Keyworker Support Thread

[SpiritEssence]

How are you all doing ? I work for a supermarket so been through it all from the start of this. It's been very stressful and the attitude of some people has been disgusting.

But just wanted to be positive as we keyworkers have done so well and we should be proud of ourselves in what ever sector you work kn as a keyworker. It's been tough but and upsetting at times. But keep going we are the backbone of this country.

[Note from MNHQ: title was originally 'To all keyworkers who have worked through this' and has now been changed at OP's request]*

[JoMumsnet]

@SpiritEssence

Would anyone mind if I asked mumsnet to change the title and turn this into a keyworker support thread as I dont see one on here and would be great for us to have a place to come and vent on ?

We've edited the title for you, as requested, SpiritEssence.

And just wanted to say a huge thanks to all the key workers, for everything you're doing through all of this. It's very much appreciated. For you, and your families.

[hatgirl]

There is definitely a theme isn't there.

Exhausted and unsupported

[Hugepeppapigfan]

Senior leader in a primary school and I also have a full class teaching responsibility. I’m exhausted. I’m in charge of the key worker provision and staffing as well as sorting home learning for my class (and it is more than some worksheets and some links even though so many on MN seem to think that’s what all teachers are doing ) and now I’m going to be teaching a bubble full time with only a tiny break each day. I’m so worn down by government guidance and a zillion changes and last minute announcements. Mostly I’m deflated by the media and so many negative posts on Mumsnet. Planning my exit from teaching at some point but haven’t got the time just now.

Hats off to all key workers. It’s easy to moan that I’m exhausted but so many jobs are tough just now. And so many tougher than mine.

[pfrench]

I’m so worn down by government guidance and a zillion changes and last minute announcements. Mostly I’m deflated by the media and so many negative posts on Mumsnet. Planning my exit from teaching at some point but haven’t got the time just now.

I hear all of that. I have no idea how my head has done it frankly. She's very, very calm and collected, but I know that underneath everything is going batshit. Spent half an hour this afternoon looking at MA programmes, but it's too late to resign.

Bubble is most important. Can you just find something to link to for home learning? Kids at home are going to suffer from lack of available staff to sort this stuff out, but it's not your fault.

It's 1am, I'm just finishing my lessons for tomorrow and Tuesday having started at 2.30 this afternoon. It takes AGES to record stuff, just ages. And I know that so few of our kids are looking at it, let alone getting any learning out of it. But still can't do nothing, because if it 'gets' one of them, that's OK. And other teacher martyr bollocks!

[pfrench]

Exhausted and unsupported

Yeah, but not by immediate bosses right? They're all doing their best in a rudderless boat too. It's all lack of central support from government - yet I know people in Dept for Health comms who are having an absolute nightmare too.

NHS got clapped, surely that was enough?!

Meanwhile, people on beaches, banana bread, sourdough, yoga. HAHA.

[InflagranteDelicto]

Community pharmacy. Between my job, my work based course and 3 teens I'm shattered. Hone schooling is not going well for my middle one and I'm supposed to be supporting her to catch up. Meanwhile I'm ever more behind in my own course and ds is in total limbo and not coping with the lockdown restrictions.
Meanwhile there only change for dh is a move from an office to a cupboard so he "doesn't understand why I'm finding it so hard"
Most of our customers are ok, a lot of thr makes ones grumbled about the restrictions to how many could be in the shop. Mask wearing infuriates me. They come in, pull the mask down to talk then hand over money, you've all seen it. The counter staff are no different which makes me cross too!

[SpiritEssence]

Thankyou Mumsnet for changing the title

[SpiritEssence]

Also off for a 12 hour shift soon but then have a 12 day break where I'm going to chill and sort my health out which I've injected over the weeks. Have a good day all and hope it goes quick for everyone working today

[vodkaredbullgirl]

My working day has not started yet, work tonight then 4 off.

[Spidey66]

@Ceebs85

I work for a mental health crisis team and it's been ok until now but we've been running on high stress levels waiting for the real brunt of it. It feels like it's starting now as lockdown and the pandemic really starts to impact on people's mental health.

I definitely think referrals are going to increase, because of the economic impact (job, business losses) and the emotional and psychological impact. Anxiety and OCD levels are bound to be sky high. Plus the impact of lockdown e.g. the whole family cooped up. I work in Hackney which has a lot of families in overcrowded housing, tower blocks etc. Must be so difficult for them with the kids off and at the beginning certainly, only being able to go to tgge park once a day. No swimming or sports, no clubs like scouts, you can't even take them to the swings.

