supermarket face masks

[millythemalard]

Sorry if this has already been done- I have looked on line for the answer but I just don't understand. I am wearing a face mask in the shops- totally up for it if. If that's what we have to do then fine. But why don't people who work in supermarkets have to wear them?

To all the moaners........ have you actually tried doing a 10 hr shift in a supermarket? I do a very physical job, and wearing a mask would be unbearable for me. You popping in for 20mins to do a shop, is completely different to lugging around heavy boxes with your face covered, so you can’t breathe properly.

This is just something else for customers to feel they have the justification to have a go at us for.

IT IS NOT THE LAW THAT SHOPWORKERS MUST WEAR MASKS.
If you don’t like it, do the right thing and keep 2m away from us!

Stop talking into our faces and leaning over us!

You’re all directing your anger at the wrong people. Poor retail workers, what rubbish they must put up with.

Why is he not wearing a mask, I have my mask on, why are some staff wearing masks and not others, waaahh waaaah.

Talk about self entitled.

It is not law for retail staff to wear masks, it is not required under the guidance. They are not entitled to question people about exemptions, they are not the police. It is not their job to enforce the law, the government told them so.

If you have an issue with any of the above, speak to Boris. The guy who is in charge here, not the minimum wage workers who have been doing their best through the whole pandemic.

Oh and no I don’t work in retail.

I went to Tesco earlier and the staff on the shop floor (i.e. filling shelves) wore masks but those on tills didn't.

@millythemalard

So no actual evidence based reason then. Cool.

It's to annoy you. You personally.

Seriously people told you all sorts of reasons, but you didn't want those.

they are in waitrose
and in many shops they are behind plastic.

Apparently the government left it up to each company to decide their policy on this, so some will and some won't, I know Sainsburys have made it compulsory for staff too.

I know Sainsburys have made it compulsory for staff too.

That's incorrect. Sainsbury's policy is to 'strongly recommend' staff wear masks. It's not compulsory.

why don't people who work in supermarkets have to wear them?

They do. In Scotland.

That's incorrect. Sainsbury's policy is to 'strongly recommend' staff wear masks. It's not compulsory.

My friend who works there said compulsory to me, but fair enough

Half the staff in our Sainsburys local had no face covering this afternoon

If you want stock on the shelves then retail workers should have a choice to wear a face covering it not. Which at present they do

No company will make it compulsary! The retail trust have plenty to say on this matter .... customers do not get a say at all

Thanks for the support @Itisasecret

We have to wear face coverings whenever we are in the building. We have to wear a mask and sanitise our hands on entry, and then go to the staff room where people working in public facing roles change the mask for a visor before we go out onto the shop floor.

I am honestly not bothered about having to wear one. As I have said several times I wear one all day at work anyway. And I wasn't having a go at retail workers- I know its not their decision.

I just don't get the logic behind it. And I am not being 'entitled' whatever that means in this context.

@nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut

Because we work up to 14 hour shifts, often doing hard physical labour. Masks protect other people, not the wearer. They're protecting their staff

They aren't protecting them very well if they are making them do 14 hour shifts. You should be getting 11 hours break in every 24 hours (so max 13 hours working.)

Maybe it's because in retail you're unlikely to be in prolonged close contact with anyone? Sure lots of people will walk past you stacking a shelf but they're unlikely to stop and stand by you for 15 minutes. That's quite different to the NHS.

I don't know really though. We don't have to wear them yet in Wales and I've only been wearing them where I know I'll be close to someone for a sustained period - like in the vet and the hairdresser. I haven't worn them in shops as I find it easy to stay 2m away from everyone.

The staff in my local Lidl haven't been wearing them at all - until this weekend when suddenly they were...

Im not sure that the reason that shop workers would have to wear them all day is really going to work for OP since she wears them all day as do I would imagine most NHS and care workers.

It's unfair OP - one rule for some people one rule for others. I agree with you that there's no reason and they should be wearing them. Vulnerable people go to shops.....I distinctly remember going to one the other day.....

Maybe it's because in retail you're unlikely to be in prolonged close contact with anyone?

You’re as likely to be in close contact as a customer I’d have thought (which I accept isn’t very high), arguably much more so as you’re there for a lot longer.

Whatever the rights and wrongs, I’m thinking that customers will increasingly expect it, and those shops that don’t will be pressurised into doing so.

@Derbygerbil

Whatever the rights and wrongs, I’m thinking that customers will increasingly expect it, and those shops that don’t will be pressurised into doing so.

I certainly would expect it. It's a shop. The law now says...in a shop. If I've bothered I would hope shop workers do

Its a shame that theres such outrage about supermarket staff wearing masks claiming their job would be unbearable in a mask. NHS staff are not accustomed to wearing masks either but are now expected to for full 14 hour shifts and have been since march, even though the job is just as manual as a shop worker. Its uncomfortable for everyone but all staff should have them on

@OpheliasCrayon The law is very clear that shop workers do not have to wear masks. (I have read the regulations)

Most shops I have gone into the workers are wearing masks or behind a screen.

@millythemalard

So no actual evidence based reason then. Cool.

Why the arsey response to people on here?

Speak to the people who make the decisions if it pisses you off so much.

Medical staff manage to wear a mask all day.

If they can do it, so can supermarket staff.

I'm not wearing one because I don't have to, and I don't want to - Hope that is a plain enough reason.

When I am a customer in any shop or indoor area I wear a mask (and have since the start.

(a few more reasons/"excuses")
My customer demographic is skewed to over 65, a lot of whom are hard of hearing or deaf. Me not wearing a mask helps.

I am in a customer facing role in a job where people are often upset or confused and need help sorting things out. Being able to show emotion by not wearing a mask helps.

I am mostly behind a perspex screen.

I maintain social distancing at all times... for my safety. If you wear a mask it protects me if you choose to ignore it and step into my "zone".

I am sure there are more reasons, but the "why aren't YOU wearing a mask" customers tend to sound a bit like petulant toddlers, a bit like the "I'm not going in shops if I have to wear a mask" customers.

That is fine - I am sure some places will be losing custom over it for a little while - but out here in the real world, most of our customers comply with the law, most of them just get on with it, no drama, no fuss, and we muddle along as best we can.