Priority Booking for Key Workers
While many people isolated at home during lockdown, many of whom were furloughed, Key Workers continued going to work day after day, week after week, caring for the sick, the dying and those at a high risk of contracting the virus.
Week after week on Thursday evenings, the public demonstrated their appreciation by clapping for care, acknowledging the thousands of people who continued risking their own health to go to work and care for others. This acknowledgment was heart-warming and well deserved.
Should the Club now show its respect and appreciation by providing Key Workers with a brief period of priority booking? I’m not suggesting free nights or that it was pleasant for all those people who had to stop going to work. I am merely floating the idea of giving consideration to those vital workers who literally risked their own health to continue working in Community Care, Care/Nursing Homes and Hospitals - and surely need a holiday now (as things ease...)
Comments
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It's a great idea for carers and NHS staff but I'm not sure all key workers should qualify. Sadly, I doubt the club could cope with the practicalities. Firstly, they'd need to identify eligible members at a time when resources are stretched in all directions.
Also, it's a bit late now as bookings are open 12 months ahead and sites are already well booked for the coming months.
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Sensitive subject Rod, Of course everyone appreciated 'key workers' and the extra mile they went to in doing their jobs, and I applauded them for the 10 weeks at 8.00 pm each week. Putting 'key workers' aside for the moment, it must also be remembered that hundreds of thousands of ordinary folk with their own problems also are suffering, be it mental or physical.
All could do with a change of environment, a break from whatever their own problem this pandemic has brought to them.
So no, I think we all deserve a break with an equal opportunity to go about getting one.
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Indeed as TW says, also I assume that many Key workers will have booked their holidays in advance of all this anyway?
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Understood and many thousands of those healthcare workers also experienced, and continue experiencing, the very same stresses, suffering, physical and mental health issues as the “ordinary folk” you refer to. Key workers are ordinary folk, they are not immune to those same difficulties and the significant difference is that they had to continue going to work, despite having the same worries and concerns as those who have not been able to go to work.
These people have gone over and above for society and something more tangible than applause is appropriate if we are selfless and generous enough of heart to really, truly and bravely acknowledge their need for a well-deserved break. Otherwise we are saying, yes, we really appreciate them saving our lives - but not quite enough to allow them to take a break before the rest of us...
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Rod, I take your point about health care workers but key workers include lorry drivers, shop workers, public transport workers, postmen, bank staff....the list goes on.
Irrespective of who or why and the difficulties of administering such a scheme, it is now not possible to give anyone booking priority as bookings are open on a rolling 12 months basis. You cannot give someone a head start after the race has begun.
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Both myself and Mrs T are key workers and we have both taken advantage of the advance booking that both clubs have kindly laid on so I see no reason to do anything else, after all we were all just doing our jobs we are paid for albeit it in difficult circumstances weren't/aren't we?
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Indeed but I suspect you know that the OP is talking about booking holidays, ie in the future when there will places to go?
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2 minds about this on the one hand it would be a good idea, the term 'key workers' is used to describe near enough everyone that delivers public services some closer to the 'front line' than others. and the stress and mental health of those on the 'front line' should be considered.
On the other hand , has the Club ever done the same for the armed forces? who were, are and will be on the frontline defending our country? Always forgotten always silent.
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Never forgotten rajohno, Never.
JK
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I'm a key worker, working directly on the so called "front line". A close colleague of mine died from C19 and a number of my colleagues have contracted C19 almost certainly through work. That said I do not think that we should be given priority status when it comes to bookings. C19 has affected each and everyone of us and we all need a holiday.
If people really want to show their appreciation for your public services then at subsequent elections vote for any candidate that wishes to invest in our public services. Now that really would be a genuine show of appreciation.
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Good post, I think a lot of people after this will certainly do that at election time now.
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