A thread to show some love for the less-recognised key workers

[Dyrne]

Don’t get me wrong, I think all the recognition and praise for the NHS, Teachers, Delivery drivers and shop workers are bloody well deserved; and it’s right that they should be thanked for keeping going right now.

It’s just sometimes I get a little sad for my colleagues who do an ‘invisible’ job people don’t even really think about, but is critical to keep the country functioning.

So can we have a little love here as well to show some appreciation for:

Utility Workers (Gas, Electric, Water, Broadband)
Bin men
Those who volunteer with the vulnerable (food banks, befriending, citizens advice)
Postmen
Plumbers, electricians etc
Vets
Mechanics, roadside assistance
Police, Fire, Coastguard, Lifeboat
Early Years workers (nurseries, childminders, nannies)

Has anyone got any others to add?

Great idea. So many still going to work everyday with no recognition! The men and women who inspect and maintain parks and playgrounds.

Cleaners! I work for Royal Mail cleaning 2 of their sorting offices. If the place wasn't clean and sanitised, a lot wouldn't come into work.

My mum is also a cleaner at a primary school, she's still having to go in to deep clean the school for 6 hours a day, and once that's done she'll be their doing her regular clean of the school protecting the kids and staff.

People maintaining things for national security.

Social workers.

Passport and Immigration control at the airports. In fact all staff at the airport who are currently working including those at car hires/car park attendants.

It may already have been mentioned but bin men - I had some bright spark moaning in our neighbourhood site that they weren't observing social distancing whilst working - thankfully she was put back in her box - but I wouldn't fancy handling multiple potentially infectious items every day.

Teachers - we’re still open, for now.

Oh and pharmacists and those working in chemists. Delivery drives. Funeral parlour employees.

Shop assistants. Got a couple of ex students working in the local supermarket. Really strikes me how these young people, that are paid so little and often looked down on, are right at the front line.

Definitely the binmen. Ours are still crammed into their cab together with no masks, I have contacted the council about it. Imagine if they all got sick, we'd have a second health risk from all the rubbish mounting up.

Great idea! I don't have any to add, but the other day our bin men came and we're cheering everyone on for staying in - it was really lovely. Anyone who has to work at the moment I thank you

When our bins were collected on Wednesday, I ran out and said thank you to them. They were a bit taken aback but seemed very delighted to be recognised.

NHS therapists.

They are spending 25-35 hours per week at the moment in therapy sessions (which have moved to telephone) with patients who already experience anxiety and depression and who are now almost across the board really freaking out. Imagine spending that many hours per week talking about someone’s fear and anxiety about a real world problem neither of you can fix? All while you may be scared yourself or your own life falls to pieces at home with a partner who has lost a job, kids with health conditions to worry about.

I honest to god don’t know how they are doing it. They’re the real heroes to me. You don’t get much closer to the coal face.

Flood defence engineers. Flood defences across England and Wales have taken an absolute hammering this winter. There are teams if people out there working on them to try and get them back in condition before any more storms hit.

Yes thanks to all these people, was just thinking about the binmen this morning.

Also IT support. My husband is in charge of remote working for our council... Trying to rebuild an infrastructure to keep 2000 staff working remotely (social workers, public health, benefits support, housing etc.) On a system that only really supports 600 WFH at any given time. Him and his colleagues are working in shifts 24 hours a day.

Shout out to those working making food so we're still eating decent meals. And to those making packaging and labelling to go with them!

HMRC who are working with govt to sort out and implement the packages around employment and self employment

People working in food factories. I know production lines usually have people side by side, so I don't know how well they are implementing distancing measures. Definitely a much needed and poorly paid job.

What about farmers? And anyone working in food production. Without them we would have much bigger issues!

Similarly delivery drivers, who are getting the food from the farms/factories to the supermarkets.

Thankyou for starting this thread. A thankyou to all the above and especially the tradespeople safely repairing the damage from all the recent floods and storms still.

Lorry drivers. I’ve been awake during the night quite often this week and have become transfixed by the huge food lorries passing the front garden. The skill required to drive those enormous vehicles through the night along old roads amazes me. And there are fewer places where they can access a loo or buy food during these night shifts at the moment. I’m suddenly grateful for their work.

Good idea- police, not only dealing with the usual stuff but mostly without masks or much hand sanitiser and never knowing who you’re dealing with next.

Really strikes me how these young people, that are paid so little and often looked down on, are right at the front line.

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

My lovely Tesco delivery man. He’s lovely when we are not on lock down too.

Civil servants many of whom can't work from home, keeping the country running.