Servers at pub not wearing masks - is this ok?

[Catyness]

I've been to 2 pubs now since they've re-opened outside. I was surprised last night that the servers/waiters weren't wearing any type of face covering. They stood around 1m away to take the order then would be right at the table when delivering the drinks.

Is this allowed? Is this safe?

I did feel uncomfortable and won't be rushing back there I'm afraid.

The implications of the variants and the susceptibility of those who are vaccinated is not yet known

Mutations/variants can't develop without a host, whether or not the host feels ill

Every expert advises continuing masking and distancing until more is known

But keep denying

You're the poster who called people who can't wear masks "pathetic weaklings".

If it's outside then I can't see a problem. It's more concerning with hairdressers and beauticians all wearing the plastic visors which is not a face covering and is utterly pointless. Or the staff member putting stock out in Home Bargains yesterday who only pulled his mask up when someone was walking past him and then promptly pulling it down again when they had gone. Might as well not be wearing it all considering how many times he touched his face.

Completely agree. Disgusting.

@boredbuttercup

It’s not so much the aerosol spread that would worry me as droplet spread from unmasked people standing and possibly talking over my food or utensils I was about to use. I’m not sure that being outside make much of a difference to that.

Well if that's what's worrying you then definitely don't go out to eat! Hate to break it to you but kitchen staff don't wear masks at all. All waiting/bar staff pull theirs off the second they go into the kitchen for a bit of respite because wearing a mask for a 12 hour shift on your feet dealing with demanding arseholes is hot and exhausting. Plus staff don't have to wear a mask for the morning opening or closing up before we open/after we close to customers, which is the time we'd be polishing/prepping/setting out utensils and putting plates away. If you're that scared, don't go out. We have enough to deal with already without nitpicking covid police arseholes to add on top.

@boredbuttercup thank you for putting it so succinctly, we have only been back 2 weeks and need another lockdown to get over all the haters!

@Canyouexplainhowthatis Once again - it absolutely is not a legal requirement for hospitality staff to wear masks when serving outdoors. HTH

Everywhere I've been for outside catering the staff have been wearing masks (or a visor in one case) so yes I would probably expect them to.

Although the chances of catching covid outside are vanishingly small (I'd not seen the SAGE statistic but I had seen the parkrun study) so it's only covid theatre. Or as others have said, because they have to go inside and interact with colleagues. But they don't need them to protect customers.

@Thunderpunt Why are you repeating yourself? I didn’t say any more about it being a legal requirement!

Also, just because it’s apparently not a legal requirement doesn’t mean it’s sensible. Luckily in my area staff are wearing masks because they have a brain.

@TheVampiresWife it does say they’re to be worn outside - it was under a section for outdoor service from April 12th. It’s also been stated by the Covid inspectors that come round checking. And I don’t think I said it didn’t have exemptions, did I??

[quote Canyouexplainhowthatis]@Thunderpunt Why are you repeating yourself? I didn’t say any more about it being a legal requirement!

Also, just because it’s apparently not a legal requirement doesn’t mean it’s sensible. Luckily in my area staff are wearing masks because they have a brain.[/quote]
I'm repeating myself because I saw that you had said 'I'm pretty sure it's a legal requirement' along with others. I was pointing out your knowledge of the law is shoddy, and lack of investigation into actual legal requirements lacking. And yer, here's me - a non-mask- wearing waitress with 'no brain' apparently. I would take a look in the mirror if I were you, it's not pleasant to be rude to others who hold different views to your own

[quote Honeyroar]@TheVampiresWife it does say they’re to be worn outside - it was under a section for outdoor service from April 12th. It’s also been stated by the Covid inspectors that come round checking. And I don’t think I said it didn’t have exemptions, did I??[/quote]
@Honeyroar that's interesting that your LA are making it enforceable, I'm surprised they are able to when central government haven't made it mandatory. Are you England?

