Masks in offices

[Flossie44]

Do you think this will become a thing anytime soon?

Depends on your employer (whose duty of care is to reduce possibility of transmission), how close you need to be to other employees and the ventilation. Also if anyone is vulnerable/exceptionally vulnerable (which you might not be told).

Or it might be that certain areas, which are more confined, such as loos, require it; even if airy large spaces don't

Mine has said we can if we want to. I'm.not planning on doing so.

I will have to wear a mask at all times in my office space as it is also student social space. I am not looking forward to it, but will push on through.

I bloody hope not! I have to wear one when I'm away from my desk and that's bad enough. I have no intention of wearing one when sitting at my desk!

What about internal meetings?

We're doing all meetings from our desks using Teams

I've been wearing one since February all day, everyday in the NHS. I got oral thrush my mouth was always so dry.

@madcatladyforever

I've been wearing one since February all day, everyday in the NHS. I got oral thrush my mouth was always so dry.

Not allowed to. (Teacher).

I will when I go back. And we're only doing skeleton staff in a large office.

My office has said nothing either way. They still only have a very small number of people back though. Not sure if they'll change their stance as more people go back.

I hope so. I'm based in an office full of smokers coughing constantly, sharing phones and a manager with an unintentially shouty voice who is always standing over our desks chatting. Everyone seems to think the hand gels will provide protection from the airbourne element of the virus.
Comical to think I was advised by the government to shield for months, only to wheel myself back into this environment.

I'm a teacher - I can wear one if I choose but I can't imagine it's going to be conducive to good teaching.

I have so many aggravations about trying to work right now, this will be last straw if they bring it in as compulsory thing.

@PutneyHill

I hope so. I'm based in an office full of smokers coughing constantly, sharing phones and a manager with an unintentially shouty voice who is always standing over our desks chatting. Everyone seems to think the hand gels will provide protection from the airbourne element of the virus. Comical to think I was advised by the government to shield for months, only to wheel myself back into this environment.

Fine, you push for masks in your office but please don't start shouting for them to be mandatory in all office when they aren't necessary.

Surely if they do bring this in as a recommendation, it'll only be where social distancing of 2metres + cannot be adhered to. I can do that in my office thankfully.

Not necessary if you can maintain a 2m distance at all times.

In our office we have screens up, one way systems, reduced numbers, risk assessments to sign.......but we can each stay sufficiently far away from others to not need a mask. They are supplied if we wish to use them, however.

I can imagine it might be different in busier office settings, or if members of the public are involved.

Posting my experience is hardly shouting and the inevitable second wave this winter will be the judge of the 'mask debates' not your hot take.

In reply to the Sparkly Pussy.

We have had to for the past 3 weeks.

Apologies @PutneyHill, that wasn't meant to sound so aggressive.

I'm worried this idiot government will make masks mandatory in all offices when it's really not necessary. I appreciate it might be necessary in some but for example we have a large open plan office and there's no current plans for us to all be in at the same time. We're currently in teams of 5, increasing to 9 in September so we can social distance all the time.

Our office is reopening Sept and have said you have to wear a mask while walking around but not at your desk.

Has come in at my work, even though we can also nearly always manage 2m.

I am going back and we have to wear them whilst walking around the office and going to the toilets not looking forward to it at all

@Ellsbells12

I am going back and we have to wear them whilst walking around the office and going to the toilets not looking forward to it at all

I'm lucky that I don't actually have to leave my desk that often. I'm taking a bottle of water with me and anything else I want to eat/drink, including my own cutlery, so I don't have to go in the kitchen and I'm mainly leaving my desk to go to the toilets

I work in a uni. We've been told that if we come onto campus we have to wear a mask and visor at all times. We are giving them out to students in a welcome pack and staff obviously will get them too. However we've also been told that most of us should continue to work from home until Jan 2021 at the earliest and I'm not sure I will be going back until then anyway.