Those of us who were ‘cannon fodder’- how do you feel?

[Onandoff]

I went to a gathering the other day with people who were privileged enough to still be working from home in highly paid city jobs. Their experiences were a stark contrast with mine. It was interesting to hear how protected they’d been, many still getting shopping delivered and only just resuming socialising. They hadn’t been on public transport at all. There was a general air of resentment at being asked to go back to offices and commute. They’d all saved money and were very worried about covid exposure despite being vaccinated. Apparently many workers have completely refused to return.

DH and I were the only key workers there and it brought home how exposed we’d been. Literally all of our family and colleagues caught it and some died or were left disabled. My mum died. In the hospital where I work 80% caught it in the first wave alone.

It’s been interesting to see through this that the jobs essential to society are (generally, appreciate some exceptions like medics) the worst paid. If we’d refused to go in or been redeployed we’d have been sacked. While the privileged middle class are still being pandered to despite vaccination.

I feel that those who went out to work should be financially compensated for the risk we took. At the very least we should be given tax breaks and not be expected to cough up for furlough costs.

@Welshiefluff

Firstly thank you very much for your services society.

However working in a hospital you must accept that if there is a pandemic that you will have to continue working. I know it puts you at risk but it sort of comes with the job. You did a job and got paid for it.

Yes I did accept that I would carry on and I continued working, was redeployed 3 times, caught covid, my mum lost her life and some colleagues their lives or health. For most it’s not even a once in a lifetime event and it doesn’t come ‘with the job’. I got my usual crap pay for a job that I wasn’t employed to do (it bears no resemblance to my day job). All the risks taken and damage done to staff not offered the level of protection of the rest of society deserves acknowledgement and compensation.

As someone whose business was forced to close (after 18 years of success), and who had no income for about 9 months before I could start up again in a related field (and no government support) I also feel irritated when I hear people complaining about the seemingly minor problem of going back into the office.

However, I hear these friends share that after a year that has been stressful for everyone, in different ways, this is their current concern. Why should they not be able to voice it? If I went to hospital with a sprained ankle, I might see someone with life threatening injuries. Yes their plight is much worse than mine, but it doesn't stop the pain in my ankle. That's how I try to view it.

I totally understand that front-line workers, in all kinds of roles, were not adequately protected, but I don't see how financial compensation is the answer. Nor would I expect financial compensation for people in my position who had business that went bust. Yes, we should address pay and conditions but it should be done properly, not as a one-off payment. I assume you have already benefitted from the £735 bonus?

@Onandoff

I went to a gathering the other day with people who were privileged enough to still be working from home in highly paid city jobs. Their experiences were a stark contrast with mine. It was interesting to hear how protected they’d been, many still getting shopping delivered and only just resuming socialising. They hadn’t been on public transport at all. There was a general air of resentment at being asked to go back to offices and commute. They’d all saved money and were very worried about covid exposure despite being vaccinated. Apparently many workers have completely refused to return.

DH and I were the only key workers there and it brought home how exposed we’d been. Literally all of our family and colleagues caught it and some died or were left disabled. My mum died. In the hospital where I work 80% caught it in the first wave alone.

It’s been interesting to see through this that the jobs essential to society are (generally, appreciate some exceptions like medics) the worst paid. If we’d refused to go in or been redeployed we’d have been sacked. While the privileged middle class are still being pandered to despite vaccination.

I feel that those who went out to work should be financially compensated for the risk we took. At the very least we should be given tax breaks and not be expected to cough up for furlough costs.

Hugely missing the point.

Every single individual who stayed home decreased the spread of the virus

Every single person off public transport protected those still using it

Every single person still working from home, and who continues to do so not only is helping to contain the virus still, but also to protect the planet

Every supermarket shop delivered rather than collected, again, protects super markets, and other customers, and also helps protect the environment.

Some people got lucky, some people got less lucky, it was a lottery, but the virus itself caused that lottery, not any human, government or policy

Nobody chose it, it happened, you and I are still alive, so in that sense we are both "winners"

I don't have time for these silly childish petty resentments.

