Eating out - will you want staff to wear face masks?

[daisydalrymple]

I’m just wondering what people’s feelings are towards bar and waiting on staff wearing masks, once pubs and restaurants reopen? Would you prefer they did or didn’t wear a protective face mask?

I work in hospitality, we haven’t reopened yet, but our bosses have told us we will not be wearing face masks, as they want our customers to enjoy the true pub experience they love us for, with great food and drink in a relaxed atmosphere, which they don’t think will be possible if staff are wearing masks.

They’re working on other recommended safety measures to be in place, staff having temp taken on arrival, hand sanitising on arrival and throughout shift, social distancing with tables etc.

Most of my colleagues are relieved they don’t have to wear a mask, whilst a few are extremely concerned that they can’t. Whilst I appreciate the company want things to get back to normal for our customers, it’s obvious things aren’t ‘normal’ as they were pre-lockdown. I’m wondering if they’re right in thinking customers won’t want a mask wearing server, or if people would prefer the reassurance of knowing people carrying drinks and food have their mouth and nose covered??

I think everyone should wear a mask in public indoors setting. Or visors if staff.

@fortmums

We in England just love seatbelts and washing our hands. What is it about masks? Like Voldemort, we daren't even use the name - it was euphemistically explained by the government as "face coverings". Asia is looking at us like

That’s not the reason @fortmums - the Govt said face coverings as they didn’t want people to rush out and buy actual masks, leading to yet another PPE shortage.

I work in a pub and have been told we don't have to wear a mask but can if we want to. Not one person said they want to wear one, I do but might feel slightly awkward if I'm the only one.
I would much prefer if it was made mandatory to be honest, I'm going to be in close contact with people, taking orders, putting down their food and drinks and taking money. If one of us gets it I'm sure it will spread easily, will just have to wash hands a lot and hope for the best!!!

Personally, it will be quite some time before I am comfortable going into a bar or restaurant. However, staff should be able to wear face coverings if they want to.

I think masks should be mandatory in all inside spaces - for customers and for staff. Masks and visors for staff, and masks for customers.

@Endless11 you can’t force staff to wear a mask....can you imagine if companies start to enforce that? Firing people for removing their mask because it’s too uncomfortable.... companies have a duty of care to their staff

I have no desire to rush back, I'm not particularly frightened for myself, I just don't think it will be an enjoyable experience.

I dont want to pay £££ for a meal out, to be reminded of the horror by staff wearing masks and to not be able to hear them properly. That's not to say I don't think they have the right to wear them if they choose, but I wouldn't choose to go to a restaurant where they are worn.

I think companies can enforce the wearing of PPE @LilBlackLab, surely in many industries that a given all along?

@Icanseeclearlynow12 you should wear one if that's what you want. I bet some of your colleagues feel like you and it just takes one to be the first.

I'm in Italy and all bar, shop, restaurant staff wear masks - as do customers when not eating. I don't understand why the UK is so against it.

They’re compulsory for staff where I live. Can’t believe people actually object to this because it might remind them that we’re in the middle of a global pandemic. Fuck’s sake.

Masks should be compulsory outside the home

Was that me ChaToilLeam? I don't object to people wearing them, I just won't be going to restaurants while they are, which is surely the best way of protecting everyone. I dont want to spend what, to me, is a significant sum on an evening out that I won't enjoy.

I don't have a preference as other customers are just as much of a risk. I won't be eating out anywhere.

YY @ChasingRainbows19 Its what tends to happen in the real world in the summer/when there is a heatwave unless we are going to do the same as Japan and put cold masks in vending machines for the public to buy

I was in Boots yesterday It was stifling in there Must have been 33c in there, and the staff were no longer wearing face masks when a couple of them were really gung ho about it last month!!

Been saying for weeks that this would happen when it got hot and stifling but nooooooooooo people kept saying that ppl would just have to cope.

I would not wish to be served food or drink by staff who are not wearing masks.

Would the Govt deem it a Covid-secure business if serving staff weren't wearing them?

I have just visited Boundary Mill (no cafe open so just clothing, footwear and homewares) and all staff are wearing yellow t-shirts reminding customers to keep 2 metres distance and face visors. I felt very safe. However, in a business selling food, I would expect a higher level of protection than a visor.

you can’t force staff to wear a mask....can you imagine if companies start to enforce that?

It should be made law so that companies have to comply, the proviso being that staff who cannot tolerate masks (ASD or other reasons) should of course not be fired.

I too don’t understand why the UK government is so lax on this. Well I do understand, but the reasons aren’t pretty.

I don’t mind if staff wear masks or not.

Genuinely didn’t occur to me to be concerned about staff carrying my food/drinks with their nose and mouth uncovered, but on the surface it isn’t an issue for me. I’ve ordered deliveroo/collected food from restaurants during lockdown and I don’t know whether the staff wore masks or not, I didn’t get ill.

What @endless said. I think the dare-not-speak-their-name shhhhhhh gasp horror “masks” were deliberately said to be useless, then said to be “face coverings”, to overall mislead and dissuade people. Fact is, they are the right and effective protection. Like condoms to stop sp. well, I do understand but the reasons aren’t pretty.

I'd prefer not I think, because I see so many people who do wear them fiddling with them and touching their noses or mouths while doing so, and with restaurant staff they could then be going on to touch my plate/food/glass.

I was just thinking about this as considering booking in to my favourite restaurant. I would probably prefer that waiting staff weren’t wearing them, but feel that’s probably a bit selfish of me. I just think, as customers we obviously can’t (you can’t exactly eat dinner wearing a mask), so it would feel a bit odd. I also wondered about chefs - will they be wearing gloves masks etc?

Think it’s pretty bad of your employers saying that people who want to can’t though. I think rationally it’s the right thing that people do - but emotionally would prefer they didn’t and I think I’m probably in the wrong.

I want staff to feel comfortable in terms of their safety, so it to be their choice, not management's about wearing a mask.

Yes littlealexhorne, I think I'd spend the whole time worrying that they weren't being worn properly and were actually making the risk of transmission worse.

Almost no one wearing them in public in UK is wearing them in a way that protects themselves or others.

I think everyone should wear a mask in public so yes, I would want staff wearing masks when in a pub/ restaurant and I won't go somewhere they are not.

FWIW, DS works in McDonalds, recently gone back for drive thru and delivery only. Wearing masks is compulsory for them. The box says they should be changed every 15 mins to be effective. They have been told they should only change them 2-3 times per day.