Supermarket refuses service without mask

[torn2020]

The supermarket in my small town has taken the decision to refuse entry to anyone without a mask, even if they're exempt/carrying a card/wearing a lanyard etc. Apparently the exemption cards "were being abused".

Judging from comments on the local Facebook group, there's overwhelming support for this.

I'm horrified/disgusted at the overt discrimination and lack of empathy. Would say I'll boycott but actually have no choice since I'm unable to wear a mask (due to PTSD from being choked and strangled as a child, for those who like to jump in and say I should just put up with it for a 5 min shop). Apparently mask exempt people "don't have the right to just go wherever they want".

AIBU at despairing at humanity just a little bit more today?

I think it is disgraceful behaviour on behalf of the business. And for those posters who think people should have to wear lanyards etc - WHY? Why should anyone be bullied, forced or compelled to provide private information, or medical information, to random strangers. I despair too OP and I have been so disappointed with the herd behaviour of those who think that masks solve everything. How about we all SD a bit more instead and leave off pointing the finger and bullying others?

And WTF is all this about making people carry valid exemption cards? Who decides who is exempt or not? Does someone's PTSD trump someone with asthma? I'm stepping away from these threads now

We are told the masks do not protect us but protect others. I tend to listen to the experts. The masks most of the population are wearing are not PPE. Masks are tested and manufacturers, the Govt etc do actually know what size the virus particles are and what size of particles can pass through different masks.

If a mask protects you from infecting others then surely it protects you the other way.

There is no set standard for masks at all, Doris in her house is making them.

And no it still is none of your business.

Can anyone else do the shopping for you

They shouldn't need to.

I agree that, as customers are expected to wear masks, staff should also have to

What about the staff who are exempt?

It's not just shops that masks are mandatory it's everywhere

Exactly. We still need to go to work, possibly using public transport to get there, for example. If we're not allowed to go anywhere where masks are mandatory, we'll have to give up work for a start. Which clearly we cannot do.

We are told to wear masks as a way of limiting the spread of the virus, not for individual protection

Exactly.

@IwishIwasyoda

I think it is disgraceful behaviour on behalf of the business. And for those posters who think people should have to wear lanyards etc - WHY? Why should anyone be bullied, forced or compelled to provide private information, or medical information, to random strangers. I despair too OP and I have been so disappointed with the herd behaviour of those who think that masks solve everything. How about we all SD a bit more instead and leave off pointing the finger and bullying others?

Too many people were taking the piss, sadly.

staff are in work all day.....as a customer we wear them for less than an hour a couple of times a week
What about the nhs staff have to wear them all the time .
I work in a office I have to wear one walking about so it's more than a hour a couple of times a week.
It's not the point anyway the point is those that are so pro mask they think anyone who can't wear a mask shouldn't go anywhere then what about staff that don't wear masks aren't they at risk ? Aren't they putting others at risk?
The answer is no more or no less than someone who is exempt but actually probably more because they are in the shop for 8 hours a day 5 x a week so how many people do they see ? .
I'm not saying they shouldn't the government said they don't have too the same as exempt people don't have too either so I respect that and others should too .

@islockdownoveryet Really everyone should be wearing a mask in public indoors, unless they're sitting down to eat or drink (if within social distance guidelines).

@annabel85
I said everywhere you have to wear a mask I'm not saying they should .
Some people are saying that if you can't wear a mask then you shouldn't go to the shops but it's not just shops is it.

What are you saying really too ?

@islockdownoveryet The key is finding a way to make sure people don't take the piss. This supermarket (and i'm sure many others) have decided too many people are putting their staff at risk by blagging and they have no means of stopping it, so have had to take this measure.

We can't blame companies for protecting its staff.

What are you saying really too ?

Just in a general sense. If only the small minority who genuinely can't wear a mask didn't then it wouldn't be a problem because it's a small number. It's all the anarchists who have decided 'well i'm not going to wear a mask either'. That's been the problem.

As I say, we can't blame companies for protecting its staff and customers against blatant piss takers who in their cases just can't be bothered to wear one.

But you've not answered my question if staff are so at risk why don't they all wear masks ?
Why is the person who's exempt not allowed in a shop for minutes but a staff member can be in the shop for 8 hours without . ?
Who's at risk ?
And yes I agree of course there are some that can but don't but it's simple discrimination to refuse anyone who's not wearing a mask .

But you've not answered my question if staff are so at risk why don't they all wear masks ?

I answered it in the other post. I think EVERYONE should wear a mask indoors in public. Only exceptions being the genuinely clinically exempt and people sitting down to eat or drink while adhering to social distancing.

