Perks and Discounts for Healthcare Professonals

 Yesterday, I stopped at a Burger King. I don't think I've been to one since the Pandemic started. I wanted a milkshake and was looking for another outfit but saw this gave it a try. I don't think I've had their shakes before; it was really good and the price was good considering I got a small shake in my MCOL are for 6.99 pretax, this was 4.39 for a medium size in a LCOL area. Anyway, as I was making my way in, I saw signs for free iced coffee for healthcare professionals. This is 2025 not 2020. There were two of such signs at the same establishment. I was a bit surprised. 

Why? I feel like prior to the pandemic, it was Military, Police and Firefighters who got such "perks" and discounts. Sometimes, Teachers were included in some but healthcare professionals weren't one of such groups. Then came the pandemic and  suddenly healthcare professionals got noticed. I took advantage of one such perks back when the pandemic started. Hilton was giving away free rooms to AACN members and that was a lovely room. I found out after it had started but I stayed a month or a little over a month. It allowed me to get to know the Hilton Brand, I wish I had signed up for their honors while I was booking the rooms at first but I signed up later and still earned points for the free bookings. It seems one earns points for the "night" stayed. I used those free points later. I don't think it's a loss for them because after getting to know the brand, I've used them and simply go to the app when I need to book. I also like their contactless stay and other aspects. I actually may need to do a Hilton post soon for other reasons. 

The thing is that most of these perks sorta "vanished" later in 2020, some kept on at other times. Krispy kreme has had certain promos for healthcare workers. I haven't participated in any but I've heard of it. Some retailers have also included healthcare workers in their "discounts" but those are a tiny minority. 

When I saw the sign, I almost wanted to ask if they accepted out of state ID. I don't drink coffee (don't ask me how I worked night-shift all those years). I think I still have my work ID in my bag. It's just been there. I did not turn it in. I had worked while in college and didn't turn any IDs in when I left. However, I recalled a friend talking about turning in her badge so when I quit two jobs over a decade ago in the same months, I think I mailed the badges. How Conscientious/s!

In my opinion, if the hospital wants their badge, they should provide me with a SASE and I will be happy to send it back. But for me to go to the Post Office, which isn't something I do often or really want to do, buy an envelope and then pay to mail it back to you when I can simply shred it? Nein. 

You may say that one simply needs to turn the badge in after clocking out during your last shift. That might be your case if you work somewhere you don't need your badge to exit the garage. For most metropolitan cities, parking is expensive and hospitals provide discount parking. I've had anywhere from 0-$8 depending on the hospital. For the $0, I still needed my badge as visitors paid a rather significant amount. Even if you pull out of the garage and park (if you can find street parking) at the risk of getting a ticket, it's still an inconvenience. 

Anyways, I have no interest in iced coffee but I think it's nice that Burger King is doing such a thing for nurses. It sometimes feel like most companies have forgotten healthcare workers and have reverted back to the status quo of Military and Firefighters or whatever. That said, it was something like free ice cream or something, would it have been okay for me to get one? I am still licensed...granted I have debated renewing one of them. What do you think? 

Do you think companies should include healthcare workers on the discount list? Or does that create an area where another group also touts how they also contribute to society because in reality, healthcare workers weren't the only ones risking themselves out there during the pandemic. Yes, we had to gown up, glove up, mask up, wear eye shields and feel so hot in that gear while caring for patients. However, I think of a group like grocery store workers, I feel like if they chose to stay at home and not stock the shelves, most of us would be in trouble. We are all different aspects of one body playing different roles. Just as the hand doesn't claim importance over the mouth or the ear, I realize that we all perform different functions that are essential to society. I think that if companies want to offer such discounts, great. But if not, that's also fine.