Requiring the exempt to identify themselves?

[MolyHolyGuacamole]

Attached is a photo from the Science Museum on their mask policy. If you are exempt from wearing, you can 'if you would like', be given a wristband. It's worded as a choice, but I looked into this after my friend who is exempt went with her kids, was asked if she was wearing a mask and when she told them she was exempt she was told to go to x desk over there and get a wristband. It wasn't presented as a choice.

Am I the only one who thinks that it's wrong to make exempt people identify themselves as 'other'? Is this legally enforceable?'

I was on the DLR the other day and heard an announcement that stated 'everyone is required to wear a mask, unless you can show that you are exempt'. Again, have I missed something? You do not have to prove your exemption, what are these companies playing at?

Gov.Uk specifically states that you do NOT have to identify yourself as exempt, nor give your reasons for being so. You may wear i.e. a badge if you so wish.

These companies are in the wrong; but probably counting on nudge/shaming tactics to get as many of their users masked as they can.

Yes it's about shaming people into action. It's morally reprehensible to me.

I do not agree with marking out people as "different". Especially against their will.

Surely they are already “othering” themselves by not wearing a mask? The wristband is an opportunity to show it is for medical reasons rather than selfish ones

I would have thought that not wearing a mask would be the thing that would stand out tbh.

The wristband seems pointless.

That's actually pretty mild. It's still based on self certification. EasyJet won't let you on board unless you have a mask or a doctor's letter (which many doctors surgeries won't give as the say there is no legal need/no clearly established criteria).

I think asking people to wear a wrist band seems far more proportionate.

Er you do realise that while legally we haven't had to wear anything to show we're exempt, practically we have for the whole time that masks were legally compulsory, don't you?

Even with lanyards we've had to deal.with the dirty looks, snide comments and in some cases actual violence. Plus we've been told that we're not trying hard enough and if we only tried a little bit harder we'd be able to wear them and if we really can't then we should.stay at home and not go to anywhere masks are mandatory.

I still carry my lanyard with me, I wouldnt be able to wear.a wristband, I'd be ripping it off within seconds. I have autism with sensory processing disorder, I can just about cope.with the lanyard now but the wristbands I had to wear for races at the end of last year ended up being put round my bag instead of my wrist.

At my 2nd vaccination, there were signs all over the centre with NHS branding saying you must wear a mask unless you have written evidence you were exempt, totally out of line with the government advice. The world seems to be openly turning against anyone with a disability and I do not like where this is heading.
Marking people out as different is a very slippery slope.

@PiddleOfPuppies

At my 2nd vaccination, there were signs all over the centre with NHS branding saying you must wear a mask unless you have written evidence you were exempt, totally out of line with the government advice. The world seems to be openly turning against anyone with a disability and I do not like where this is heading. Marking people out as different is a very slippery slope.

No. What's happening is that a lot of people are appropriating the problems faced by the disabled as a get out clause. Unless the UK (specifically England) has a level of disability exponentially higher than almost every country in the western world, (which has not hitherto been studied) many many of those "exempt" just CBA. Those are the people we should be agree at. Not those who are genuinely exempt.

@Cancellingadvice

Surely they are already “othering” themselves by not wearing a mask? The wristband is an opportunity to show it is for medical reasons rather than selfish ones

But as no proof is needed, anyone could get the wristband anyway, even if it is for 'selfish reasons'. So wrist band serves no purpose other than an extra marker to identify medical issues. Which as other posters have shared, may be to shame people.

I find it weird that people are still wanting to visit places like the science museum if you have to wear a mask still. I absolutely love museums/galleries etc but would struggle to gain any enjoyment from the day if I was masked up for that long.

If everyone was asked to wear a mask and you aren't wearing one, then it's pretty obvious that you are exempt and stand out anyway?? So I don't see why wearing a wristband makes it stand you out even more. It just makes it easier for exempt person, by not being questioned?

@EmmyLake

I find it weird that people are still wanting to visit places like the science museum if you have to wear a mask still. I absolutely love museums/galleries etc but would struggle to gain any enjoyment from the day if I was masked up for that long.

I find your attitude even weirder - it's really not that big a deal!

I'm sure you will come back to tell me all the drip feed reasons why it's harder for you to wear a mask than anyone else. But I find it weird that you don't want to just get out and live your life. Fortunately, according the ONS figures, most people are just getting on with it.

@Geamhradh

No.
What's happening is that a lot of people are appropriating the problems faced by the disabled as a get out clause.
Unless the UK (specifically England) has a level of disability exponentially higher than almost every country in the western world, (which has not hitherto been studied) many many of those "exempt" just CBA.
Those are the people we should be agree at. Not those who are genuinely exempt.

👏👏👏

I thought mask wearing was now optional. The exemption thing was ridiculous from the start. Anybody could print a card from the internet and buy a lanyard. Most other countries didn't allow exemptions.

