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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:
ThisIsMeOrIsIt · 10/08/2021 11:15

@Fullofthejoysofspring Where do you put the elastic? I've found putting the elastic just on my ear (so between the aid and the 'shell' of the ear) works best. If you put the elastic against your head there's more chance for the elastic to slip under the aid and thus get entangled!

Smallfry79 · 10/08/2021 11:35

I think the main issue here is op wants to continue wfh exclusively and resents being asked to go back into office so is finding fault with everything mgmt and colleagues do. We are almost all guilty of getting into negative ways of thinking and then finding more and more things to reinforce our initial beliefs.

Op doesn't want to be in office and thinks mgmt are unreasonable to ask her back so now she is reinforcing her beliefs that the office is awful and mgmt are uncaring bastards by focusing on the mask thing.
I see it agsin and again with people who like being at home and want to stay there regardless. Its a pity people cant spot when they are piling more frustration and misery on themselves by being determined to prove their point rather than accepting change and looking for a positive spin on things and trying to choose the best alternatives to make the best of things

Bloodypunkrockers · 10/08/2021 11:43

Manager should definitely not have dealt with this in front of everyone else

But why are you exempt. Ok I know you don't have to explain but I think if I was one of your colleagues I would give you a wide berth

stillcrazyafterall · 10/08/2021 11:47

I wear hearing aids and my mask elastic goes around the back of my head, not my ears. Why can't you use the same?

DancesWithTortoises · 10/08/2021 11:52

Masks are to protect others. If you say you cannot wear one the least you can do is wear a visor.

emilylily · 10/08/2021 12:00

I think your boss dealt with this in a bullying way and that's not acceptable.

I also do think you could probably wear a tie-back mask (visors are pretty much useless when used alone anyway) to make colleagues feel safer. Alternatively maybe you could do something like take Lateral Flow tests twice a week as is compulsory in lots of workplaces.

Planty13 · 10/08/2021 12:07

You can wear a mask, you are choosing not to. Your GP just wants you off their back, stop wasting their time with mask queries.

beastlyslumber · 10/08/2021 12:21

Are you in a union, OP? This is not really acceptable treatment of an employee. It seems discriminatory towards a person with a disability. You have employment rights. I would be contacting union rep or otherwise getting in touch with HR.

gardeninggirl68 · 10/08/2021 12:29

just dont wear it and dont engage in the whys and wherefores about it

if uniform policy at work has changed then they will inform you

this mask nonsense is ridiculous now.

Potatoy · 10/08/2021 12:31

It's OP's hearing impairment, OP is the only one who can answer if wearing a mask makes it harder for them to the extent they can't really wear one.

luckylavender · 10/08/2021 12:40

@gardeninggirl68 - that's quite a loaded and ridiculous statement

knittingaddict · 10/08/2021 12:53

@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.
They may not be legally enforceable, but a business can insist that masks are worn to protect other employees. It's like lots of other safety equipment and rules that businesses make.
gardeninggirl68 · 10/08/2021 12:56

[quote luckylavender]@gardeninggirl68 - that's quite a loaded and ridiculous statement [/quote]
not really anything there thats not true.....they cannot enforce wearing of any face covering. If they insist, then good luck with that tribunal!!

all this wearing visors is beyond ridiculous.

gardeninggirl68 · 10/08/2021 12:58

if they "insist' then it will be made policy/procedure. where reasonable adjustments will apply

and anyway, if people are claiming to be exempt then what will they actually do?

MaMelon · 10/08/2021 12:58

It sounds like you're looking for a reason to continue wfh, although management should not have spoken to you in front of others.

My 90 year old MIL wears hearing aids and just adjusts the straps - it's perfectly possible to wear one.

StrangeToSee · 10/08/2021 13:00

Where do you work?

Unless you’re in healthcare a mask enforcement seems very odd. A visor won’t do much, it’s just a splatter guard if people cough or sneeze on you.

I’m NHS and we only mask up in patient areas, as all the offices are ‘covid secure’ with socially distanced desks, ventilation and a one way system.

knittingaddict · 10/08/2021 13:00

The op's scenario is very similar to me wearing glasses. I have to wear my mask quite high to prevent the lenses steaming up, but I have varifocals which are then pushed up and distort my vision. Ialso have to be very careful when removing the masks to prevent my glasses going flying. They've landed up on the floor more than once.

I still wear my mask. It does sound like the op is making excuses.

MaMelon · 10/08/2021 13:03

@StrangeToSee

Where do you work?

Unless you’re in healthcare a mask enforcement seems very odd. A visor won’t do much, it’s just a splatter guard if people cough or sneeze on you.

I’m NHS and we only mask up in patient areas, as all the offices are ‘covid secure’ with socially distanced desks, ventilation and a one way system.

I'm NHS too - masks have to be worn in all shared areas, including offices and corridors. We also have socially distanced desks, ventilation and a one way system.
Original poster
Candleropeheart · 10/08/2021 13:05

It is really nothing to do with WFH, as I have gone into the office and it was fine no issues, I actually avoided the canteen as more people would use it and I didnt want to offend someone.. (yet still managed to ffs) there is only 8/10 people in my office all spread out over a massive floor space and no one shares a desk so the issue is how my boss dealt with it and not me wanting to stay at home Confused

OP posts:
MaMelon · 10/08/2021 13:06

Yes, your boss handled it badly - no doubt about that.

However, you can wear a mask - it's physically possible. What are you going to do now?

Bloodypunkrockers · 10/08/2021 13:09

@Candleropeheart

It is really nothing to do with WFH, as I have gone into the office and it was fine no issues, I actually avoided the canteen as more people would use it and I didnt want to offend someone.. (yet still managed to ffs) there is only 8/10 people in my office all spread out over a massive floor space and no one shares a desk so the issue is how my boss dealt with it and not me wanting to stay at home Confused
I wouldn't be "offended"

I wouldn't want you near me though

SuperstoreFan · 10/08/2021 13:11

My husband wears two hearing aids and he has a physical disability which effect his arms, if he can wear a mask I'm not exactly sure why you can't OP.

gogohm · 10/08/2021 13:25

I can understand the issue with the ear straps, perfectly valid to not use them but there's alternatives such as a band, ties etc. None of us want to have to wear masks, it's particularly tricky with glasses steaming up and I have sensitive backs to my ears and across the bridge of my nose so it actually hurts where it touches but I like everyone else wears one for the greater good (I wasn't ill with covid so it's not about me not catching it). Your management didn't handle it sensitively, should have been in private, but ultimately after over a year you could find a solution eg a band

BillyIsMyBunny · 10/08/2021 13:30

YANBU if you can’t wear a mask due to your hearing impairment, however YABU to refuse a visor because it’s uncomfortable. Masks are uncomfortable to those of us who have to wear them as well but that’s not a good enough reason to refuse.

At my workplace anybody who cannot wear a mask has to wear a visor instead. It’s not purposefully singling people out, it’s company policy. Those who cannot wear a mask or visor have had to be signed off work.

EverybodyIsInteresting · 10/08/2021 13:38

I think people are completely missing the point: masks are no longer legally enforceable

While it is probable that the op is in England (just based on numbers), that's not the case throughout the UK.

Having recently travelled from England to Scotland, it's quite clear that many people don't realise that.