Should employers provide hand gel/gloves?

[FrancesFlute]

I work in finance. Part of my job is lots of handling and counting of cash that comes in from different sources. Our new COVID-19 policy states that '[A]nyone handling cash should protect themselves from virus transmission by using hand gel beforehand and afterwards, washing hands, or by wearing appropriate gloves'.

I have been managing this so far with frequent hand washing (although the taps in our nearest loo are always cold) and using my own bottle of hand gel. I've decided that I'd like to wear gloves to count and ensure my desk is cleaned with anti-bac afterwards. Is it my employer's responsibility to provide these things for me? Noone else in the organisation does cash handling in the quantities I do and we are very small. I have some disposable gloves at home for fake tanning and touching raw chicken but am unsure whose responsibility the provision falls under, but would prefer not to have to use my own 'stuff' at work in case we need it at home. DH works in NHS so very likely he'll get it eventually .

Thanks.

In an ideal world, yes but there is not enough gel to go around.

Antibacterial gel has to be 70% alcohol to be effective. My employer has abolished it in our work place because it stops people bothering to wash their hands. You can ask them but I doubt they can get any anywhere.

We provide it in our workplace - it's being stolen as fast as it's being put out

There isn’t any gel though and that isn’t their fault.

I doubt they would be able to get any, I work in healthcare and we can't get any so have had to remove it from the toilets where there is soap and just have it in communal areas and at the entrance, we only have enough for 2 weeks

Where do you suggest employers get them from? DD is The only manager in her locality. She bought two bottles of gel for her staff. I asked her today if she provides it for her customers. She does not, because she cannot find any. Once those two bottles are gone, well.... At the moment if her people don't work, her employer gets no money (government contract) so the firm will go bust, everyone will loose their jobs, won't be able to pay their mortgages etc etc

It an omnishambles. And our great leaders? What are they doing? While people make these very difficult choices(shall I go into work and risk getting and spreading the virus, or should I stay at home, risking my employer going bust and losing my job?) They are telling us to wash our hands more

Great strategy

Mine are but not sure how long that will be sustainable for.

@peachypetite I haven't said at any point that it is my employer's fault there is a shortage of hand gel

I asked about the responsibility and now feel more confident about that going forward. Cheers all.

Of course. But I doubt they are withholding this from you. I work in a public facing role and my employer has given us the hand sanitiser they have but that’s running out and I don’t feel angry towards them.

Local supermarket had gel at the checkout and woman gelled after each transaction. So it's a good idea.

I just don’t really understand what you want. If employers have kit I’m sure they would give it to you. But these are unprecedented times :(