Benefit Cosmetics banned NHS staff due to working with covid patients

[MRex]

Oh, changing policy now it hits the news, what a surprise. Vile behaviour.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-56760864

Big mistake Benefit, big, big, huge mistake!

Did they actually ban NHS staff, or did they have a (perfectly reasonable) policy that required customers not to have been in contact with covid in the last ten days?

@OrangeSamphire

Did they actually ban NHS staff, or did they have a (perfectly reasonable) policy that required customers not to have been in contact with covid in the last ten days?

Oh they actually did it, read the email embedded in this tweet, it's quoted in the article but hard to read: mobile.twitter.com/LynnGreigMiller/status/1382398828637253641?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1382398828637253641%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fbusiness-56760864

I wouldn't say this policy is reasonable in its treatment of NHS staff. There is a big difference between someone in a customers household having Covid(and therefore obliged to isolate). To a member of NHS staff whom will likely be vaccinated, wear PPE and all other precautions.
A friends GP surgery did similar due to my friends occupational exposure at the start of Covid. Shameful discrimination.

Well when ppl are happy to equate illness to moral failing by blaming people for catching a virus (whether they are NHS staff or not) this is the inevitable result.
Its almost as if these attitudes have consequences isnt it?!

I don’t see where in the exchange of messages between Benefit and that customer it says that that weren’t accepting NHS staff.

Only that they weren’t accepting customers who have been in contact with covid in the last ten days.

Which seems a reasonable policy to have.

If NHS staff feel targeted then that’s a shame but it doesn’t look like that was the intention.

Well thanks for that pointless contribution @MercyBooth. Good to know where you stand.

@OrangeSamphire

I don’t see where in the exchange of messages between Benefit and that customer it says that that weren’t accepting NHS staff.

Only that they weren’t accepting customers who have been in contact with covid in the last ten days.

Which seems a reasonable policy to have.

If NHS staff feel targeted then that’s a shame but it doesn’t look like that was the intention.

Yes exactly.

It’s been a bad situation for everyone but the beauty industry has been hard hit I can’t see how a policy like that is anti nhs.

Read it 5 times and still can't see where they specifically say no NHS? Looks like the original email is for everyone not just NHS?

Well when i posted about my hair i was told to get a grip and that it didnt matter So which is it.

These are businesses run by women. 79% of women lost their jobs last year compared to 23 % of men.

How do they know? Do their Brow Bars regularly ask where people work? I’d just lie and say somewhere that wasn’t NHS.

@Battenburger @OrangeSamphire

They have admitted discriminating against nhs staff and have now put an apology on sm.

@MRex Unless you are one of the ones who have been constantly on here blaming people for catching a virus and/or saying they must have caught it because they broke the rules then it wasnt aimed at you.

They’ve added ‘were you wearing medical grade PPE at the time?’ now.

I’d have said No to Q2 anyway, on the basis of Medical Grade PPE, if an were a frontline NHS worker.

@MercyBooth

Well when i posted about my hair i was told to get a grip and that it didnt matter So which is it.

?????

They haven’t ‘admitted discrimination’ of NHS staff

They have simply added a clause to their policy that means if you have been in contact with covid, but were wearing medical grade PPE, you can attend your appointment.

Which is either fair or generous depending on your viewpoint.

@MercyBooth

Well when ppl are happy to equate illness to moral failing by blaming people for catching a virus (whether they are NHS staff or not) this is the inevitable result. Its almost as if these attitudes have consequences isnt it?!

Exactly

I don't understand why OP considered this a pointless reply.

@OrangeSamphire The have - I will try and link. NHS staff were refused appointments prior to their 'update' of policy.

@MercyBooth

Well when i posted about my hair i was told to get a grip and that it didnt matter So which is it.

Were you discriminated against when booking your hair appointment? That's not on.

They have not admitted discrimination. They have apologised for any hurt or upset that might have been caused by their policy, which didn’t mention NHS staff at all...

The policy was brought to the company's attention as a complaint that the wording meant NHS staff would be unable to have an appointment; it could have been updated at that point to say "obviously not if working wearing medical grade PPE", but instead the email says "whilst we completely appreciate the position this puts you and your fellow key workers in, this has to be the policy for the time being, and it has to be a blanket policy that is consistent for all Benefit customers". They know NHS staff wear PPE, they understood this would unnecessarily prevent NHS staff from using their services, but tough.

Anyways - they alienated a lot people who won’t buy benefit products in the future.
Doesn’t really matter what they now say.

@MercyBooth

Well when ppl are happy to equate illness to moral failing by blaming people for catching a virus (whether they are NHS staff or not) this is the inevitable result. Its almost as if these attitudes have consequences isnt it?!

I think this is a very pertinent point tbf.

@mrshoho No Im not NHS staff. But i started about a thread about how the Government advised hair salons not to do colours and highlights if they took too long. I posted a thread about how this diktat was my last straw moment re these restrictions. I got a lot of supportive replies but also a lot of get a grip replies and saying how this isnt essential in a pandemic etc. I got my cut and colour done yesterday and am already feeling better about myself and eating better. So its bloody essential to me. Its not asking for the moon on a stick really. My hairdresser is fab and would NEVER discriminate against anyone. But if something is non essential in a pandemic it should be non essential for everyone not just non essential for the general public but essential for celebs politicians and NHS workers. Unless rules apply to everyone it creates division.