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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:
Fullofthejoysofspring · 10/08/2021 09:46

@DeflatedGinDrinker

YABVU op.
Why's that then, @DeflatedGinDrinker ?
Original poster
Candleropeheart · 10/08/2021 10:05

@DeflatedGinDrinker

Why?

OP posts:
ChainJane · 10/08/2021 10:13

Can you not wear a bandana-style mask? Put it round your neck, put your hearing aids on, then pull up/lower bandana when required.

gardeninggirl68 · 10/08/2021 10:15

Just take her aside and tell her no

You won't wear it. End of

Let it go to a disciplinary and see how far they get with that shit!

ThorIsAGod · 10/08/2021 10:22

@Fullofthejoysofspring and don't get me started on deaf children, particularly secondary school aged who have been excluded more than ever 😞

GreenWillow · 10/08/2021 10:23

Businesses can enforce whatever rules they choose, whether they are law or not. Uniform policy

Not if it discriminates against anybody with a protected characteristic, like a disability, such as a hearing impediment.

Your boss is totally in the wrong on this.

LongTimeMammaBear · 10/08/2021 10:30

I voted YABU if your reason for not wresting a mask is because of wearing hearing aids. I have two. Yes, some times they get entangled but knowing this, you remove the mask carefully and reposition your hearing aids once your mask is off.

Aprilx · 10/08/2021 10:31

@GreenWillow

Businesses can enforce whatever rules they choose, whether they are law or not. Uniform policy

Not if it discriminates against anybody with a protected characteristic, like a disability, such as a hearing impediment.

Your boss is totally in the wrong on this.

Where there is a disability, the employer needs to consider reasonable adjustments. They have, they suggested a visor instead, they may further make suggestions that involve face asks that secure in a different manner than round the ears. Both seem reasonable.

Disability discrimination legislation does not mean the person with a disability has free reign to do whatever they want and the employer and other employees have to suck it up.

gardeninggirl68 · 10/08/2021 10:35

Op just tell them you have a diagnosed condition deeming you exempt

They can then go through the legal rigmoralrcof gaining access to your medical records to disprove it

They can do nothing

DeflatedGinDrinker · 10/08/2021 10:38

Because there are visors or other masks that don't go behind your ear that you can wear. You are just making a nuisance of yourself.

TheGumption · 10/08/2021 10:39

You can get masks that tie up at the back of your head so really, you're not exempt, you never really were exempt. You just don't want to wear a mask. In fairness to people that are exempt, you should be honest about that.

GintyMcGinty · 10/08/2021 10:43

Give masks another try.

I wear hearing aids and found it tricky at first but it didn't take very long to get the hang of it.

A bit of practice and you should be fine.

Although your boss was wrong to address this in front of others.

Fullofthejoysofspring · 10/08/2021 10:44

@LongTimeMammaBear

I voted YABU if your reason for not wresting a mask is because of wearing hearing aids. I have two. Yes, some times they get entangled but knowing this, you remove the mask carefully and reposition your hearing aids once your mask is off.
Are you a hearing aid user, out of interest?
Fullofthejoysofspring · 10/08/2021 10:45

[quote ThorIsAGod]@Fullofthejoysofspring and don't get me started on deaf children, particularly secondary school aged who have been excluded more than ever 😞[/quote]
Completely agree. They've been abandoned in all of this.

Fullofthejoysofspring · 10/08/2021 10:46

@DeflatedGinDrinker

Because there are visors or other masks that don't go behind your ear that you can wear. You are just making a nuisance of yourself.
@DeflatedGinDrinker how dare you. She is disabled. How dare you minimise her struggles.
KarmaStar · 10/08/2021 10:47

Supervisor handled it wrongly.
However,you are being very precious.
It's not that you can't,it's because you don't want to.At least be honest about it.

SoupDragon · 10/08/2021 10:49

Are you a hearing aid user, out of interest?

Her post very clearly says she has two.

Potatoy · 10/08/2021 10:49

Speak to HR. This isn't on.

newnortherner111 · 10/08/2021 10:52

A reasonable adjustment would be to reduce the number of days you are in the office. Which would probably be better for your colleagues as well, as some may be very concerned to be about anyone without a face covering.

luckylavender · 10/08/2021 10:53

@toomuchfaster - depends where the OP
Is in the country and a company can tell you what to do within reason.

WorraLiberty · 10/08/2021 10:57

@Candleropeheart

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
Visors are uncomfortable, as are masks.

But you do get used to them.

As long as the visor doesn't affect your hearing aids, I'm not sure feeling uncomfortable is a good enough reason not to wear one really.

Fullofthejoysofspring · 10/08/2021 11:04

@SoupDragon

Are you a hearing aid user, out of interest?

Her post very clearly says she has two.

Oh I missed that bit. I can't detangle myself without either turning my aids off for a few minutes or causing screeching feedback, both of which I find very embarrassing and anxiety inducing. If there are tips on how to do it without either of those outcomes I would love to know!
ThisIsMeOrIsIt · 10/08/2021 11:10

Interesting to see other hearing aid users say they're exempt due to hearing loss. I've always found my own hearing is not affected by having to wear a mask and have always worn one. It's the fact that everyone else has one on that makes life difficult.

I work with d/Deaf pupils. We do still have to wear a mask when around schools but we're allowed to remove them when communicating with our pupils.

If reasonable adjustments are made in an office for a person with a hearing impairment, then it's everyone else in the office who should be allowed to remove their masks to allow that person to be part of conversions etc. Interesting how that's not put forward as a viable solution.

Fullofthejoysofspring · 10/08/2021 11:11

In all honesty, shouldn't the reasonable adjustment be for all OP's colleagues to also wear visors? This has to work both ways.

Fullofthejoysofspring · 10/08/2021 11:12

@ThisIsMeOrIsIt

Interesting to see other hearing aid users say they're exempt due to hearing loss. I've always found my own hearing is not affected by having to wear a mask and have always worn one. It's the fact that everyone else has one on that makes life difficult.

I work with d/Deaf pupils. We do still have to wear a mask when around schools but we're allowed to remove them when communicating with our pupils.

If reasonable adjustments are made in an office for a person with a hearing impairment, then it's everyone else in the office who should be allowed to remove their masks to allow that person to be part of conversions etc. Interesting how that's not put forward as a viable solution.

Agree with you