No.
What's happening is that a lot of people are appropriating the problems faced by the disabled as a get out clause.
Unless the UK (specifically England) has a level of disability exponentially higher than almost every country in the western world, (which has not hitherto been studied) many many of those "exempt" just CBA.
Those are the people we should be agree at. Not those who are genuinely exempt

100%

@illuyankas

If everyone was asked to wear a mask and you aren't wearing one, then it's pretty obvious that you are exempt and stand out anyway?? So I don't see why wearing a wristband makes it stand you out even more. It just makes it easier for exempt person, by not being questioned?

Well yes, but, I've seen several people wear masks to get in to a shop, or on a bus and then remove when in inside - wearing the wrist band indicates to other staff around that you're exempt and you don't get approached 87 times asking you to put your mask on, because the place you're visiting has a policy of people wearing masks unless they're exempt, and you can show you're exempt from the wrist band meaning you get left alone to do whatever it is you're there to do. There's been plenty of comments where people have complained about being approached multiple times in one setting, having said they were exempt on entry, a wrist band or badge would negate against that. These places are going on a mixture of government guidance and customer demand, if more customers feel that wearing a mask is a safer option and have said they won't visit places that don't ask for it, then that's what they'll do, to attract more visitors.

What's happening is that a lot of people are appropriating the problems faced by the disabled as a get out clause.
Unless the UK (specifically England) has a level of disability exponentially higher than almost every country in the western world, (which has not hitherto been studied) many many of those "exempt" just CBA.
Those are the people we should be agree at. Not those who are genuinely exempt.

Also agree with this, the whole exemption thing was and is wide open to being abused and it has been, and that's resulted in people who are genuinely exempt having their exemptions doubted and questioned. It's the people that have abused it that are to blame.

So on flights are exemptions allowed or is it at the discretion of the airline.

@Iquitit I agree too, but if people are going to abuse it, aren't they going to abuse a wristband system as well? You just have to say you're exempt and you're directed to a place to get a wristband, you don't have to prove that you are.

Which is why it seems unnecessary

@Viviennemary

So on flights are exemptions allowed or is it at the discretion of the airline.

I think as someone typed earlier about EasyJet, an exemption is allowed with a written letter. I'm not sure how the law works when it involves international travel, but for businesses running in the UK, the law states that proof isn't required to prove exemption.

[quote MolyHolyGuacamole]@Iquitit I agree too, but if people are going to abuse it, aren't they going to abuse a wristband system as well? You just have to say you're exempt and you're directed to a place to get a wristband, you don't have to prove that you are.

Which is why it seems unnecessary [/quote]
Psychological barriers are very effective for things like rule breaking. Someone is less likely to brazenly request a wristband if they don’t actually need it and more likely to comply with a request to wear a mask. It cuts down on the amount of confrontation staff face at the very least.

I live in EU and am amazed at how many people in U.K. are apparently exempt. Where I live masks are (still) compulsory in indoor and busy settings. No mask, no entry. I am sure there is (very) small proportion of people that this negatively impacts, but most people just seem to get on with it.

She could carry it in her pocket and show it to any staff she comes across.

[quote MolyHolyGuacamole]@Iquitit I agree too, but if people are going to abuse it, aren't they going to abuse a wristband system as well? You just have to say you're exempt and you're directed to a place to get a wristband, you don't have to prove that you are.

Which is why it seems unnecessary [/quote]
Yes, I get your point, but a big thing from those exempt has been being asked multiple times is intrusive and annoying, wearing a wrist band or a badge would mitigate against that - at least for the staff because they can see, without approaching and asking, that the person is exempt, it may also work for those who are a bit overzealous (members of the public) to see they have a wrist band or badge and stop them approaching too - though not all (because of the way exemptions work and how easily it can be abused) honestly this seems to me to be a way of lessening the impact of the way the system has been abused on those who are genuinely exempt, and there aren't many options for that for people providing a service like a museum or shop because of the way the system is set up for exemptions - but we've been told it's a problem.
As a pp said, there's less chance of someone going that extra bit of queuing up and requesting a wrist band if they're just trying to make a point, obviously it's still possible and absolutely could happen, but less likely than just walking in and saying "I'm exempt".
It helps people who are genuinely exempt just get on with their day and reduces the amount of confrontation the staff need to have with people not wearing masks.

Of course, no one has to do it, but might it not make life a little easier for those who are exempt by not being constantly challenged?

I agree with Limoncello. It's this lax approach in the UK that is a problem.

I don't see why you shouldn't have to show something TBH, but the problem is that so many have appropriated this because they can't be arsed or don't feel like wearing a mask. Also as previous comments, you are already 'othering' yourself by not wearing one, so what's the difference?