[quote Honeyroar]@TheVampiresWife it does say they’re to be worn outside - it was under a section for outdoor service from April 12th. It’s also been stated by the Covid inspectors that come round checking. And I don’t think I said it didn’t have exemptions, did I??[/quote]
No, but exemptions may well explain why people aren't wearing them. That, and the fact that they're not required to be worn outside in law. I'm not sure how your LA are enforcing it when it's not law? Where I am (large Northern city) it certainly isn't - as a PP said, perhaps you're not in England?

Btw, nowhere in that photo does it say staff must wear face coverings outside.

Do you work in hospitality then? I’m in northern England too and it is being enforced around here. There was a four page list of things to be done in order to be able to open outdoor hospitality.
But clearly you know more!

@Honeyroar

Do you work in hospitality then? I’m in northern England too and it is being enforced around here. There was a four page list of things to be done in order to be able to open outdoor hospitality. But clearly you know more!

I don't, but DD does, and she's not required to wear a mask while serving outdoors. I've been to a few bars since they reopened. Some staff in some of them were wearing masks, most weren't. Didn't bother me a jot.

@Honeyroar

Do you work in hospitality then? I’m in northern England too and it is being enforced around here. There was a four page list of things to be done in order to be able to open outdoor hospitality. But clearly you know more!

I own and run a restaurant so yes, and we are just outside north London.

@Honeyroar

Do you work in hospitality then? I’m in northern England too and it is being enforced around here. There was a four page list of things to be done in order to be able to open outdoor hospitality. But clearly you know more!

And I don't think I know more, I just know that the legal requirement is only to wear masks indoors, and I'm interested that a LA elsewhere is enforcing something which isn't law.

I'd be happy to see them without masks.

Everywhere I've been for outside catering the staff have been wearing masks (or a visor in one case) so yes I would probably expect them to.

You can 'expect' what you want. It's not law, you have no right to try and impose it on people, you don't get to complain about it. If you don't like it, go somewhere else.

*can you tell I've dealt with all manner of arsehole customers today from the covid police to the covid deniers? What it comes down to is you're choosing to visit somewhere, that somewhere runs a certain way and has certain rules that go with visiting it. If you don't like it, whether it's having to wear a mask when going to the toilet or that the severs aren't wearing plastic gloves so aren't 'covid safe' enough for your sensibilities, go somewhere else.

@boredbuttercup Amen to that!

@Honeyroar

Do you work in hospitality then? I’m in northern England too and it is being enforced around here. There was a four page list of things to be done in order to be able to open outdoor hospitality. But clearly you know more!

Local councils are desperately trying to make themselves relevant (not sure why I'd prefer them to prioritise emptying the bins and keeping the tips and libraries open). They do not make the laws, the government does, so it's government guidance that matters (although the council could retrospectively introduce local licensing by-laws I suppose, but only for pubs and bars, not outdoor cafes).

Anyway if you believe outdoor transmission is a thing, then the punters need to wear masks too, but they don't have to, even when not eating or drinking.

@OutspokenNotThatFunny

I honestly couldn't care. I like seeing people without masks. It feels more normal.

Don't we all. But I'd rather not get passed on a nasty pathogen thanks! So they can mask up if they're serving me anything! Pesky pandemic, hey!

I would much prefer it if they didn't wear masks. Went to a pub for dinner last week and it was very difficult to understand what the serving staff were saying. I'd much rather see smiling faces than masks when out to eat. Totally pointless when outside anyway!

I was made to put a mask on whilst being shown to my outdoors pub table yesterday. Completely unnecessary in my opinion. The staff all had masks on too. Understand the need to put a mask on if you go indoors to use the loo but not even outside.

Yes I would expect them to wear a mask. Not least because of this article discussing pub staff being at higher risk. I thought that was the rules though tbh and would expect them to wear one regardless.

uk.news.yahoo.com/pub-staff-more-likely-covid-151023097.html