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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Aibu or is this discrimination? Mask exemption

278 replies

Lowhangingfruit · 04/12/2020 16:37

Got challenged in a pub about not wearing a mask. I have an exemption card, she said it wasn't a big deal just wear one. It's our policy. Then 2 people walk in not wearing masks and walk around and she didn't say a word to them??? So aibu to be pissed off.

OP posts:
PlanDeRaccordement · 04/12/2020 16:41

Just challenging you is alright. I can’t tell if she made you wear a mask from your post? If you were honestly exempt then would not have been able to wear one at all. So assuming you did not wear one and are angry she didn’t challenge two others. It may be that she already knows them and that they are exempt.

Ivy455 · 04/12/2020 16:42

If you tell someone you are exempt, they shouldn't challenge you further. nor do you need to show proof - it is optional.

I hope you know this is just going to turn into another post bashing those who don't wear masks though. I've seen plenty of them on here.

emilyfrost · 04/12/2020 16:45

She was right to challenge you, and she’s also right to only allow people in who do wear masks as it’s her business.

She can’t force you to wear a mask and you have the choice to comply or leave.

Moondust001 · 04/12/2020 16:50

@emilyfrost

She was right to challenge you, and she’s also right to only allow people in who do wear masks as it’s her business.

She can’t force you to wear a mask and you have the choice to comply or leave.

No she isn't right to only allow in people who wear masks. That is unlawful discrimination, assuming that the person is unable to wear a mask. The law is clear on that point, so you are wrong. Owning a business does not mean that you can ignore the laws on disability.

If it had been me I would have taken it up with a manager, and if not satisfied with their response I would have reported it. It is reasonable to ask someone to wear a mask, but if their response is that they are exempt, there is no right to challenge that response, whether they are telling the truth or not.

BosomHoik · 04/12/2020 16:50

If you’re exempt and told her, she should at that point have left you alone. YANBU.

kowari · 04/12/2020 16:52

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Saz12 · 04/12/2020 17:09

Why should someone with a disability, illness, etc not be allowed to use certain services????

Would you say that non-essential public buildings shouldn’t need to be accessible as wheelchair user could simply not go to that museum/ gallery/ school/ whatever?

OP, of course it’s discriminatory.

JellyBabiesSaveLives · 04/12/2020 17:20

Well, I don’t think it’s discrimination in the legal sense as “not being able to wear a mask” isnt a protected characteristic.

But yeah, don’t blame you for being pissed off. Is wearing a ridiculously thin bandana an option for you? You shouldn’t have to but it saves the harassment.

HotPatootiebootie · 04/12/2020 17:24

I am Exempt and have only been (unfairly) approached once and that was a miserable old fart that was incredibly rude. Every time I go out I take great pains to sterilise the trolley and my hand etc and just smile at the lady handing masks out. In tk max they asked me to wear one, I smiled and said I was exempt. In b and q they asked and I smiled and said I was exempt.... they then suggested getting a sunflower lanyard from the check out to "prove" I'm exempt. I politely declined. No lanyard or exemption card is even valid as it's based on self declaration, not some made up system that is then open to abuse.

kowari · 04/12/2020 17:26

I think it's different to a wheelchair user being able to access the pub (and many are not accessible), as a wheelchair does not put others in the same enclosed space at risk.

Original poster
Lowhangingfruit · 04/12/2020 17:26

The fact is she made a really big deal about I wear one. We don't recognise the mask exemption card. And when I pointed out it was discrimination she sighed and made a major deal. Then no these people wore their masks outside. Then took them off inside while walking around. But she never said to them about it. I can't wear a mask full stop. Im already limited in my life this just adds another layer. Also she pulled down her mask on various occasions walking around the pub. Hmm

OP posts:
Original poster
Lowhangingfruit · 04/12/2020 17:32

So I'm not allowed to go out and enjoy myself because I can't wear a mask? Just hide indoors for the rest of my life? 👎

OP posts:
Original poster
Lowhangingfruit · 04/12/2020 17:33

@HotPatootiebootie

I am Exempt and have only been (unfairly) approached once and that was a miserable old fart that was incredibly rude. Every time I go out I take great pains to sterilise the trolley and my hand etc and just smile at the lady handing masks out. In tk max they asked me to wear one, I smiled and said I was exempt. In b and q they asked and I smiled and said I was exempt.... they then suggested getting a sunflower lanyard from the check out to "prove" I'm exempt. I politely declined. No lanyard or exemption card is even valid as it's based on self declaration, not some made up system that is then open to abuse.
I also was perfectly friendly not many places have done it. But the abuse us mask exemption people get on a daily basis is insidiousl and horrible.
OP posts:
Foliageeverywhere122 · 04/12/2020 17:42

I’m not sure if it’s unlawful, quite a few (non essential) places around here aren’t allowing people in without masks. Really frustrating if she’s not pulling up other people on it though.

Why are you mask exempt? There’s a fair bit of misinformation out there on who should/shouldn’t wear masks.

DuckbilledSplatterPuff · 04/12/2020 18:01

It sounds like a horrible and unfair experience.

warmandtoasty2day · 04/12/2020 18:01

At dh's work place people are supposed to wear masks but over 3/4 of them are wearing lanyards, is that not a a unusally high number as most of them worked through the first lock down ? [online supermarket]

berrygirlie · 04/12/2020 18:10

Why are you mask exempt? There’s a fair bit of misinformation out there on who should/shouldn’t wear masks.

You don't have to clarify or justify your exemption to anyone. People can ask and you can say; "I'm exempt" and that's more than enough, there's no practical need for a lanyard or specific details.

You don't owe anyone personal information solely because you're disabled in some way (coming from someone who is also exempt)

Girlyracer · 04/12/2020 18:13

I also think not wearing a mask is different to disability laws etc as accommodating everyone doesn't usually put anyone else at risk or danger of death.

Not wearing a mask (and most who don't won't know 100% they don't have covid) puts others at risk. Wearing a mask reduces the spread of Covid.

I'm afraid the dirty looks and comments aren't going to stop.

emilyfrost · 04/12/2020 18:14

No lanyard or exemption card is even valid as it's based on self declaration, not some made up system that is then open to abuse.

HotPatootiebootie Self declaration is also a made up system open to abuse, and it is abused on a regular basis.

Girlyracer · 04/12/2020 18:16

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movingonup20 · 04/12/2020 18:19

Because it is self declared it is open to abuse. Not wearing a mask puts others at risk whereas using a wheelchair does not so a poor comparison. Amazingly most the teenagers in town claim to be exempt "because they have asthma right " well I seriously doubt it, more likely a chill from not wearing a coat when it's 5 degrees!

Hayeahnobut · 04/12/2020 18:20

It's discrimination if the reason you cannot wear a mask is due to disability. That is a protected characteristic.

as a wheelchair does not put others in the same enclosed space at risk.

In the event of a fire or other emergency situation, it does. There have been cases where people have been banned from premises for this reason. They were rightly highlighted as discrimination.

In the case of wearing a mask, the business can make a reasonable adjustment by allowing more space to the person who is exempt, exactly as they would for a person who needs more space to move.

MilkTwoSugarsThanks · 04/12/2020 18:21

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Hayeahnobut · 04/12/2020 18:22

Self declaration is also a made up system open to abuse, and it is abused on a regular basis.

That is not an excuse for discriminating against disabled people.

WorraLiberty · 04/12/2020 18:24

Then 2 people walk in not wearing masks and walk around and she didn't say a word to them???

But surely that was because she was busy with you at the time?

I'm assuming you left? Perhaps she dealt with them after that?