Those working in offices - are you wearing a mask?

[changingstages]

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.

Yes, always. I'm the only one who does (double jabbed). I can still be heard on the phone.

Im in a big open plan office, our usable desks are spaced far enough apart that we don’t have to wear masks sat working, but we do if you get up from your desk.

We haven’t had any outbreaks and it feels safer being in the office than on public transport on the way in, even though I’m somewhere masks are still compulsory on public transport unless medically exempt.

We wear them to walk around, but not at our desks, we had screens round our desks, but we’ve removed them now thank god.

No, never have, have worked throughout.

Back to work this week in a secondary school office.

Open plan, 4 staff at a time but access to another office and the staff room via ours (although the latter is being discouraged) and of course God only knows how many people coming to reception throughout the day (which is not fully screened off).

Will have to see how it goes. I like and trust my immediate colleagues and imagine they will all have had their vaccinations (have been on sabbatical for a year so not 100% sure).

Currently planning to wear a mask if I have to move around the school, taking in my own crockery/cutlery, a huge tub of sanitiser and plan to take lunch breaks in my car rather than staff room, which I do anyway as I tend to need 30 minutes peace and quiet by then.

I'm a bit dubious about it tbh, and being a single parent and sole carer for my elderly mumprobabky a bit over cautious, but I think it's something that will normalise once we get into the swing of things.

We haven’t worn masks since I returned last September. I share my office with one other person an although I visit other offices we always keep at least 2m distance.

OP my workplace also planned to send us back with no wearing masks in communal areas. A small group of us pressured them to introduce the measure and they have now.

There is now an outbreak with most people sick with covid anyway because some went on a night out and the rest presumably caught it due to being close contact when chatting without masks.

I don't see an end to us wearing them this year.

“ I don't see an end to us wearing them this year.”

No, not until your “small pressure group” has deemed it acceptable. Though it sounds like your measures didn’t go far enough, did they. You should have put more pressure on. Ironically, given that everyone is off sick with covid now, in the next few weeks your office will probably be as “covid safe” as it could ever be.

Yes, apart from sat at desks. 6 people have it at the moment in our office, so we are rightly being cautious.

We have never worn masks in the building.
We had to ( and still do ) if transporting families in our vehicles. For a long time we could only transport one person at a time with the windows open and them sat in the back. That was fun on a wet day down the motorway!

I'm back in the office now so thought I'd update! It's really interesting to see what people are doing on this thread.

It's very well ventilated in the office - open windows, open doors. Feels airy. No masks at desks, some (including me) wearing them when moving around). The other team (who were already back in the office and include the Covid deniers) - none of them wearing masks, anywhere. We are all avoiding their part of the office, which isn't ventilated as well (no windows or doors).

I went back to office for first time a couple of weeks ago. I found it daft that the advice is to wear a mask when walking about, but we all sit in a room together all day long without one, so I don't bother.

We have to wear them when walking around and in meeting rooms. There is a one way system, and half the toilets, sinks and coffee machines are taped off.

We also have to wear them walking around (although hardly anyone does now) but not sat at desks. Much like the covid theatre of restaurants & cafes. Like wearing a mask to walk to the toilet will prevent covid spreading when you are sat for 3-4 hours chatting loudly at a table 🙄

I work in a hospital wear when walking around but not in offices.

I wear mine to move around but not at my desk but people are way more than 2 m, others don't wear at all despite it being recommended by work

Also we have to do 2 lvts a week if working in the office and not at home, not that anyone has asked to see mine

@Bobholll

We also have to wear them walking around (although hardly anyone does now) but not sat at desks. Much like the covid theatre of restaurants & cafes. Like wearing a mask to walk to the toilet will prevent covid spreading when you are sat for 3-4 hours chatting loudly at a table 🙄

The masks to walk around, go to the toilet and to walk a few feet to the door thing always makes me laugh,especially when you've spent the evening sandwiched between other tables. As if the virus is polite and just stays within its own table perimeters

The masks to walk around, go to the toilet and to walk a few feet to the door thing always makes me laugh,especially when you've spent the evening sandwiched between other tables. As if the virus is polite and just stays within its own table perimeters grin

Remember back in the day it would get you if you stood up in a pub without a mask , but as long as you were sat down covid only operates about 5'6, and it also waits till you finish the meal.

@Againstmachine It also avoiding anyone eating and tables of 6 or less