The problem is people just take the piss and use the get out of 'i'm exempt' putting everyone at risk.

I agree that, as customers are expected to wear masks, staff should also have to

I don't. Customers are in the shop for 10 minutes, staff for possibly 8 hours. Huge difference.

Who decides who is exempt or not?
GP?

Does someone's PTSD trump someone with asthma?
Of course not. Both would be exempt.

No one should have to prove anything to anyone? Firstly, for Ebola, people had to have their temperatures taken at airports. Secondly, we have to prove we have a driving licence to drive. Thirdly we have to have a passport in order to fly abroad. The expectation of privacy is not absolute.

It is not unreasonable to ask for a proof of exemption in order not to wear a mask indoors. Being indoors in public is rarely essential except for accessing medical attention. However, until there is a clear, accessible way to get an exemption certificate, it is not really fair to demand it.

In terms of mask wearing hours - you could always have book-online slots and also limits of the number of non-mask-wearing people in the supermarket at once. That way - there is a high enough incentive for those for whom mask wearing is just uncomfortable to wear one (also they should sell masks at the entrance). The balance between mask-wearing and non-mask wearing could always alter based on demand. I think by doing this (like charging for plastic bags), you might be able to increase overall compliance.

I generally think that staff have less of a choice in their exposure to risk than customers. Therefore employers have a greater responsibility to their employees.

But that's the point @annabel85 they don't . It can be your opinion that people wear a mask to bed if you want and it can be my opinion that we don't wear masks at all . I'm not bothered that you think everyone should wear a mask at all times , that's your opinion I'm not arguing with you for that .
Retail staff don't have to wear masks but to enforce a rule that EVERYONE wears one or no entry is wrong , hypocritical and discrimination.
The government has said retail staff and exempt don't need to wear and that's fine but it's not fine for shop staff to say no mask no entry but not wear one themselves.
There are exemptions !!

I’m not saying this Policy is correct but I will point out that MANY situations are just as shit for other people because of ‘Covid’.

Ofc you should have freedom to shop, but equally a woman having a miscarriage/giving birth should be allowed a partner three for support. Those employed in the hospitality sector shouldn’t be facing mass job insecurity, women shouldn’t have been disproportionately discriminated against because of ‘Covid’ childcare issues. I shouldn’t be having to function like a single parent because DH (hospital Dr) has had his rota changed because ‘Covid’ and is literally never here anymore!

It’s all a giant ball of ‘...because of Covid’ excuses and discrimination.

shop staff dont have a choice, they have to be in work. if staff struggle with the masks but aren't exempt what do they do? they could make themselves exempt and claim 'anxiety'....

Would people who can't wear masks be able to wear the clear face shields instead?

nancybotwinbloom

Would people who can't wear masks be able to wear the clear face shields instead?

Have seen quite a lot about, mostly elderly wearers and young mums/dads (which I understand, masks must look a bit alarming to their toddlers).

They do need to be redesigned though. They’re pretty ineffective without side panels.

People that are exempt don't have a choice either .
So you think that they shouldn't ever go anywhere?
People keep saying that it's to protect shop staff etc they don't have a choice etc .
So what about the people that are exempt do they not matter? Just because some people take the piss they can't go to the shops or anywhere because they are putting others at risk as you say .
But the shop staff are not putting others at risk because they have no choice ! Such a contradiction.
People are exempt , shop staff aren't any more important than exempt customers , there is still a possibility of catching or passing on Covid and vice versa but they are still exempt as per the government rules .

“Actually a 'mask exempt' hour might be a good solution”

I wouldn’t work that shift.

Pressed too soon. Too risky, vulnerable loved ones. Not sure where employment law would be in that?

Haven't read the thread, doubtless it's full of the usual shite.

YANBU, this is unlawful disability discrimination. If you feel up to it you could write a letter of complaint, copying in head office if it's a chain and copying in your MP, perhaps also some disability rights orgs - I believe there are already some class actions going through on disabled people's access to food during this pandemic.

People really need to stop being so totally fixated on face coverings as if they are the One True Thing that will save us. They won't. They're just a useful additional tool that can potentially help reduce transmission if enough people wear one, wear an effective one, wear it properly, in indoor situations, where social distancing is not possible, in areas of high community transmission. That's all.

Meanwhile loads of people can't even access a test, contact tracing is failing badly and there is still no support for people who need to isolate because they have the virus or because they're a contact.

People really need to sort their priorities out.

I'm not generally a judgmental sort but I am starting to judge very harshly those who are directing all their ire at people who cannot (or even those who will not) wear a face covering, while letting the government off the hook for these very basic failings.