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Original poster

Don’t key workers deserve to see their family?

22 replies

ThornAmongstRoses · 20/12/2020 19:50

It’s fair enough that Boris has said people can only see family members on Christmas Day itself, but what about the God knows how many thousands of key workers who will be working all Christmas Day?

When do they get to see their family?

It’s a bit of an unfair oversight I think.

OP posts:
EL8888 · 20/12/2020 19:52

Lets be realistic the government don't care. After all of the clapping shit (which l refused to partake in) then they couldn't even be bothered organising a pay review.

FippertyGibbett · 20/12/2020 19:53

As a key worker I’ve worked many, many, many Xmas and New Year shifts. It goes with the territory.

Thurlow · 20/12/2020 19:57

I'm finding it interesting that in the spring it was all about key workers and how they were keeping the country going, but now it's changed. Many keyworkers won't be able to see their family over Christmas either because they are working on the one allowed day, or they know their personal risk factor is too high to see other people. Its been the same with schools - headteachers are in an impossible position so I'm definitely not blaming them, but we've had a few school and nursery closures because of staff numbers and no provision for key worker childcare. I know that's not a simple thing to whip up, but the knock on effect of just that on frontline services is huge.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 20/12/2020 19:59

A lot of key workers probably wouldn't be risking seeing their families anyway as they can't isolate in advance.

I am not a key worker but I work in a high risk environment (factory) and I'm choosing not to see family, although I'm not working Christmas day I am working up until the 23rd and I do not want to risk passing on this virus.

Original poster
ThornAmongstRoses · 20/12/2020 20:01

As a key worker I’ve worked many, many, many Xmas and New Year shifts. It goes with the territory.

Of course it comes with the territory, but on previous years you’ve still been able to see family around your shifts......whereas now, because you are working Christmas Day you are excluded from being able to see any extended family.

On my ward, there are 10 of us working from 7.15am until 8.30pm and we feel sad that it now means we won’t be able to see any of our family around Christmas as a result of the rules being changed the rules.

I understand why the changes had to be made......but I do think he should have perhaps considered that there will be many NHS workers who will be working all day on Christmas Day and that his decision means he’s now taken away their chance to see any of their family.

OP posts:
StealthPolarBear · 20/12/2020 20:02

It seems not. Agree the focus has shifted from heroes to "just doing your job".

noelgiraffe · 20/12/2020 20:04

The government's decision to allow covid to run riot through secondary schools took away my chance to see my parents this Christmas even before this fiasco.

I couldn't risk seeing them so soon after being in a high risk environment for covid so never made any plans that needed cancelling.

Original poster
ThornAmongstRoses · 20/12/2020 20:07

“.....and I'm choosing not to see family”

And that’s great because it’s your choice to do that. For a lot of NHS workers though who work on Christmas Day, they will miss out on seeing any of their family, not through choice, but because the rule change has forced it upon them.

I’m okay with it personally, but one of my colleagues is really upset as she has barely seen her parents at all during the year and they have been self isolating for two weeks in the lead up to Christmas Eve, as the plan was for them all to spend the day together. She was so looking forward to it - and now because the rules say visiting can take place on Christmas Day only, it means she can’t see them.

She’s just very upset and I really feel for her. I doubt she’s the only NHS worker feeling the same way.

OP posts:
skipperjonce · 20/12/2020 20:13

Just go and see them on Boxing Day. Stop being so scared of the rulez! COVID will be no less rampant on the 25th than the 26th. The police have made it clear they won’t be raiding houses and counting heads.

ThisIsMeOrIsIt · 20/12/2020 20:14

It's the same for Tier 4 areas, too, who now won't be able to meet at all. Including a friend who's mum lives on her own, but is too far away to get to now. He is desperate to see her as he hasn't seen her for six months and she's elderly, but they will be spending Christmas Day talking via the phone.

It's pretty shit for many, many people. Sad

Fedup21 · 20/12/2020 20:15

It’s crap.

All the people in Tier 4 want to see their family as well-I know just how you feel :(

CatVsChristmasTree · 20/12/2020 20:16

I'm a nurse, I don't work Christmas day as we're closed, but I am in tier 4 so I can't see family.
This would have been our first Christmas since MIL died so we were having DH's family (2 other households) over. I was only doing it for them, I'm not actually bothered as it's just a day and as long as my DCs Dw happy and we have plenty of food, then it's all good. I'd rather not risk infecting them anyway.
No one 'deserves' Christmas. It's just a holiday, it is just a day. We can talk to people on the phone. Everyone needs to get over the 'special day' thing.

KarlKennedysDurianFruit · 20/12/2020 20:23

Keyworker, tier 4. It's shit. Rarely get Christmas off this year I had Christmas Eve to the 29th, an absolute dream......

Heyahun · 20/12/2020 20:28

Yeah loads of people who aren’t key workers aren’t seeing their families either (tier 4?) - it’s kinda just tough shit tbh!

littlehoney · 20/12/2020 22:11

I posted on another thread.. department entirely made up of under 30s NHS workers, none of whom will see a family member this Christmas because of tier 4. Sad
Issue is all of them would have to get public transport to see parents so realistically with the BTP patrolling I don't think it would be possible even if they chose to bend the rules.

PurpleDaisies · 20/12/2020 22:15

They don’t really want any of us to see our families because of the increased risk. We can’t because ours are in tier 4 areas.

It’s utterly rubbish for people rotad to work on Christmas Day but I don’t disagree with a hard and fast rule on this.

VulvaPerson · 20/12/2020 22:47

Yeah my sister is a nurse, and managed to have xmas off after doing it for years, she swapped this, as was planning on seeing family boxing day instead so figued better let someone else have xmas instead. Now, stuck not seeing anyone seemingly.

Fifipop185 · 20/12/2020 23:53

Yep it's rubbish. DH is front line key worker and this year had Xmas and Boxing Day off so he could see his family. He was stressing over potentially passing the virus on as he is in daily contact with cases, but as we're in tier 4 anyway, it no longer matters. It's just a shit end to a shitty year but we have much to be grateful for.

RuleWithAWoodenFoot · 21/12/2020 00:34

Just go and see them on another day. I mean, I doubt if you're medical then you'd be mixing inside anyway right? The police aren't going to fine you for a garden or park chat to exchange presents etc if you explain.

Whattheactual20201 · 21/12/2020 05:36

It’s not only key workers
Millions of people in tier 4 can’t either.
No one depending on their job means they are more entitled than others surely.

Mousehole10 · 21/12/2020 07:49

Whole of tier 4 can’t see family at all on any day. Count yourself lucky you can still see groups outside, we can’t even do that.

Pomegranatespompom · 21/12/2020 08:16

We’re tier 4 but I wouldn’t see my family anyway, don’t want to put them at risk. We’ve a new baby in the family too, missing baby cuddles

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