[cptartapp]

Just got my positive antibody test back today done at work. Had no symptoms so bit of a surprise. Quite relieved tbh.

[1moreRep]

police, absolutely run off my feet and it feels like the world hate us

honestly i sometimes wonder why we do this to ourselves

[cheninblanc]

cptartapp I'm waiting on my result, when did you have yours done? I've had no symptoms but a wicked sore throat and exhaustion right at the start of lock down. I'd be thrilled if I had anti bodies! How long did you wait for the result x

[cptartapp]

It was done Friday.
I did do four flights in eight weeks around Jan and Feb (including the affected resort in Tenerife) so who knows?

[cheninblanc]

I had mine done Thursday, I hope my result comes soon! I was exposed to people who later became postive so I'll be very interested to see what mine is, most likely negative but you've given me a little hope

[vodkaredbullgirl]

I had my test on a Wednesday, got them back on Friday.

[SpiritEssence]

I'd like to have one of these tests and wonder if supermarket staff will get them as the amount of people were around all day

[reesewithoutaspoon]

ICU exhausted and stressed tbh. Havent seen my son since christmas and my daughter since February, also looking after my shielding mum which is adding to the stress. Feel like I just want to get in the car and drive away and just keep driving. I used to love my job but now my heart sinks when i,m due on shift,

[Spidey66]

As I mentioned before, I'm a CPN. Since the lockdown our building is shut to the public, which means instead of clients coming to us for depot injections, we have to go to them. Depots are slow release injections of anti psychotic medication, similar thing to injectable contraception. I've been doing this for the past few weeks, normally work on a different team.

We go out in pairs and can be out for several hours at a time.

Yesterday I was out and bursting for a wee. For various reasons I don't like going in clients homes (tbh even though I'm in no way fussy many of the clients live in somewhat unsanitary conditions). Obviously places like libraries, cafes, McDonald's etc are closed. I was near a large GP practice who we work closely with, so thought I'd try them. I buzzed the door and when I said i was a CPN was buzzed in. I went to reception and showed my ID. She asked was I here for the meeting. I said no, I'd been on home visits and needed to use the loo. She refused point blank, even when I begged! Last week I had the sniffles and work told me to self isolate until I'd been tested. The result as I expected was negative. I told her this but she still refused. We had to go to our base 2 miles down the road!

What makes me mad was if i5 had been Tescos I would have gone to the front of the queue and got a free coffee.....but the NHS don't seem to want to look after their own!

[Doyouthinktheysaurus]

This is a really moving thread, you are all amazing for what you are doing💐

I think I broke at the weekend, migraine that lasted 6 days, headache for 3 days, lethargy and weakness for another 3. I'm a nurse and suffer from migraines but never like that. Had a panic Monday morning that it might be an atypical presentation of covid19 so got tested and thankfully negative.

Which means it's likely just exhaustion and stress. Had a few days sick which I never do and I'm feeling more myself.

I think whoever mentioned the relentlessness of it is right. It's the sheer thought that there is no end in sight. Our tiny team is just at breaking point😢

I am thankful my children are older and don't need daily supervision because that would have broken me long ago.

[SpiritEssence]

I heard today one of my work colleagues got spat on by a man as he was asked to leave the store as was being abusive to staff

[bloodyhellsbellsx]

Oh that’s awful, some people are absolutely vile!

[OnceUponAMidnightBeery]

@cheninblanc

Onceuponamidnightbeery - YOU ARE NOT JUST A SHOP WORKER!

Thank you so much, that is so kind and has really touched me. I’ve just got no right complaining compared to the actual key workers - NHS staff, Covid frontliners, care home workers, Police and Firemen etc.

Thanks again

[OnceUponAMidnightBeery]

@Hugepeppapigfan

Senior leader in a primary school and I also have a full class teaching responsibility. I’m exhausted. I’m in charge of the key worker provision and staffing as well as sorting home learning for my class (and it is more than some worksheets and some links even though so many on MN seem to think that’s what all teachers are doing ) and now I’m going to be teaching a bubble full time with only a tiny break each day. I’m so worn down by government guidance and a zillion changes and last minute announcements. Mostly I’m deflated by the media and so many negative posts on Mumsnet. Planning my exit from teaching at some point but haven’t got the time just now.

Hats off to all key workers. It’s easy to moan that I’m exhausted but so many jobs are tough just now. And so many tougher than mine.

You’re doing amazing work, please know that so many of us appreciate you