To think shop workers shouldn't be asking people why they aren't wearing a mask?

[GlummyMcGlummerson]

My friend is epileptic. She can't wear a mask because it takes very little to trigger a fit, and wearing a mask creates too much of a risk. Over the last 2 days she's been asked in 3 different places (Greggs, Morrison's and the Co-Op) in an abrupt and snotty way "Where is your mask?" By staff. This is with lots of other customers around. She responded "I'm medically exempt" and has been asked why she's exempt in two of those places. She's also been told (online) that she should stay in to protect others and get someone else to do her shopping etc.

AIBU to think this is appalling ableist behaviour to put someone on the spot in front of others? She doesn't owe anyone her medical history. Yes there's sunflower lanyards she can pick up but she's apprehensive about wearing anything around her neck for obvious reasons. Why can't we just trust others that they're doing it in their best interests?

[countrygirl99]

@Branleuse no you are wrong. Very wrong. Just mind your own business

[Branleuse]

I think its absolutely right that people should be asked if they need a mask or to wear one if they are not showing an exemption. Its REALLY important that we have as many people wearing one as possible. Its unfair that shop assistants on NMW are having to enforce this after putting their lives on the line every day when people are getting cross about even telling people their exemption.

Explaining why you need special treatment in order to get it, is a fact of life. If you dont like it, get an exemption card or lanyard to hold or show somehow.
It could be a lot worse. We could still be in lockdown and then Greggs wouldnt even be open

[GlummyMcGlummerson]

@Gogogadgetarms

The governments own guidance states and I quote:
“Shops, supermarkets and other premises where face coverings are required are encouraged to take reasonable steps to promote compliance with the law and could refuse entry to anyone who does not have a valid exemption.“
www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own
required and encouraged
You therefore can’t blame the people who do remind customers to wear a mask.

Thats is NOT about challenging individuals who aren't wearing masks. It's about putting up notices, tannoy announcements and general encouragement and reminders that face coverings must be worn by those who can.

[BellaintheWychElm]

@countrygirl99

All you who are so self righteous about following the rules bloddy well read them first. Because if you think anyone has the right to challenge or should expect to be challenged you are very wrong. Get it into your heads that you or random shop workers should not be challenging people and stop being nosey busybodies.

They will be the same people who made up their own rules at the start of lockdown and never actually read the real guidance. No change.

[GlummyMcGlummerson]

@Branleuse

I think its absolutely right that people should be asked if they need a mask or to wear one if they are not showing an exemption. Its REALLY important that we have as many people wearing one as possible. Its unfair that shop assistants on NMW are having to enforce this after putting their lives on the line every day when people are getting cross about even telling people their exemption.

Explaining why you need special treatment in order to get it, is a fact of life. If you dont like it, get an exemption card or lanyard to hold or show somehow.
It could be a lot worse. We could still be in lockdown and then Greggs wouldnt even be open

Why do people need to know that someone else is medically exempt?

You didn't answer my question about rape victims

[GlummyMcGlummerson]

They will be the same people who made up their own rules at the start of lockdown and never actually read the real guidance. No change.

Yep, the ones who insisted you couldn't be outdoors for mor than an hour and that washing powder and bread wasn't an essential purchase.

I've said it so many times and I'll say it again - 2020 really has been the busybody's time to shine

[Jaxhog]

Why can't we just trust others that they're doing it in their best interests?

Don't blame the shop staff. Blame the selfish, arrogant people who don't want to be 'muzzled' (as they put it) for the safety of others. Get her a lanyard and pin the badge to her clothing.

[IAmFleshIAmBone]

'special treatment' but you're not trying to be ableist. I see.

[wanderings]

@incognitomum Thanks. It's not the same one that I saw in the news.

I'm not in favour of mandatory muzzles, but even I think the Scarborough takeaway was asking for trouble by actually writing on the notice "Masks are for hooligans, superheroes, vigilantes, criminals and asbestos workers".

[Branleuse]

someone who is exempt because of trauma or mental distress wouldnt have to explain anything to shop assistants if they are exempt and carry an exemption card. Noone actually wants everyones life story either believe it or not. They just want you to stop breathing on everything.

I could get an exemption for my autism if I wanted to. The masks made me feel panicky for ages, but I have persisted and am more or less used to it now.
If I was exempt and didnt want to have to explain myself, then id get an exemption card/lanyard.

[Sennetti]

Please be aware shops have the right to refuse entry to anyone

So stop being so sneezy about retail staff! They kept working for all your ‘essentials’ from day 1

They don’t get nhs style discounts
Didn’t get ‘clapped’ ( not that it was wanted)
Didn’t get to skip the queues

They just bloody got on with it and continue to do so! Now they’ve got this stupid new mask ruling which the police want no part of and Bumbling Boris expects the public to adhere to it?

The public have been the worst behaved idiots since lockdown was lifted. Rude, nasty violent and aggressive. Retail staff seem to be expected by mask wearers to get non mask wearers to put one on

That’s the problem. Minimum wage staff left to sort out the shitshow

[Sennetti]

Sneezy? I hope not.....I meant sneery

[DandelionWars]

I'm on the fence about this one. Around my local shops about 40% of people, if not less, are wearing masks which makes the entire exercise pointless, imo. I don't believe that 60% plus people are medically exempt and if they genuinely are then we need a new solution like face sheilds or something.