It was a natural disaster, you are just going to have to live with it, like everyone else on the planet

I worked at Tesco through the pandemic and no one I'm aware of got sick and more many months no one was wearing masks. Seems like asymptomatic spread wasn't real to me.

@Mantlemoose

I went out to work, in an office because I couldn't work from home because my DP lost his job and was at home all day. Am I entitled to this tax break also - probably not because I wasn't working in a hospital I guess. I've also had an operation during lockdown, in a literally empty ward with nurses standing about doing nothing! In an 8 bed ward there were 4 beds occupied, all of us seeing different surgeons. I had 2 anesthesiologists they were so overstaffed! To my mind you chose the caring profession and quite obviously put yourself at risk of catching some sort of infection. Shop workers/bus drivers are the only ones that should be rewarded.

You’re a real peach.

@Soberanne - you can’t work in a very nice area then. The nursery my kids go to were inundated with gifts & praise when they re-opened & during the Jan. So many, they had to email & ask us to donate the gifts to local care homes etc instead! I’ve never thanked anyone so much in my life as my DD’s key workers!

@venusandmars

As someone whose business was forced to close (after 18 years of success), and who had no income for about 9 months before I could start up again in a related field (and no government support) I also feel irritated when I hear people complaining about the seemingly minor problem of going back into the office.

However, I hear these friends share that after a year that has been stressful for everyone, in different ways, this is their current concern. Why should they not be able to voice it? If I went to hospital with a sprained ankle, I might see someone with life threatening injuries. Yes their plight is much worse than mine, but it doesn't stop the pain in my ankle. That's how I try to view it.

I totally understand that front-line workers, in all kinds of roles, were not adequately protected, but I don't see how financial compensation is the answer. Nor would I expect financial compensation for people in my position who had business that went bust. Yes, we should address pay and conditions but it should be done properly, not as a one-off payment. I assume you have already benefitted from the £735 bonus?

What on earth are you on about? I didn’t get a bonus.

@Bobholll

Also, this idea we all earn a fortune in office jobs. I started on £16,000. I quit a teaching job of £33,000 for it. I have worked my way up & now earn mid £30’s but it took 4 years of hard work & 2x promotions. My OH earns less. I manage a team, the lower earners are on £18,000 and the upper earners £24,000. Pretty sure the NHS & teaching pays far better!

Most HCAs will be on around 18k and nurses 25-30K so not a lot for the education, experience and responsibility they have to have and that's without covid in the mix!

Absolutely fine with people working from home during a pandemic

Eyeroll about those now whinging about having to go back to work as it's 'risky' when they actually mean 'less convenient'.

Very unkind thoughts about those in the DfE who have the fucking gall to write guidelines about how, if covid is running riot through a school from September, teachers should consider opening a window, but only if it isn't cold because it's more important that the kids don't get chilly than mitigating against covid, WHILE STILL WORKING FROM HOME.

Those are the ones that piss me off. Absolute wankers.

I am not trying to be a bitch here but surely medical personnel are aware of the risks of infectious diseases and the like when they train/apply for the role? It is their job to treat patients.

I do however, think factory, supermarket, delivery drivers etc should have had a risk factor payment/bonus (iyswim).

I agree with you op,the pandemic disproportionately affected low paid & public sector. However, many people don’t want to hear this, or they deny & a kid the uncomfortable reality of their privilege. A lot of people They ameliorate their Denial or discomfort by demonising or effusively praising public sector . As borne out by
Well they are lucky to have a secure job. No one is lucky to work through COVID
They chose it, yes? Doesn’t make it easy though
They get freebies and stuff coffee shop was doing free coffee we were too busy to leave to go get it
They’re over stating it…shroud waving Trust me, we didn’t fully discuss the true enormity of this

