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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Mask at work/exemption

111 replies

Candleropeheart · 10/08/2021 06:56

Have been WFH since last march, they started to return us one day a week in June. Ive gone in 4/5 weeks and due to being exempt of the face coverings I wasnt wearing a mask and nothing said to me either.
Until last week when it was almost home time & boss pulled me on it. She did this in front of colleagues too and kept pushing with comments such as id offended someone, others are worried they are more at risk and youve not covered up for the bathroom trips etc.. i said my reasons again and felt very pressured and watched.. but still said no. She got up and and came back 5 or so minutes later with a box full of visors for just me to wear...

I am hurt, and annoyed at this behaviour. Surely she cant behave like this! & surely she can't force me when ive clearly stated why im not wearing one to her.

Ive hearing aids in both ears, nhs ones not private as my earing is too far gone. I used to wear masks at the very start but they get caught around them and ive lost/broken hearing aids before so now ive decided along with my GP that i am exempt. (A broken hearing aid that i cant fix could mean waiting 6 months on a new one! I cant hear without mine at all! & ive two children this was also explained to boss who clearly didnt care..

OP posts:
RedHelenB · 10/08/2021 06:59

Did you try a visor?

Original poster
Candleropeheart · 10/08/2021 07:02

Yes I tried it in the office that day, as it was close to home time so made a toilet trip and also wore it to get out of the building but its uncomfortable and not exactly very visible either. Not to mention - i felt massively singled out.. even a colleague said that.. but yes I tried it

OP posts:
heldinadream · 10/08/2021 07:04

I've just compared pictures of people wearing visors and masks. Masks go round your ears. Visors go round your head and can be a couple of inches above your ears. So surely if they are willing to compromise on visors, you can too?
Do you not wear hats if you're in freezing weather? And what are you going to do when your eyesight deteriorates and you need glasses? (Which happens to pretty much everyone.)

heldinadream · 10/08/2021 07:05

Sorry cross posted - so wearing visors is uncomfortable and made you feel singled out?
That's not exemption then?

ThisIsMeOrIsIt · 10/08/2021 07:09

I wear hearing aids. Yes, they sometimes get caught in the straps of the mask, but it doesn't happen all the time and it's a very small thing to have to take my aid out and disentangle. I'm not sure how your aids would get broken just taking a mask off?!

Your boss was absolutely not right in pulling you up on it in front of people as it's your private business, so for that YANBU. But all the hearing aid and CI users I know are wearing masks just fine and you have the alternative of the visor, so YABU not to wear anything.

donutosaurus · 10/08/2021 07:11

I wear hearing aids in both ears and have worn masks throughout.

I appreciate that you are concerned but if you take a little bit of care when removing the mask, the hearing aid most definitely won't get lost. I'm not sure how wearing a mask led to a broken hearing aid as I haven't experienced a situation where this could happen.

I think the rhetoric throughout the pandemic is that masks help protect people other than the wearer - so we are wearing masks to help reduce the risk to others.

I feel like they have offered you an alternative (the visor) and you are completely unwilling to wear this due to comfort and feeling singled out. Did you feel singled out whilst not wearing a mask as from your OP it sounds like you are the only one not wearing one?

If I were you, I would just wear the visor as it is beginning to sound like you do not want to wear anything.

I didn't realise a person could simply decide for themselves that they were exempt.

Original poster
Candleropeheart · 10/08/2021 07:11

Yeah its more the way she handled the situation tbf and whether she was right to do that and if she can force me to wear the visor in the office days im asking about? & not whether strangers think i am exempt or not..

OP posts:
Whogotdakeystomabeamer · 10/08/2021 07:13

I think you can get masks that tie around the back of your head / neck, rather than earloops. Other than that, visor it is.
Sorry OP, I've also been WFH and then in maternity since last March, and I am not looking forward to returning to work with a mask. But I see it as a requirement of the job and accept that I'll just have to.

RedHelenB · 10/08/2021 07:13

For the sake of toilet trips and exiting the building I personally would suck it up or are you expected to wear one all day?Huge sympathises, my friends deaf and masks were horrendousas she couldn't lip read etc. She wore one though, and has NHS devices.

Original poster
Candleropeheart · 10/08/2021 07:13

I rang my GP to confirm and he advised you actually decide yourself but if she kept on he could write a note to inform her of my hearing impairment which is a viable reason to be exempt.

OP posts:
pinkmoon18 · 10/08/2021 07:15

She handled it wrong op.
A quick email or a quiet word in an office away from people is what she should have done.

Is it just a case of wearing when your up and away from desk? If so, you'll be fine just take abit extra care putting on/taking off!

