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Original poster

Those working in offices - are you wearing a mask?

45 replies

changingstages · 30/08/2021 00:52

I'm going back to the office this week and had assumed we'd be wearing masks but we've been told we can do what we like. I work in an office with around 60 people, all open plan. Some have been back for a little while and apparently some of them wear masks to move around the office but not otherwise. There's also a little core of Covid deniers who have never worn masks and are definitely not jabbed. They don't believe in Covid at all (well, four of them don't). I've got a long commute so am aware I can't avoid unvaxxed/unmasked people but am a wee bit worried about these particular guys.
Anyway: ventilation in my part of the office is not too bad but am not quite sure what to do and am curious about what others in offices specifically are doing.

OP posts:
Almostwelsh · 30/08/2021 01:02

No and never have done. Working in the office throughout the lockdowns. We enforce 2 metre distancing and one way systems and continue to do so and we haven't seen any transmission at work.

idontlikealdi · 30/08/2021 01:09

Yes we have to 'in transit'. At desks no masks required. Tbh it seems daft to have to wear a mask to walk around the office when we are all commuting in on trains with no masks required apart from the tube.

bluetongue · 30/08/2021 04:18

We’re meant to wear them in common areas and lifts but I don’t.

I’m fully vaccinated but not convinced on the effectiveness of masks and think some people have become a bit obsessed with them t9 be honest.

BunsyGirl · 30/08/2021 05:39

No. I have been in the office on and off for the past year. No one wears a mask.

KatherineJaneway · 30/08/2021 05:41

We do when moving round the building but we can remove it once sat at our desks.

Brokenrecord3006 · 30/08/2021 07:09

No masks at all in my office. We could if we wanted to but no-one is fussed.

user1487194234 · 30/08/2021 07:39

No
Have worked right through and have never worn masks

mynameiscalypso · 30/08/2021 07:41

We're supposed to wear masks in the lift but that's it - DH's office is the same. Some people chose to wear them at other times but it's not enforced.

AliMonkey · 30/08/2021 07:48

Until August we had to wear them when away from desks and in the communal areas of the building. Now it’s “be sensitive to others” so essentially continue to wear if near others who want you to wear them”. But office still at max of 50% capacity and in practice still far no more than 20% ever in at a time. If we were at full capacity I would prefer them worn whilst away from desks but wouldn’t want to wear all day. We have decent ventilation from lots of windows (though not sure what we’ll do in winter as

Queenoftheashes · 30/08/2021 07:49

No not at all - and hospitality is back woo

SMBH · 30/08/2021 07:54

Before July 19th it was masks on when away from desk. Since then this is advised but people tend to only do it when walking around the building, not within the actual office itself (large open plan). We are about 60% of working days in the office, rest from home, so not at the capacity it was pre-covid, though I also travel to other settings during term time. We’ve been back in for months, and while there have been a few isolations and positive cases within individual families, no one has passed it on within the office

User135644 · 30/08/2021 08:23

@bluetongue

We’re meant to wear them in common areas and lifts but I don’t.

I’m fully vaccinated but not convinced on the effectiveness of masks and think some people have become a bit obsessed with them t9 be honest.

Sitting an office for 8 hours with no mask on and then wearing it to go down the corridor, or out the building, is nonsensical anyway.

Social distancing and decent ventilation will help more.

BoomChicka · 30/08/2021 08:25

No, never have done and like pp we haven't had any transmission at work at all.

MrsLargeEmbodied · 30/08/2021 08:29

to go in and walk up the stairs and when entering another office, when within 6 feet of another person.

Original poster
changingstages · 30/08/2021 08:30

Interesting. The department who are already back in the office (who include the Covid deniers...) had an outbreak of Covid about six weeks ago that went round like wildfire and as they have all gradually come back I think there was a bit more mask wearing (except along the deniers!) though I don't think it's lasted.

Ventilation is ok in my part of the office - i think - but there will be no distancing so am not quite sure what to do.

OP posts:
SilverGlitterBaubles · 30/08/2021 08:33

Friends office have screens,sanitiser, masks and regular LF tests which they had to report. Despite this they had quite a bad outbreak of Covid which has resulted in quite a few testing positives due big disruption to their business. Covid is airborne, ventilation is key anything else is just 'Covid safe' theatre.

SMBH · 30/08/2021 08:45

I have no idea of the vaccination status or level of covid belief/denial of my colleagues. The only person I’ve really spoken to is in the same situation as me - had her second baby during lockdown, so we talked about our experiences of restrictions and small children

ttcissoboring · 30/08/2021 08:46

No

Dozer · 30/08/2021 08:47

Would assume many won’t be wearing masks.

Original poster
changingstages · 30/08/2021 09:13

@SMBH

I have no idea of the vaccination status or level of covid belief/denial of my colleagues. The only person I’ve really spoken to is in the same situation as me - had her second baby during lockdown, so we talked about our experiences of restrictions and small children
I have no idea about the rest of my colleagues but there is a very small but VERY vocal group who are keen to push their anti-Covid views. Which is very tiresome, even from a distance. I'm not thrilled about being back in the same room as them!
OP posts:
Whathefisgoingon · 30/08/2021 09:18

Whilst moving around but otherwise not requirered.

Watapalava · 30/08/2021 09:19

noone wearing masks in my workplace

I'm surprised masks are being forced in some offices- i wouldn't have thought that would be allowed since the july update

Oblomov21 · 30/08/2021 09:26

No. No one has worn a mask in either of my 2 part time jobs, at any time. We are all vaccinated. I just don't see it as necessary.
We are all pro covid and have done everything properly. But even my Dh who works for a big utility company, who have insisted mask wearing is compulsory, thinks this is not ok.

I think it's coming to an end. The idea of mask wearing. I don't think peoples concern or anxiety about it is valid.

Joolsin · 30/08/2021 09:31

Yes, throughout and will continue to until cases fall right back, which seems to be assumed will be by the end of October or do. All fully vaccinated. It doesn't bother any of us, we're used to wearing them

wendz86 · 30/08/2021 09:38

We are meant to wear them walking round but no one really does. We don't have to wear them at our desks.