my health.

My job is not essential yet I still have to go to work whilst most places are on shut down.
So much for care of duty to your employees shame on you COCA-COLA

Just let it go, we've got enough to worry about

My niece is a PA in a private hospital which has been changed to a cancer and cardiac care unit. She is run off her feet and working v v long hours. Thankfully she has no children but is so under it all at the moment.

There is no reason the person you are talking about should have her kids at school or nursery if her husband is home though.

My DH is a key worker in financial services, one of 5 out of thousands in his company who are having to go in. My DCs are here at home with me.