To ask the mask police to please PLEASE stop

[PennyDreadfuI]

Another mask thread but I'm not going to apologise because I'm absolutely at the end of my tether with this sort of thing.

I can't wear a mask because I have trigeminal neuralgia and I've lost count of the stares, comments and filthy looks I've had (and yes, I do wear a lanyard, even though I'm not keen on advertising the fact that I have a hidden health condition). I've heard of people not being allowed on buses, being challenged by staff to explain their reason for exemption and being told they can't enter shops despite being exempt (none of which is legal). I've been told I should wear a visor (I can't, and they're next to useless anyway - Scotland have just banned them unless they're worn with a mask), that I should just stay at home (I can't and neither do government guidelines suggest I should), that I shouldn't use buses (I don't drive and can't walk long distances or cycle because I have inflammatory arthritis) and that I'm selfish (I'm not - if I could wear a mask, I would).

I understand this is a contentious issue but please, can people just think for a minute before they judge or comment? Exemptions are there for a reason - those who are sticklers for The Rules should surely accept and respect this one, too. It's awful that people are too scared to go out for fear of what's essentially discrimination.

The pandemic is bad enough by itself - let's not lose our sense of empathy and humanity, too.

@PennyDreadfuI

I used to have a job which I loved but could no longer do due to my health. The nature of it meant that no suitable adjustments could be made for me. It was sad but neither was it anyone's fault. So I left that job and got a different one.

Nobody is suggesting you don't work at all @Hearhoovesthinkzebras. But clearly a public facing role where you can't appropriately socially distance when you're so vulnerable isn't ideal. Unless your managers can find you a role where you're not so at risk then it might be time to look for a different job as I had to. Nobody is denying your right to work, but clearly your current job isn't suitable for you, particularly if the adjustments you require simply aren't possible.

I fully expect this comment to be met with the usual pooh-poohing, of course.

I'm not trying to Pooh pooh it but I've done this job for twenty years. I have certain protections because of length of service - I can't be sacked for no reason for a start. We are in the middle of a recession, I have a poor sickness record thanks to three months off following a GI bleed leading to heart failure last year, k ordinarily have at least two hospital appointments per month that have to.be accommodated and I can be called back into shielding at any time - I'm hardly an ideal candidate for a new job am I? I can't risk getting a new job (if I can) and then getting rid of me with no reason because I was off sick within the first two years. Also, disabled people shouldn't be pushed out of jobs

@chickenyhead

Or this

I could do with this for cleaning DD's bedroom.

This is a clear pocket you can write a card to go in it with what you feel is suitable

www.amazon.co.uk/CKB-Plastic-Pocket-Holder-Pouchs/dp/B00BP9NVLU/ref=sr_1_9?dchild=1&crid=23UK9AIBSPVCI&keywords=lanyard+card+holder&sprefix=lanyard+card+%2Caps%2C145&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1597942838&sr=8-9

Oh hearhooves doesn't want solutions
Trust me

@PennyDreadfuI

Yer I was thinking similar here with DS 11

Yes but what about getting your own keep back lanyard?

Hobnobswantshernameback tonight's the night we're going to get something positive from Hears.

@Hearhoovesthinkzebras
I agree the disabled shouldn’t be pushed out of their jobs. But you have done a job for 20 years that is safe for you. Now it isn’t and you can’t see any way it can be. Employers might consider retirement on medical grounds if you are so vulnerable you cannot work in your role and they can’t offer you another role that is lower risk.

[quote Racoonworld]@Hearhoovesthinkzebras why can’t you come up with your own lanyard or sash if you want it? Someone came up with the idea of the sunflower one, you could put the effort in for your own if you want one so much![/quote]
I've just ordered one from Amazon. Not available until end of September though. I've had to put medical info on it though which which everyone else on here disagrees with. What we need is a symbol that signifies we are vulnerable - which is what the sunflower lanyard has been co-opted to do. Individual posters on here haven't had to pay to design and print their own lanyard to explain why they aren't wearing a mask have they? I can imagine the outrage if that was suggested.

[quote MMN123]@Hearhoovesthinkzebras
I agree the disabled shouldn’t be pushed out of their jobs. But you have done a job for 20 years that is safe for you. Now it isn’t and you can’t see any way it can be. Employers might consider retirement on medical grounds if you are so vulnerable you cannot work in your role and they can’t offer you another role that is lower risk.[/quote]
I requested that two years ago and was refused. They said that if I couldn't do the job, with the adjustments that they considered reasonable then I would have to leave - medical retirement was only an option if I could not work at all

@Hearhoovesthinkzebras

I wear my sunflower lanyard with my mask on!