MichelleScarn · 10/08/2021 07:15

Could you get these? Avoids the ear and looks the same as the ear elastic ones?

Mask at work/exemption
Original poster
Candleropeheart · 10/08/2021 07:17

There is one other person in the building i work in, they arent in my team nor do i deal with them so no idea what their reason is and no idea if theyve been told to wear visor. Tho doubt it as they are also a senior manager level..
They had a lanyard on too.

OP posts:
Theluggage15 · 10/08/2021 07:20

Visors should not be worn instead of face masks, only with a face mask. They don’t do anything on their own. I should just get an exemption letter from your doctor.

toomuchfaster · 10/08/2021 07:20

I think people are completely missing the point: masks are no longer legally enforceable. It matters not what anyone else in the office thinks or feels, @Candleropeheart doesn't have to wear one for any reason at all now. Tell your boss it's none of her business and she has no right to even discuss this with you. If she continues then approach HR about DDA allowances. And I say this as someone who works in a health care setting where we are supposed to encourage the wearing of masks, but we are not allowed to demand it or a reason for refusal.

earlydoors42 · 10/08/2021 07:21

I have 2 hearing aids and got the type of mask with long ties that do up at the back of the head. I don't like things booked round my ears with my aids plus glasses already. I also got some like a tubey neckscarf that you pull up over your mouth.

I do think she handled it wrong though.

Whogotdakeystomabeamer · 10/08/2021 07:21

Is the issue your hearing aids? Or that you just don't want to wear one?

The former can be sorted with a tie mask, or a visor. The latter - you need to decide what's more important; your job or not wearing a mask.

Be honest.

Whogotdakeystomabeamer · 10/08/2021 07:23

@toomuchfaster

I think people are completely missing the point: masks are no longer legally enforceable. It matters not what anyone else in the office thinks or feels, *@Candleropeheart* doesn't have to wear one for any reason at all now. Tell your boss it's none of her business and she has no right to even discuss this with you. If she continues then approach HR about DDA allowances. And I say this as someone who works in a health care setting where we are supposed to encourage the wearing of masks, but we are not allowed to demand it or a reason for refusal.
Businesses can enforce whatever rules they choose, whether they are law or not. Uniform policy.
dancinfeet · 10/08/2021 07:30

Mask headband with buttons that goes across the back of your head?

gurglebelly · 10/08/2021 07:36

@toomuchfaster

I think people are completely missing the point: masks are no longer legally enforceable. It matters not what anyone else in the office thinks or feels, *@Candleropeheart* doesn't have to wear one for any reason at all now. Tell your boss it's none of her business and she has no right to even discuss this with you. If she continues then approach HR about DDA allowances. And I say this as someone who works in a health care setting where we are supposed to encourage the wearing of masks, but we are not allowed to demand it or a reason for refusal.
But individual settings can make their own decisions on whether they are required or not.
Cancellingadvice · 10/08/2021 07:39

@Whogotdakeystomabeamer

Is the issue your hearing aids? Or that you just don't want to wear one?

The former can be sorted with a tie mask, or a visor. The latter - you need to decide what's more important; your job or not wearing a mask.

Be honest.

Absolutely this

Masks is one of those difficult subjects where you are mainly wearing them to protect other people, so your decision has a direct impact on them. I can’t believe that after a year of this you haven’t even considered masks that don’t go around your ears!

Frogface8 · 10/08/2021 07:40

I think you’re being difficult - it’s a perfectly reasonable request, they’re not forcing you to wear a mask and have given you a suitable alternative.

You may not like how they’ve handled it however, I believe you should wear the visor - your exemption was centred around a mask interfering/damaging your hearing aid, this solves that problem - unless the real reason you don’t want to wear a mask of preference based, in which case don’t hide behind an exemption!

Imnothereforthedrama · 10/08/2021 07:45

Why do you need to wear one anyway? it’s not mandatory anymore. I’ve stopped at work unless in busy areas as I think it’s farcical that I’m sat next to colleagues but if I work round the building not passing anyone I was to wear one .

YeDancer · 10/08/2021 07:59

I'm hearing impaired. I wear a mask. There are plenty that don't tangle with hearing aids or cochlear implants.
You could also wear a scarf version. So YABU.
YANBU if you find lip reading hard like I do. In that situation, YANBU to want people to help you communicate.

Sirzy · 10/08/2021 08:02

To be honest it sounds like you hve fallen into the category of “I’m not keen on masks so I will say I am exempt”

Lots of people with hearing aids wear them. You just need to be careful like others have said

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