Valuing people we need

I think that it's all just a lot of hot air from posters when they say they value certain sectors, bewail their lack of status and income and then throw their hands up in horror at the thought of trade unions, organisations developed to fight for recognition and pay, actually having iny influence in running the country.

I know that no-one has done it yet but I've been on enough Politics discussions about the 1970s to know just how many posts react to 'the unions'.

Strangely enough the same people seem perfectly happy with millionaires and business leaders running the country who have no interest whatsoever in recognising the true economic and practical worth of these vital workers...

poppyred What a nurse has to do in 2022 is quite different to 19 40s

I believe ‘^we^’ do value the people who perform these important jobs without whom the country would grind to a halt. But we are not responsible for setting their pay unless they are self employed and we agree a fee with them. Their employers, whether in the public or private sector, are. We can show that we value them by being polite and respectful to them, whoever they are and whatever their job, because if we come into contact with them it is because they are performing a service for us or someone we know. Politeness and appreciation go a very long way to ease the burden of a tough job but cost us nothing.

LOUISA1523

Poppyred

There is far too much difference between a nurse’s pay - starting salary (NHS band 5) and a healthcare assistant (NHS band 2). Absolutely ridiculous!

The HCA’s do most of the donkey work in hospitals and in the community and get paid peanuts.

I get where you coming from....But a nurse is a trained HCP ....they have done 3 years a uni...any other graduate would expect to start on at least 25k ( same as a nurse) .... I work in a community team with bands 3 to 8.... the 3s are all experienced with extra training...the 4s have either an outsidec2 year qualification or an in-house qualification.... I imagine a band 2 is an entry level nhs job and a starting point for progression ....the pay is just above NMW I guess....i think our admin staff are band 2 .let's see what this years nhs pay rise brings us

Were nurses who qualified before degrees became necessary any less capable??

Urmstongran

We should value people more whatever work they do. In one way or another it benefits us all. We are not born equal sadly. Some are born with a higher IQ and go to a grammar school, maybe university and get a professional and well paid career out of it. Others are not so lucky. They struggle academically. But we all need a plumber, a bus driver, a gardener or decorator at various times in our lives - as well as teachers, doctors and aeroplane pilots!

Well summed up. Everyone should be valued for their contribution to our and families' lives.
I have just had a lovely delivery van driver bring my weekly shop. He realised I was on my own and offered to help unpack.
Then he noticed my accent was different to our neighbours and commented on it. I thanked him for his help and he said it was the thanks that made his day and made him feel useful.

Well said Urms!?

When I’ve previously pointed out the error of Blair’s ways in wanting 50% of school leavers to attend university (and get into debt doing so) I was told it was because he wanted people to ‘better themselves’ rather than massaging the unemployment figures.

The idea on GN that you’re a ‘better’ person for having a degree than a trade or even a vocation saddens me hugely as I never came across that in my working admin life mainly in the private sector but lastly in public services.

Not everyone is academic and practical skills should be valued as highly IMO

I'd like to think the days of fawning over celebrities who put themselves out in the public domain are coming to an end. In the light of the terrible atrocities going on in the Ukraine and Afghanistan to name but two. All the red carpet stuff and the overt displaying of wealth in the way that some influencers and non celebrities are prone to do, seems both irrelevant and in bad taste, or maybe that's just my point of view because these people still appear to garner squillions of followers through Instagram and the like. Just makes me wonder why, particularly when they have no particular talent

Academic achievement has become the be all and end all over the years I think Urmstongran and trades became devalued. I think things are changing given the demand for plumbers, builders , electricians etc. It does not change the fact though that society prizes academic achievement above all else.

We should value people more whatever work they do. In one way or another it benefits us all. We are not born equal sadly. Some are born with a higher IQ and go to a grammar school, maybe university and get a professional and well paid career out of it. Others are not so lucky. They struggle academically. But we all need a plumber, a bus driver, a gardener or decorator at various times in our lives - as well as teachers, doctors and aeroplane pilots!

I have always felt this way. The people we really need to keep us going are the ones who are much less well paid.
I am the mother of a nurse and a teacher who worked throughout the pandemic but people quickly forget their value especially this government.

Unfortunately hard physical work has never been valued and rewarded properly.
There was a brief light bulb moment during covid whereby people briefly valued people such as binmen, shopworkers, delivery drivers and care assistants.
They were the ones holding things together.
But people have short memories.

There are people who are good at going to meetings and spend a lot of time gasbagging and so called planning what to do.
Then there are the people w ho actually get on and DO the work.

I know which group I value the most.
.

Not to mention what retail workers put up with.

Covid and lock downs threw into sharp relief who were really making essential contributions to society.
Unfortunately it doesn't seem to have stuck. People are back to criticising teachers for instance, despite many having got a taste of how difficult it is when home schooling their own children.

Poppyred

There is far too much difference between a nurse’s pay - starting salary (NHS band 5) and a healthcare assistant (NHS band 2). Absolutely ridiculous!

The HCA’s do most of the donkey work in hospitals and in the community and get paid peanuts.

I get where you coming from....But a nurse is a trained HCP ....they have done 3 years a uni...any other graduate would expect to start on at least 25k ( same as a nurse) .... I work in a community team with bands 3 to 8.... the 3s are all experienced with extra training...the 4s have either an outsidec2 year qualification or an in-house qualification.... I imagine a band 2 is an entry level nhs job and a starting point for progression ....the pay is just above NMW I guess....i think our admin staff are band 2 .let's see what this years nhs pay rise brings us

There is far too much difference between a nurse’s pay - starting salary (NHS band 5) and a healthcare assistant (NHS band 2). Absolutely ridiculous!

The HCA’s do most of the donkey work in hospitals and in the community and get paid peanuts.

I so agree and what comes to mind immediately is the Health Service employees. Totally exploited! I know because my daughter is one of them.