I can understand why shopkeepers and security are asking fir proof even though it is not a legal requirement to show proof. If this ends being a longterm thing then the government should provide exemptiin cards for those who are exempt and it should be a legal requirement to present it when politely asked. Too many people are just not wearing one for it to have the desired effect.

[splot]

Actually the police came round and issued this to our town.

[Singalonggong]

The UK compliance level with masks has been pretty poor compared to other places. I think it's fine to politely challenge someone who is putting you at risk. The shop assistances are being put at greater risk by someone not wearing a mask. It may be an uncomfortable conversation but I don't think we should avoid uncomfortable conversations when people's lives are at risk.

[DappledThings]

@LangClegsInSpace

I think it would be helpful if the self-appointed mask police wore a badge.

I think that's a brilliant idea. Maybe something like a toy police badge from a Poundland set. The quality of the badge being directly correlated to how much authority they actually have!

[GlummyMcGlummerson]

@Branleuse

someone who is exempt because of trauma or mental distress wouldnt have to explain anything to shop assistants if they are exempt and carry an exemption card. Noone actually wants everyones life story either believe it or not. They just want you to stop breathing on everything.

I could get an exemption for my autism if I wanted to. The masks made me feel panicky for ages, but I have persisted and am more or less used to it now.
If I was exempt and didnt want to have to explain myself, then id get an exemption card/lanyard.

But an exception card doesn't shield a shop assistant from COVID. It just feeds heir curiosity. Nothing more - their need to know if the customers aren't faking a disability does not trump a disabled person's right to privacy and dignity. Normalising exemption cards does nothing but send a message to the public: disabled people owe you an explanation

[LangClegsInSpace]

Read the rules Branleuse.

If you can wear a face covering then you are not exempt.

Nobody is required to explain themselves, carry a card or wear a lanyard. The words 'I'm exempt' are sufficient.

[Realitybites21]

My village clapped the home-delivery & store staff once a week on a separate day - don’t dismiss us all please. Thanks.

[DappledThings]

If she enters a shop without a mask and isn't reminded immediately that she should be, I would be contacting head office. I already have once, and have received a full apology, and a promise it would never happen again.

You saw someone else in the shop who hadn't been challenged about not wearing a mask and this incensed you so much you contacted head office to demand that everyone is challenged? Did I read that right?

[mosquitofeast]

No, there is no requirement for her to carry or show anything - I think you've misread or misunderstood the government's stipulations here. And she does have precisely the right to expect shop assistants to make no comment.

she is not REQUIRED to no, as I said. But she will be reminded constantly. So its up to her if she wants to have a response ready, in the form of a simple card, or not. She doesn't have to, she can go on responding verbally every time she is asked. And mask wearing is only going to become more widely and more strictly enforced.

What she cannot do is expect not to be asked to put a mask on. Constantly

[LangClegsInSpace]

Please be aware shops have the right to refuse entry to anyone

Except for reasons that amount to unlawful discrimination.

[Branleuse]

you are making out as if this is a consensus amongst disabled people or as if is disabled against able. It isnt.
My disabled dd gets very panicky about people not wearing masks.
You are putting vulnerable people who have been shielding at risk.

Not everyone with an exemption is disabled. Not every disabled person wants or needs an exemption. Not wearing a mask could be very distressing for others around you who may or may not be disabled.

just get the bloody exemption card and stop making shop assistants on minimum wage feel awkward and at risk

[GlummyMcGlummerson]

@Sennetti

Please be aware shops have the right to refuse entry to anyone

So stop being so sneezy about retail staff! They kept working for all your ‘essentials’ from day 1

They don’t get nhs style discounts
Didn’t get ‘clapped’ ( not that it was wanted)
Didn’t get to skip the queues

They just bloody got on with it and continue to do so! Now they’ve got this stupid new mask ruling which the police want no part of and Bumbling Boris expects the public to adhere to it?

The public have been the worst behaved idiots since lockdown was lifted. Rude, nasty violent and aggressive. Retail staff seem to be expected by mask wearers to get non mask wearers to put one on

That’s the problem. Minimum wage staff left to sort out the shitshow

As an ex shop assistant in my Uni days I sympathise with what dicks the public can be. But the government have advised that people not wearing masks shouldn't be challenged. So if a shop assistant HAS challenged someone it's because

1. They haven't been adequately trained by their employer or
2. They're self appointing themselves as the mask police.

Both are equally wrong and damaging to vulnerable people, many of whom have mustered the bravery to just go to the shops all to be humiliated by either badly trained staff or little Hitlers.

A bit like with doctors and nurses, just because someone works in a shop it doesn't mean they're not a dick. The way my friend described the shop assistants and the way they spoke to her (the Greggs one pointed at her in the queue from the till and bellowed "where's your mask?" And when she said "I'm medically exempt" the assistant replied "And why is that then love?") doesn't exactly smack of 'unsung hero', despite what people claim about one whole sector of human beings.

[Branleuse]

now people are arguing about their right to go around spreading covid.

Its not ableist to not want to die of covid thanks