Discount for teachers and NHS staff.

Well that’s true of bus passes and free prescriptions isn’t it
suzie In the sense that taxpayers subsidise public services, yes. But most taxpayers take out of the system as well as pay into it.

But we’re not talking about public services here. Seasalt and Morrison’s are businesses and they are choosing to redistribute money from one section of their customer base to another.

I’m not commenting on the morality of it, or who is more deserving of these companies’ supposed beneficence.

I’m just pointing out that there’s no such thing as a free lunch.
Whether it’s a good business move to attract new business by charging your existing customers more is open to question.

Morrison’s is offering the discount for teaching assistants as well. Now they ARE underpaid.

I agree with Missfoodlove - I don’t need a discount on my shopping on my salary as a teacher, so I don’t claim it. But ‘teachers’ encompasses a wide range of incomes and circumstances.

I know some teachers on lower salaries who are the only earner in their family at present, and I know that they would struggle to make ends meet without this discount. Likewise, I have colleagues a good deal better off than I who shamelessly claim every discount going.

Yes, suziewoozie, I thought the Seasalt example was interesting. A successful company in a county (Cornwall) where many residents are some of the most deprived in the UK. How about giving 50% off to fishermens' wives who are out delivering catch all day? Sometimes companies forget who or what it was that made them successful in the first place.

janeainsworth

I agree with you Missfoodlove.
Whenever discounts are given to any particular group, whether it’s pensioners, students, or whoever, it means that other customers are paying more.
It certainly isn’t the company donating to these groups from the goodness of their hearts.
It’s effectively forcing other people to contribute to the company’s apparent largesse, and the customers who are making the contributions may well be in a less favourable financial situation than the beneficiaries.

Well that’s true of bus passes and free prescriptions isn’t it? If we use the example of Seasalt it’s hardly the poor and dispossessed shopping there at full price is it? And in fact, SS always has sales and special offers etc to which the discount doesn’t apply. Last year ( when their discount was 20%) my dd realised it was cheaper not to use the discount offer. Another point is that if it does increase sales, it helps to keep people in work.

I thought there were interesting issues about Eat Out to Help Out and who was subsidising who in some cases. My local Michelin * restaurant used the scheme. I can’t believe that one extra meal was bought for the sake of £10 saving.

No one thinks for one minute that companies do this selflessly Makes you wonder what those who give the PM £15,000 freebie holidays for t for doesn’t it?

It's one thing for large supermarkets to give discounts to NHS staff but small businesses can be struggling enough to keep going as it is. I know of some who have had to say that no they can't offer a discount to NHS staff much though they would like to. Margins are tight enough and some are just trying to keep going from week to week.

janeainsworth

I agree with you Missfoodlove.
Whenever discounts are given to any particular group, whether it’s pensioners, students, or whoever, it means that other customers are paying more.
It certainly isn’t the company donating to these groups from the goodness of their hearts.
It’s effectively forcing other people to contribute to the company’s apparent largesse, and the customers who are making the contributions may well be in a less favourable financial situation than the beneficiaries.

Agree Janeainsworth!

cornishpatsy

I hope their own staff are getting the discounts. Supermarket workers have worked throughout Covid, with no protection in the beginning, they are low paid and I do not think they get the recognition that NHS staff and teachers do.

they get a discount anyway as part of their job

cornishpatsy

I hope their own staff are getting the discounts. Supermarket workers have worked throughout Covid, with no protection in the beginning, they are low paid and I do not think they get the recognition that NHS staff and teachers do.

Afaik all supermarket employees get a staff discount -there might be a qualifying period of employment but it’s been around for ever.

Well I would love to have a job AND get a discount!

I don't begrudge NHS staff and teachers a discount. They have kept us going through this pandemic and get little in reward.
NHS staff are exhausted and teachers have had to work without PPE in many cases. Having a discount at Morrisons is only small thanks for carrying on through this awful time.

I’m a lecturer and I’m hugely relieved about these. And just because there are people who are less well paid doesn’t mean that people in teaching or healthcare professions are paid enough. We really aren’t.

I hope their own staff are getting the discounts. Supermarket workers have worked throughout Covid, with no protection in the beginning, they are low paid and I do not think they get the recognition that NHS staff and teachers do.

I'm pleased they are doing this. They work hard enough without covid being in the equation but they really need all our support now, I cannot even imagine how difficult it is for some of my friends and family working within these roles.

www.businessinsider.com/boris-johnson-david-ross-private-caribbean-island-mustique-millionaire-denies-2020-2

Would fund quite a lot of Seasalt tunics

Blossoming

There are many unfair things I could get upset about right now. This isn’t one of them,

Exactly. The rich, powerful,well connected have an unending stream of freebies thrust at them. We live in a deeply unfair, unequal world that most people in this country seem to be quite happy with until something like this comes up and they can’t have it. I know incredibly well off pensioners who until recently had free tv licences and still have free Freedom passes and bus passes and free prescriptions. I know of a tax avoiding American citizen who peddles in ruining lives who’s had not one but two free vaccines. I know of wealthy businesses who’ve gobbled up furlough and business rates holidays and low interest loans and grants.

I’m a college tutor and I qualify for the discount at Morrison’s. I think you’d be very surprised at how little I earn. I am expecting to be made redundant as a result of the pandemic. How I’ve managed to avoid getting the virus is anyone’s guess as I’ve been working in Covid soup basically. I’ve watched as colleagues and students have come down with it and felt very unsafe. I am struggling with the extra cost of heating my home because I’m having to work from home, whilst also helping my child with their education. So, thank you Morrison’s for offering this discount.

There are many unfair things I could get upset about right now. This isn’t one of them,

Ellianne

Seasalt Cornwall - Exclusive 50% Teachers discount
On full price items
Use code at checkout.

Maybe they think those are sort of garments teachers wear?

Business is business wherever.

Really?!? 50 per cent?! That's amazing!

I understand both sides of this, and it shows up our divided society. My family straddles a number of class / wealth boundaries, so I have been aware of some people who can't understand why I would be in such a low-paid job as nursing, and others to whom the salary was amazing.

Having said that, encouraging certain groups into stores is a business decision. The most blatant is Macdonalds offering vouchers to police officers. That discourages the dealers!
Having plenty of customers about who are (on the whole!) well behaved and sensible, and who have some standing in the community makes a store look good.
I have no particular view on how right or wrong that is.

Missfoodlove

I know a doctor that would have no shame in stocking his wine racks with the discount

There are lots of things it can’t be used on, including alcohol.

my.morrisons.com/nhs/

I agree with you Missfoodlove.
Whenever discounts are given to any particular group, whether it’s pensioners, students, or whoever, it means that other customers are paying more.
It certainly isn’t the company donating to these groups from the goodness of their hearts.
It’s effectively forcing other people to contribute to the company’s apparent largesse, and the customers who are making the contributions may well be in a less favourable financial situation than the beneficiaries.

The discount at Morrison’s has been in place for some weeks. It’s nationwide, I’ve certainly got no problem with it.

Fair play to Morrison’s the discount includes emergency services staff too.

Only 10%. They should get 20% at least. Also, discounts on holidays and travel.