AIBU to refuse to wear a face shield at work?

[EFLabroad]

I'll try and keep this short, but basically I live and work abroad. I teach English to kids aged 1-12. With covid, we've had a lot of changes at work including having to wear face masks, taking our temperatures, social distancing and extra cleaning of the classroom and teaching materials.

Of course this is important, so I've been doing my best, but recently work have decided that we have to wear face shields AND face masks while teaching. No reason was giving for this change and here, like the UK, government advise is face masks only.

I'm really struggling with the face shield on top of the mask. I get really bad headaches after work, can't concentrate well, and it's hard to see as the mask keeps getting fogged up. There have been a lot of complaints to work about this new policy, so they have said we can remove the face shields if we get headaches or dizziness, but the policy stays in place.

Am I an arsehole to just say no to the face shields as they give me headaches? My mum says just suck it up and wear them, but I really do dread going to work these days and I've been job-hunting, but haven't found anything yet. Surely there is a limit to what policies a workplace can implement.

Any thoughts, advice really appreciated.

I wouldn't wear it. Tell them that you find it impossible to teach and it is affecting your health. If you go off sick they will suffer so they should let you go without. It's enough to wear a mask. How on earth do you teach a language with a mask on?

Could you wear goggles or glasses instead? The purpose of the face shields is just for eye protection. I agree its hard to wear a mask and visor all day, they steam up and make my voice all muffled.

Thanks! At first I struggled with the mask, but I'm used it now. I suppose I may get used to the face shield too, but I feel really disorientated in it and with the kids running around at my feet it's hard. I do wear glasses, but I have to take them off to wear the face shield, which is making things harder. It's really exhausting singing head, shoulders, knees and toes with the shield on and all fogged up. I'm hoping if enough teachers say no, they may U-turn on this, but I don't want my coworkers thinking I'm an arsehole even though they all hate the face shields too. I' thinking of just repeating that I have a headache ad nauseum, even if it's not actually true.

Goggles?

Face shields do not work - there’s a fair amount of evidence about them online. I’d find some reputable sources and print them out.

Face shields dont work. Scotland said around 2 months ago if you wore a visor you still needed a mask.

Face shields do bloody work but not in isolation. You can try different bands round the back to see what leaves you most comfortable. You can also get anti dog wipes/spray.

For those saying shields don't work. No they don't, on their own. Face masks protect the nose and mouth and a shield protects the eyes.

The op has said that they are being asked to wear both, like hairdressers are supposed to.

The OP is wearing a mask and a visor. The mask is about protecting others, the visor is about protecting ourselves. If the visor is not tolerable, ask if you can wear goggles instead. You can get ones that fit over your glasses, no PPE should require you to remove your glasses.

I feel your headaches op -I wear both and it’s horrid
I don’t have a choice unfortunately so it’s a case of suck it up
However I can’t see how it would be an advantage in teaching. A visor is a splash guard so unless you’re right up close to your students what use is it ? I think I’d be asking for a meeting / discussion with a manager to ask if there’s an acceptable alternative they and you would be happy with

Maybe it's too tight, can you experiment with different ways of fixing it on?

Thank you all so much. I feel a lot better for reading your replies. I will give HQ a call and ask about some alternatives, such as goggles, and see what they say. Hopefully, they can be flexible about this. I do understand they want us to be safe and this situation is hard on us all.