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Original poster

No social distancing at workplace - worried.

21 replies

Keepyourdistance000 · 28/12/2020 06:49

Name changed. I live and work in a Tier 2 area. My job is temporary, zero hours, at a popular evening outdoor attraction. I am on my feet in all weather conditions, 6/7 hours at a time with a brief relief break.

Although it is outdoors, there is little social distancing, crowded at busy times, and guests often stand too close and come up to talk to me too closely. Some guests refuse to wear face coverings or to distance even when reminded to. All staff are required to wear face coverings.

The job pays well and ends in just over a week's time, but with infection rates rising I am feeling scared of going back and potentially getting the virus because of lack of guest social distancing and masks. DH is fairly high risk and I would hate to bring anything home to him.

Due back later today but worried. WWYD? Carry on working for the remainder of the contract and risk my health and DH's? Not go back and miss out on good money? Go back and point out worries to supervisors? Any thoughts welcome.

OP posts:

baremineral · 28/12/2020 07:09

If you can afford to miss out on the money, for the sake of a weeks work, I'd just not go back if you don't feel safe.

Pointing it out to the supervisors would also be beneficial, they should be trying to enforce rules as much as possible. Though, if the general public aren't following them you can't physically make them! You should feel safe in the work place.

KnowingMeKnowingYule · 28/12/2020 07:33

Have felt the same all the way from September to December. DH and I are secondary school teachers. No masks in classrooms, very poor ventilation. We have tried to distance from the kids as much as possible.

Tbh I wish my job was outdoors where most people wear masks. I'd feel a lot safer. I do empathize I really do but the only thing that has kept me going is thinking of care workers or hospital staff who are doing personal care who have it worse than us. It's tough on all of us. I get it.

ragged · 28/12/2020 07:43

If I were afraid of the virus (which I'm not) I would go back to work since it's outdoors & mostly not crowded & pays well and ends in just over a week. Presumably it's something that involves children (low transmitters). It sounds lower risk than working in a care home which might be your only alternative (that's indoors with high transmitting people who never wear PPE, getting very close to them often).

You'll probably be in a higher tier & have no alternative work soon.

A lot of people think masks are very useful & protective so maybe you could invest in better quality masking, visors, sanitiser for you to use etc. Since the job pays well.

Bmidreams · 28/12/2020 07:47

I would go back but adhere to the rules absolutely. I would find some polite phrases to ask people to stand back, or ask them if they're mask exempt. I'd prioritise my own safety whilst being polite and professional.

Poppins2016 · 28/12/2020 07:49

I'd speak to a supervisor. It sounds as though the workplace is fairly relaxed (so just saying that you're worried about your family might not be enough), so I think in your position I'd try to frame it as looking out for the company/business continuity.... "I've noticed some people don't social distance, this could lead to many people having to isolate at the same time due to being a close contact or catching Covid, I'd hate to think how that might affect business continuity".

Poppins2016 · 28/12/2020 07:51

@Bmidreams

This is very good advice. If you can't change the office culture, change your behaviour to adapt. You might find other colleagues soon follow suit...

AwaAnBileYerHeid · 28/12/2020 08:03

You tell the guests to stand back - if they don't, you simply walk away.

nosswith · 28/12/2020 08:06

The attraction should be refusing admittance to those who won't wear a face covering or face shield. A change of policy given the rise in cases would not be unreasonable.

However, I doubt they will change this so can you do without a week's pay?

Etinox · 28/12/2020 08:08

Outside tier 2 and you’re wearing a mask, it’s pretty safe as far as we know. As pp have said, have some phrases to get people to back off

yawnsvillex · 28/12/2020 08:09

Just don't go back ..... I honestly don't get why people moan so much. If you don't want the risk then don't go back .... you have to weigh up whether you can forsake the income.

21833efb · 28/12/2020 09:29

@yawnsvillex

Just don't go back ..... I honestly don't get why people moan so much. If you don't want the risk then don't go back .... you have to weigh up whether you can forsake the income.

@yawnsvillex OP isn't moaning. Her situation sounds horrible and she just wanted some advice. Things aren't always black and white.

yawnsvillex · 28/12/2020 09:47

@21833efb - yes ok thank you, I didn't mean to sound so black and white but what can you do?

You can't force employer to change anything and it just must be so draining trying to change the public, constantly saying stand back or fuck off

My advise is weigh up the stress, worry and lack of income

Sorry @21833efb I'm just drained to hell like everyone else

21833efb · 28/12/2020 11:32

@yawnsvillex no worries, it's a shit time all round

Original poster

Keepyourdistance000 · 28/12/2020 22:32

Went back today, 6 hours in freezing temperatures and still there are guests standing too close, coming right up to my face to ask things and generally not caring about the risks. Management don't seem bothered either.

I'll stick it out until the contract ends late next week as I would miss the income.

OP posts:

WitchWanderer · 28/12/2020 23:33

Report business to us (HSE) & we'll send an inspection team to beat the living shite out of them. This is not a drill, or a joke/lie...far too many employers/ppl not taking current (dire) situation seriously enough. Employers have Duty of Care to protect employees, even 0-hours!

Bmidreams · 29/12/2020 05:27

"Two metres please!" "Can we please observe social distancing rules" "You don't have a face covering, are you exempt? No? Ok can I please ask that you wear a face covering for everyone's safety".

Original poster

Keepyourdistance000 · 29/12/2020 22:21

@Bmidreams

"Two metres please!" "Can we please observe social distancing rules" "You don't have a face covering, are you exempt? No? Ok can I please ask that you wear a face covering for everyone's safety".

Doesn't work

people still get too close and/or ignore our requests for social distancing and masks. I feel invisible sometimes.

Last night I was knocked into twice and had my foot trodden on, all because people want to get photos of the attractions.

Hoping I can stick it out as I could do with the income, but at what cost Although if there's a lockdown soon I won't have a choice.

OP posts:

TW2013 · 29/12/2020 22:37

Can you talk to the management about your concerns and your family situation, might there be somewhere slightly less of a bottleneck where you can stand, somewhere with a natural barrier etc? Possibly worth trying before quitting.

Gingerbreadchoc · 29/12/2020 23:28

Am intrigued to know what your job is that ends in a week. Possibly Lapland UK?

Original poster

Keepyourdistance000 · 31/12/2020 00:14

Contract ended tonight as a result of the tier reviews. Financially not viable to keep open. So it's all over. Mixed feelings, part relief and part sad.

OP posts:

Murraytheskull · 31/12/2020 01:13

@WitchWanderer

@witchwanderer could I send you a PM please? Or you me? Could really use HSE advice with my employer

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