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??

It should be mandatory, especially for food and drink servers.

I’d feel better knowing that if a waitress coughed or sneezed while carrying my food to me, in a viral pandemic which is spread by coughs and sneezes, that it was contained in a mask rather than over my food .

I don’t get why anyone wouldn’t want them worn!

My personal theory is that if the UK made masks mandatory for restaurant staff, most of the people saying I WILL NOT PAY RESTAURANT BILLS TO BE TREATED LIKE A BIOHAZARD would quickly cave and start going to restaurants with masked waiters before long, unless they are among the minority of people who rarely visited a restaurant or cafe before lockdown anyway, like my parents.

Most people in the UK that I know are absolutely sick, sick, S-I-C-K of eating their own cooking, constant clearing up, constant washing up, all the extra grocery shopping. If you've been stuck in that rut for weeks and then you walk past restaurants serving food .... few people will resist for long.

Staff wearing masks. I am sure you are lovely but I don't want you breathing all over my food and drink thanks.

I'm surprised so many people are against it. The only reason I'll be wearing a mask when I go back is out of respect to anyone in serving. There's proof it can protect others by me wearing one purely by reducing the droplets. I couldn't be that selfish to not.
I hope something shifts in the UKs way of thinking so more companies encourage it a lot more strongly and it is more normal

@blubellsarebells

I also walk miles a day in my job and i dont think masks would be comfortable on a long shift or safe once its been touched.

As i posted earlier, this idea that masks shouldn’t be worn to protect others because they’re not safe if they’re touched is a bit like someone in a science lab saying “people don’t always put the lid properly on the lead canister containing the radioactive material, so best to just leave out it on the side”.

I prefer our food at home over restaurants anyway, true.

I rarely go to restaurants bc they are expensive and too salty & I hate to see the buckets of food chucked away by many diners -- but also most of my meals out are with work colleagues & I'm ordered to WFH for foreseeable future, so there is no Work social life to lead to a restaurant meal.

I guess if we (my household) travels & haven't brought sarnies or can't get take-away we might eat indoors somewhere. We might travel in August. Any holiday place we stay will be s/c.

Most people in the UK that I know are absolutely sick, sick, S-I-C-K of eating their own cooking, constant clearing up, constant washing up, all the extra grocery shopping. If you've been stuck in that rut for weeks and then you walk past restaurants serving food .... few people will resist for long.

Yes - it has been so lovely not to have to cook especially as during lockdown I've been feeding 4 adults and 2 teens every day and they eat. so. much.

Most people in the UK that I know are absolutely sick, sick, S-I-C-K of eating their own cooking, constant clearing up, constant washing up, all the extra grocery shopping.

Really? I hardly ever in a restaurant or go to a cafe. Maybe once a year. Going out is a treat for most people, not something you do every week, or even month. The amount of cooking and shopping we do hasn’t changed

Really? I hardly ever in a restaurant or go to a cafe. Maybe once a year. Going out is a treat for most people, not something you do every week, or even month. The amount of cooking and shopping we do hasn’t changed

Most people I know go out for some form of food or drink every week.
Coffee shops Are weekly at least and I have lunch sometimes too while there.
Meals out every couple weeks normally and it’s pretty normal to go out for a meal to mark a birthday or anniversary which would be more then once a year.

I don’t know anyone that only goes out for food once a year.

Really? I hardly ever in a restaurant or go to a cafe. Maybe once a year. Going out is a treat for most people, not something you do every week, or even month. The amount of cooking and shopping we do hasn’t changed

I'd say I've been making 50-60 more meals per week than usual. Not because we typically eat out a huge amount, but because I have so many extra people home full time who usually would not be here.

Most of my friends are in a similar situation with university kids home, high schoolers home all day, etc.

I cannot bloody wait to eat out!

I go out to cafes and lunches regularly with my dcs, DP and friends.

I’ve never been to a coffee shop - don’t like coffee - and wouldn’t eat lunch there. I live in central London, so there’s lots around. I choose not to. We like cooking and make better food at home than at the average mid-range restaurant we’d ever go to. We don’t do takeaways either. Horses for courses, of course. My university children are home too, and they like cooking too. We’re fighting over who gets to cook here!

It doesn't bother me seeing ppe but those who rely on lip reading, and in noisy places many of us do, clear visors or masks should be used

No masks as standard but if someone wants to wear them it shouldn't be forbidden. I'm not eating out there though. I'm saving my money for places that create what for me is a welcoming environment. If it feels stressy, that's not relaxing for me. They can serve the covid fearful and make their money that way

Most people in my house make their own meals. Just evening meal to organise & 1 extra is most we've had to deal with.

By the time you've traipsed somewhere (& back) & waited for the food - cooking at home is a lot quicker.

I have fussy eaters so less menu headache to navigate at home, either.