No mask No entry question?

[OneofPansPeople]

Can a hairdresser legally refuse to serve non mask wearers ?

Children are not legally required to wear masks - how does this work?

@WombatChocolate

Frequentflier, that sounds a good solution. It sounds well thought through by you and considerate of others and also very practical.

I guess many mask expemptees would be attending solo though so it wouldn’t work for them.

What would mask exemption people think about being asked to attend either a separate session where it will be just them, or to attend a session which is all non-mask wearers?

I'm not sure I would be happy to be treated as if I'm a leper.

However, I'll be happy to show that I'm vaccinated and do a lateral flow test on the morning of the appointment. I test twice a week anyway, simply to give anyone who comes in contact with me that extra piece of mind. I'm probably better at social distancing than 99% of people, simply because I hate people getting in my personal space.
My hair desperately needs a trim, but tbh I'm holding off until masks are no longer the norm and have learnt creative ways to plait it and keep it off my face.

@Whatever9999 I don't believe I am treating you as a leper. I am not inconveniencing anyone- just booking the first appointment of the day- and protecting a vulnerable DH who has only had his first vaccine. I also move away from unmasked people in supermarkets and buses. If they are hurt by that, I am afraid they have to live with it. I can't really tell who has been vaccinated and who has had a LTF, so this is my way of protecting myself.

Ok, I just read that back and I see you are talking about the seperate sessions for non mask wearers, not to me. Sorry! Pandemic brain. Please ignore my post.

It would have been helpful if the government had made the decision for the hair salons/hairdressers/barbers. Such as a Covid test being required as a reasonable adjustment.

I expect if that was the case, those who really cannot wear a face covering for the period of an appointment would be few and far between.

@peak2021

It would have been helpful if the government had made the decision for the hair salons/hairdressers/barbers. Such as a Covid test being required as a reasonable adjustment.

I expect if that was the case, those who really cannot wear a face covering for the period of an appointment would be few and far between.

That would have been a good decision, children and those exempt could be tested first with lfts and then everyone else where’s masks. Not fail safe but certainly better for staff and other customers. People may baulk at paying for the test though.

There are some people who require haircuts who cannot take a test without either being forcibly restrained or put asleep. Eg: people with severe learning difficulties, severe autism...Where would these fit? They still need hairdressing services.

The equality act exists to protect from discrimination. It would be better to not be able to self ID as exempt and allow the people who are mask exempt to be fully able to participate in society. As you've said there would be few and far between.

It’s a dilemma but I notice people who cannot wear a mask often don’t acknowledge the fact that they may be a conflict of disability needs. Nobody’s needs trump anyone else’s.
A person who cannot wear a mask does not have a right to be in a public place any more or less than a person who is immune compromised.

@bookworm1632 if the mask refuser tries to take legal action claiming discrimination they would need to establish that they were disabled though.

@Haenow

It’s a dilemma but I notice people who cannot wear a mask often don’t acknowledge the fact that they may be a conflict of disability needs. Nobody’s needs trump anyone else’s. A person who cannot wear a mask does not have a right to be in a public place any more or less than a person who is immune compromised.

That might make sense if 1) everyone was infected 2) masks actually did anything

Neither is true.

@Haenow the immune compromised person could wear a p95 mask which would offer them a great deal more protection. I genuinely can't think of a way to mitigate for someone who really can't wear a mask.

I fully agree a person who wears a mask has no more or less a right to go somewhere than someone who can't.

@rizzo23 - that's not quite the point I was making but still. In my opinion, in an unprecedented pandemic it is worth trying everything. I also think that any barrier, however flimsy will block some transmission. That's not difficult to comprehend.

The only non mask wearers I know are people who believe covid doesn’t exist but tell every doorman they are medically exempt, so that won’t stand up in court.

Hairdressers have a right to refuse service to anyone they want like supermarkets? They are private places not public services?

Mobile hairdressers are still available for people more comfortable not being places with other people not wear masks or for those who don’t want to wear a mask to sit in a shop for 3 hours.

There is no right answer.

@confuseddotcom090

Masks give a small level of protection. It’s not fool proof but thanks for acknowledging the concern.

[quote AgntOso]@Haenow the immune compromised person could wear a p95 mask which would offer them a great deal more protection. I genuinely can't think of a way to mitigate for someone who really can't wear a mask.

I fully agree a person who wears a mask has no more or less a right to go somewhere than someone who can't.[/quote]
My point was more about recognising that yes, mask exempt people may have disabilities but so do some vulnerable people. FWIW, I don’t expect a mask exempt person to put themselves through distress for my benefit. When I go anywhere, I do so with the knowledge I may expose myself to various germs (not just covid) and that I may encounter a mask exempt people. I make a choice. I just find these threads can be quite one dimensional and don’t really recognise other peoples needs too.

@Cornettoninja

Honestly to god, it scares me to what this world is coming to

It’s scares you that someone may wish to follow precautionary measures at work during a pandemic? Regardless of how you feel the worker in this situation has as much right to have their opinion respected.

Ultimately a hairdresser doesn’t have the choice to distance to offer their service so it’s up to them. If that means looking around to find a hairdresser happy to see you without you wearing a mask then that’s that really. Hairdressers aren’t obliged to put themselves at risk for others.

Theres precautionary measures then theres this.

We wear seatbelts to prevent serious injury in car accidents. If we were to wear helmets it would be a utterly ridiculous measure.