Or the effusive and empty praise Aren’t they heroic! No not heroic just folk doing our jobs
Rainbow in your window an Effusive empty gesture. Be more meaningful if you agitated and campaigned regard health told your mp you want structural change & better funding. If you live in a marginal or Tory seat tell the mp you’ll vote against them in GE
The Clapping. Ahh, just an excuse to look virtuous in front of your neighbours and demonstrate how much you care
I’ve worked all the way through covid (senior specialist nhs clinician) and it’s been really mentally and physically arduous. I am a big bit broken by what I’ve experienced, never be the same again as Covid introduced an anxiety and stress that’d I’d never experienced. Generally pre COVID I was very ordered and boundaried about professional & personal life. Now it’s all just leaky. I hold onto a lot of stress that I don’t share because I don’t want to burden my dp or kids.

I have professional qualifications and a professional body who represents me.I have a transferable in demand skill (I did train 8+ years) . The cleaning, catering and maintenance staff are not usually union members and are employed by for profit companies who are variable in how they treat their staff. They are in roles were they are often expendable

Local authorities worked really hard to identify and support vulnerable and shielding individuals. They had to try maintain contact with vulnerable children & families and safeguard in challenging circumstances.Essentially we take public sector for granted, we want it when we need it but are ambivalent about paying and don’t understand the scope and depth of public service

[quote Bobholll]@Soberanne - you can’t work in a very nice area then. The nursery my kids go to were inundated with gifts & praise when they re-opened & during the Jan. So many, they had to email & ask us to donate the gifts to local care homes etc instead! I’ve never thanked anyone so much in my life as my DD’s key workers![/quote]
I don't think it's dependant on area, I think you nursery is unusual in reciving so many gifts. By the time nurseries and other educational settings opened up again, I think the media had done such a good job of making staff out to be workshy that many thought it was about time, rather than something worth praising and being thankful for.

OH worked constantly throughout in a supermarket because we needed the money and couldn't afford for him to lose his job by refusing to go in.

He got a bonus of approx £400, which he was then taxed on.

He also got covid.

I agree OP.

I didn't (couldn') WFH and worked throughout, as did DH.

Everyone I know who WFH, particularly those with children, absolutely hated it and couldn't/can't wait to get back to the office.

To be honest, the thought of having to work around two primary aged DC and a toddler gives me shivers. I was glad to be able to get out of the house and of the DC being able to go to school as keyworker children.

If id been stuck in the house the whole time I think i'd have lost my marbles.

Well bear in mind that it probably the big high earning City Types that will be coughing up for most of the furlough costs and rightly so.
DH was lucky as a middle earning but higher rate tax payer ECV worker he got to work his arse off from home whilst others in the company were being paid to stay home and continued to accrue holidays etc.
I couldn’t wfh and as a newly SE person with low earnings and little SE earning history I received diddly squat.
I actually wanted to go and get a job atTesco to help but couldn’t as I needed to protect ECV dh. Also even as ECV we had no supermarket delivery slots and with an autistic child trying to get food he could eat was hell.
Not as simple as you make out OP.

What the post mostly shows is everyone mostly only thinks about themselves. ‘I want, I want, I want’ .. it’s been shit for everyone. Get off social media. Get off mumsnet. Stop being so angry with everything & everything & anyone who dares have a different job or a different way of life or a different opinion.

Chip on shoulder. I’ll continue to show my gratitude & thanks to those who help me in any walk of life, covid or not. Be kind. Be less judgemental. Re-evaluate. Vote. Don’t expect any money from the Tories.

@noblegiraffe

Absolutely fine with people working from home during a pandemic

Eyeroll about those now whinging about having to go back to work as it's 'risky' when they actually mean 'less convenient'.

Very unkind thoughts about those in the DfE who have the fucking gall to write guidelines about how, if covid is running riot through a school from September, teachers should consider opening a window, but only if it isn't cold because it's more important that the kids don't get chilly than mitigating against covid, WHILE STILL WORKING FROM HOME.

Those are the ones that piss me off. Absolute wankers.

