Life as a Key Worker during lockdown

Whilst the vast majority of the UK’s workforce is locked down in their homes, key workers from nurses to supermarket assistants are still expected to work.

On Monday 23rd March, Boris Johnson announced that the UK would be in a state of lockdown for the next three weeks so as to help stop any further spreading of covid-19.  However, certain ‘key workers’ were to still work outside of their homes.

“Being a key worker at the minute feels very stressful, unpredictable, uncertain and is constantly changing”

Lisa Gullick, Practice Manager at Park House Surgery, Birmingham

Lisa Gullick, a Practice Manager at Park House Surgery in Birmingham, describes being a key worker as ‘stressful’. She often goes home feeling ‘exhausted’ after having to work extended hours due to staff sickness.

Lisa Gullick explains how it feels to be a key worker at this moment in time.

Others agree that the contribution made by ‘key workers’ needs to be recognised and have started clapping for them every Thursday at 8pm.

Key workers keep our country moving and safe.

Tonight we thanked all our key workers. Now let’s promise to have their backs – they’ve been undervalued for too long. #ClapForOurCarers #ClapForKeyworkers pic.twitter.com/MS8kFmygHC

— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) May 7, 2020

Another ‘key worker’, Kurt Pritchard, is a sales assistant at B&Q. He wishes that the term and his job would be ‘re-evaluated’.

“I wish they would re-evaluate what ‘key worker’ means”

Kurt Pritchard, Sales Assistant at B&Q, Wednesbury  

Although many have flocked to hardware stores to stock up on DIY essentials, Pritchard does not think it is ‘worth putting his life at risk’ for.

Kurt Pritchard explains why he thinks the term ‘key worker’ should be evaluated.

Regardless, ‘key workers’ are essential to help to maintain public health and safety during this crisis period.

Boris Johnson plans to review the lockdown measures on April 13th, 2020.