The hairdresser is not qualified to challenge any people who are not wearing masks, they are not doctors. They can refuse any one as it's their business yes but it's bad business and ethically wrong. The person is medically exempt and it's not a for a hairdresser or other customers to determine if they are or not.

Put themselves at risk? From what? is the hair dresser over 65? Has the hairdresser got underlying health problems? If the answers are yes, then the hairdresser should stay at home in their bubble.

Cornetto, We have risks in everyday life, from your posts it's like we must stop life to preserve every life and eliminate every single risk and it is impossible.

@haenow, mask exemption is there to allow disabled people who can't wear masks the same access as someone who can in order for there to be no discrimination. Someone who is I c would need to decide whether to risk coming into contact with people with germs before the pandemic, this hasn't changed for them. The mask exemption isn't discriminatory against this group.

Not allowing a disabled person access to goods and services because of something associated with their disability is discriminatory. Ic (I do sympathise) don't need to be recognised in this as they are not at risk of discrimination, they still have the choice/ freedom to access what is offered to everyone else. Saying you have to wear a mask removes the same freedom from those who can't wear a mask. This is the difference.

I’ve worked with covid and haven’t caught it, most of the time covid Ppe is the surgical masks plenty of people have been wearing. People coughing in my face etc. It definitely offers some protection. Wearing it under your nose, your chin less so.....

Don't know about you superhuman types , but I cough, sneeze and spit accidentally at times. As far as I know I don't have covid but I wear a 3 layer mask indoors to catch droplets.
Masks DO do something, stop lying because it suits you. Those talking about ghettos or camps presumably did not notice international holocaust memorial Day yesterday and are just disgusting.

It's a haircut. You don't need it. Mask or fuck off home and get someone to cut your fringe with scissors so you can see out. That's what I'm doing because I suspect hair salons are going to be full of the entitled rather than those who genuinely can't wear a mask. I feel sorry for hairdressers.

Cornetto, We have risks in everyday life, from your posts it's like we must stop life to preserve every life and eliminate every single risk and it is impossible

@MrsHastingslikethebattle hyperbole much? Do you really think you have to exaggerate to emphasise your point?

It doesn’t matter what your personal opinion of the circumstances are, the official guidance is masks are recommended and someone in their workplace should be able to feel backed up by that.

Hairdressers and other beauty therapy workers are in a unique position of providing a service that can only be done in very close proximity to another person that isn’t essential and doesn’t allow for any other strategies like distancing or taking place outside. Anyone wanting to follow government guidance in those environments should be able to without being bullied and abused into a situation they don’t wish to be in under the banner of ‘discrimination’. They make their own financial decisions I’m sure.

As it goes I’m sure there are plenty of hairdressers who for their own reasons would be happy to accommodate people who can’t wear masks and these are likely to stop being recommended at some point so it’s a time limited issue. I’m not sure it’s a hill worthy of dying on at the moment, particularly as it reveals you to be somewhat contradictory on caring about ‘rights’.

Not hairdressers but apparently German Rail has said they will not allow mask-refusers to travel. I don't know if there is an exemption for disability but I imagine you need proof, and can't just self-declare like you can here.

The hairdresser is not qualified to challenge any people who are not wearing masks, they are not doctors. They can refuse any one as it's their business yes but it's bad business and ethically wrong. The person is medically exempt and it's not a for a hairdresser or other customers to determine if they are or not.

For some reason I find this horrible. You're not qualified to tell people they aren't exempt so tough luck face the risk thats plastered everywhere?

My hairdresser phoned ME last Tuesday not the other way round. Because in RL world not MN world they have lost a lot of money.
I will be wearing a mask and my hairdresser has had her vaccine. Shes in her late fifties.

@murbblurb My fantasy during lockdowns has been to shave off all my hair, there is enough to fill several jiffy bags. And send them out in the post with a note saying "You have had everything else so you might as well have this" But only a fantasy..............

@Haenow

It’s a dilemma but I notice people who cannot wear a mask often don’t acknowledge the fact that they may be a conflict of disability needs. Nobody’s needs trump anyone else’s. A person who cannot wear a mask does not have a right to be in a public place any more or less than a person who is immune compromised.

Surely by now an immune compromised person will have had at least their first jab? So in theory, they could catch covid (although infection rates are currently incredibly low and over 60% of adults are vaccinated - and increasingly vaccination is proving to hinder spread), but they're unlikely to become very ill or need hospital treatment.

In the not too distant future mask wearing will no longer be mandatory. Vulnerable people will be fully vaccinated and will have boosters as needed. We're getting to the point where our handle on covid is as good as it's going to be, for the foreseeable future at least. People are going to have to get used to the fact that masks won't be a thing at all, exempt or otherwise, and calculate their risk accordingly.

@murbblurb

Don't know about you superhuman types , but I cough, sneeze and spit accidentally at times. As far as I know I don't have covid but I wear a 3 layer mask indoors to catch droplets. Masks DO do something, stop lying because it suits you. Those talking about ghettos or camps presumably did not notice international holocaust memorial Day yesterday and are just disgusting.

It's a haircut. You don't need it. Mask or fuck off home and get someone to cut your fringe with scissors so you can see out. That's what I'm doing because I suspect hair salons are going to be full of the entitled rather than those who genuinely can't wear a mask. I feel sorry for hairdressers.

Mask or fuck off home

No, you stay at home, if you're so worried.

Honestly.