Completely agree. The return to school guidance is a bloody disgrace.

O and trying to later home school whilst WOH 2 nd kids was hell too. No EHCP do not in school. I was actually jealous of the key workers being able to send their kids to school.

I guess you could call me privileged in that I have a job that can be done equally as well from home as in the office. However, I am very grateful to be able to do so, and I am monumentally grateful to all key workers. My job isn’t at all well paid though.

The people you know sound self-entitled, and have no right to feel resentful to go back to office working. For the record, I couldn’t wait to meet my workmates again, and have been back to the office a couple of times already. My contract has been amended to WFH with flexible office working though, as has the team I work with.

And, BTW, we don't all work in London or can use public transport to get to work.

I've wfh throughout, and prefer it, but ready and willing to go back to the office which is imminent now. I'll do what's asked of me.

I count myself fortunate to have been well insulated prior to the vaccine, but a year cooped up at home 23 hours a day with the same boring walks for the other hour wasn't much fun either.

@Howshouldibehave

I agree, there is a stark divide.

The whole not wanting to end WFH thing is an interesting one as well. There are posters on MN who are gutted that their plans to sell up on London and indulge in a near-retirement style of living in the country have been ‘thwarted’ by horrid bosses who now want them to come back to the office! There are others WFH who even feel bullied by bosses who want them to turn their cameras on during work Zoom meetings because they don’t see why they should do their hair/wear make up any more.

There have some jaw-dropping comments!

Yes - truly draw dropping

@ForTheLoveOfSleep

I am not trying to be a bitch here but surely medical personnel are aware of the risks of infectious diseases and the like when they train/apply for the role? It is their job to treat patients.

I do however, think factory, supermarket, delivery drivers etc should have had a risk factor payment/bonus (iyswim).

Yes it’s my job and yes I understand the risks and in no way tried to absent my self from my professional responsibility. In fact pandemic imposed a clear and unifiying sense of purpose eg this is what we trained for. To be present,to participate and to step up.

Thing is nobody chose their roles based on the pandemic happening, therefore it seems illogical to blame people for having been furloughed or wfh.

It was just a lottery that no one could have predicted. I didn't ask or choose to wfh and it has negatively impacted my mental health. It would have been much better for DS to have been in school, but he wasn't so effectively missed at least a terms education.

Of course I'm grateful that people in the front line faced those daily risks of catching covid, but now I'd rather just focus on the future. DH and I think we had covid in the early days, so we've always been less cautious about taking public transport and going out. Personally I feel sorry for folks that have still locked themselves at home - it isn't a lifestyle I would want.

You sound like an arsehole. Am thick enough enough to have 2 degrees and just been accepted to Cambridge.

Maybe they should have written an explanation on your acceptance letter of why as many people as possible having jobs is a good thing for society and why we all pay tax for things we don’t directly, immediately enjoy the benefits of. You know, two of the absolute basics of how economies work. Because you seem to have been out on those days of your ‘two degrees’.

@Howshouldibehave

Are they older than you then? It was decided that it was more important to protect older people first and the vaccinations were done according to age, with some health boards being in advance of others

Not my OP you were replying to, but thepeople I know who were vaccinated before me were my age or younger. They were NHS staff, but had been redeployed immediately to work solely from home at the start of the pandemic.

Those who were having to work outside the home should have been prioritised for a vaccine-I feel very let down that they weren’t.

I can’t believe people are still saying this. How many healthy young women would have been killed if the JCVI had prioritised teachers and shop workers for the vaccine ahead of the elderly as many on MN were requesting at the time?

An effective vaccine that has been tested on 30,000 people is definitely worth the risk if you’re eighty, but it’s very possibly not if you’re a healthy thirty year old woman - you’re better off waiting until there have been a few million vaccinations on more vulnerable people to see how rarer side effects pan out.

Health workers took that risk for everyone’s benefit, but young shop workers and teachers didn’t, and that choice by the JCVI was proved right.