It's for hidden disabilities. My cars in my lanyard says hidden disabilities. Though you can get a card which says mask exempt

I am glad you have ordered one. Hopefully it will come soon as i'm finding that amazon is giving a worse case scenario for delivery dates and is delivering sooner on the whole.

@Hobnobswantshernameback

Oh hearhooves doesn't want solutions Trust me

That's where you're wrong. I've ordered one to be printed. I await your apology (I won't hold my breath though)

@Hearhoovesthinkzebras great you have ordered one.

No but someone did have to come up with it and it could easily have been someone here who had the idea first. You could be that person for these lanyards! Why not do something positive for the situation that will help others too?

Sorry the grin was for Hooves last post.

A (hug) for Hooves.

@Hearhoovesthinkzebras there is a nationally recognised scheme for those who need to let others know to keep there distance. They have lanyards and everything. It's called Distance Aware

A quick Google found that. I'm surprised that you hadn't already looked yourself, tbh.

And before I found out about the sunflower lanyard scheme, DD made me a badge saying I was exempt. I didn't make a song and dance about it and neither was I outraged - why on earth would I be?

Anyway I'm glad you've ordered a lanyard which someone else had to find for you after you stated no such thing existed. Now perhaps this thread can move on and stop being The Hooves Show.

[quote Happyheartlovelife]@Hearhoovesthinkzebras

I wear my sunflower lanyard with my mask on!

It's for hidden disabilities. My cars in my lanyard says hidden disabilities. Though you can get a card which says mask exempt [/quote]
But how will people understand that I need them to keep their distance just by me wearing a sunflower lanyard? They won't will they?

We had training on them at work (before Covid) and we were told to watch for them because the wearer might need additional help - that doesn't cover maintaining two metres distance does it? (Or even mask exempt to be honest. I guess the original meaning is lost now)

Totally agree OP.

It terrifies me how quickly we have been turned into a nation of sheeple willing to unquestioningly enforce non existent laws on behalf of the government.

[quote PennyDreadfuI]@Hearhoovesthinkzebras there is a nationally recognised scheme for those who need to let others know to keep there distance. They have lanyards and everything. It's called Distance Aware

A quick Google found that. I'm surprised that you hadn't already looked yourself, tbh.

And before I found out about the sunflower lanyard scheme, DD made me a badge saying I was exempt. I didn't make a song and dance about it and neither was I outraged - why on earth would I be?

Anyway I'm glad you've ordered a lanyard which someone else had to find for you after you stated no such thing existed. Now perhaps this thread can move on and stop being The Hooves Show.[/quote]
No one found the lanyard for me. I found it myself thanks. Does it make you feel better by attacking me?

A quick Google found that. I'm surprised that you hadn't already looked yourself, tbh.

I had looked actually. Sorry I'm.not quite as perfect as you. It says it's available through NHS Wales so I don't know how you get it in England. Good to read the article though and see that even a Dr feels as I do, despite what people on MN think about me. Maybe you should all go and tell that Dr to change her job too?

@Hearhoovesthinkzebras I'm not attacking you.

I'm glad you've found a lanyard that's useful to you. And as I said there is a national scheme like the sunflower one for those in your situation, the information is very easy to find.

[quote Racoonworld]@Hearhoovesthinkzebras great you have ordered one.

No but someone did have to come up with it and it could easily have been someone here who had the idea first. You could be that person for these lanyards! Why not do something positive for the situation that will help others too?[/quote]
Because I don't have the facilities or the resources to design and make it. Why can't you do it if it's that simple, you know, do something positive for the situation that will help others too?

No apology I see.

I googled '2m social distancing lanyards' and there were reams of results. Here's just a few.

[quote PennyDreadfuI]@Hearhoovesthinkzebras I'm not attacking you.

I'm glad you've found a lanyard that's useful to you. And as I said there is a national scheme like the sunflower one for those in your situation, the information is very easy to find.[/quote]
Yes, you are attacking me and no there isn't a national scheme. It was an idea from a Dr in Wales being promoted by NHS Wales - it isn't national. It even suggests drawing your own posters if you can't get the lanyards because they aren't available in your area.