AIBU to think waitress should have been wearing mask?

[Lacto12]

We went out for my mothers 70th birthday meal today. The restaurant had special measures in place for social distancing but all the staff were walking around maskless. (Everyone else had to wear a mask when leaving the table etc)

AIBU to think this is wrong? The waitress we had was holding the plates directly under her chin and asking who’s meal was who’s etc. I am worried now as I am venerable and my mother is elderly! I know I should have left or said something at the time but it’s been sitting uncomfortably with me all night since I got back.

We don’t really go out much or do anything and was horribly ill with covid last year I can’t keep it out of my mind. Regretting going now! (All the other measures were in place)

@Flaxmeadow thanks I thought this would be part of the job too and look after the customer!

I wouldn’t like to be visiting @skintasabint workplace after the comment ‘While I understand that you're worried about your mum, it's not down to the waiting on staff to keep anyone healthy and covid free.’

I thought in a time like this it would be to keep custom and keep people covid free. Especially the amount of elderly that regularly eat there. Shocking really but now I know I won’t be doing that again!

Did you all wear masks to protect the staff?

@RedRobinRedbreast yes, no one was allowed to leave the table without a mask or even enter the restaurant without one.. Could only take it off when sat at the table. Signs everywhere.

I personally see a huge difference in someone serving food holding it below them breathing/speaking over it than a customer coming in with a mask and and sitting at a table waiting to be served. Staff are being protected but not the customer.

Firstly it’s not a legal requirement to wear a mask in any hospitality venues in England this is common knowledge, secondly would you like to work a long shift on your feet wearing a mask unless you legally had to?! And thirdly why do you think a waitress on minimum wage has some sort of duty to protect you as a vulnerable customer? Take care of yourself and don’t go if you are that worried. Stop expecting everyone else to adapt to fit your paranoia.

Also everyone saying it’s crazy to take a 70 year old out at the moment, my friends mum is 70 and she’s healthier and fitter than most 40 year olds I know and doesn’t need “taking out” we need to stop with this generalization that everyone over 60 can’t make their own decisions and need to be baby sat! My 80 something year old grandparents are out more than me, would you rather them be sat at home decaying in a chair?

My daughter does wear one in the restaurant she works in, however she is the only one who does.

Management are in no position to enforce mask wearing from their employees

That's a problem only government can solve. And only then if the employees agree and don't maintain they are exempt

Management are in no position to enforce it.

@Flaxmeadow are you having a laugh? You're expecting hospitality staff (who have mostly been treated like utter shite throughout the pandemic), to "take care of customers needs, especially the vulnerable and elderly." Hospitality staff are not carers.

I think hospitality need all the custom they can get to keep themselves afloat

Government should enforce it to help them out a bit.

Not sure why so may posters are being so rude.

It's a legitimate question.

If customers are expected to wear masks when not seated it makes no sense that wait staff don't wear them while walking around.

Well I wouldn't want a waitress breathing on my food, Covid or no Covid.

I don't really understand why it isn't obligatory for serving staff to wear masks, but as you are clearly a senior member of the clergy I'm sure God will take care of you and your family

I do not wear a mask in my hospitality job. If people are bothered then I'm not sure they should be out and about. Wearing a mask whilst running about serving food and drinks was a sodding nightmare. Hard to communicate. Oh and before someone pipes up and says how NHS staff have to wear PPE and don't complain, I do not work for the NHS. I work a minimum wage hospitality job.

Well I couldn't do it.... my mask rides up and glasses steam up

Can't see a thing! I'd spill everything

It may not be law but with cases rising it would be prudent to wear one

I'm not sure why there were signs up round the restaurant saying masks had to be worn unless seated. Not a government requirement.

It's an airborne virus so you are much more likely to catch it by being in the same indoor space with all the other customers. Wearing a mask to walk to the table is pointless when everyone then spends an hour or two eating, talking, laughing etc. in the same space.

The kitchen staff will have been breathing and speaking when cooking your food too - although food is not thought to be a transmission risk in general, so I wouldn't worry about that. It's more the sharing an indoor space with other people that is an issue with restaurants.

@RedRobinRedbreast yep that's what happens to me. I end up not wearing my glasses, which isn't great.

God OP if you are worried DON’T GO OUT. What a daft position to take. If you are genuinely concerned, why go out to mix with dozens of others and have your food cooked by strangers when it is 100% avoidable. Just stay home and let those go want to enjoy themselves do so.

@Lacto12

I personally see a huge difference in someone serving food holding it below them breathing/speaking over it than a customer coming in with a mask and and sitting at a table waiting to be served. Staff are being protected but not the customer.

My adult DC works in a restaurant kitchen and they don't wear masks when preparing the food anyway. I think you should be aware of that.

They couldn't manage their jobs wearing masks in their kitchen. It's fast, intense, physical work, involving a lot of heat, steam, smoke and speed.

I've no idea how NHS staff manage it and I raise my hat to them.

Masks are completely pointless anyway, so I wouldn't worry about it OP.

@Flaxmeadow are you having a laugh? You're expecting hospitality staff (who have mostly been treated like utter shite throughout the pandemic), to "take care of customers needs, especially the vulnerable and elderly." Hospitality staff are not carers.

It's not our job to be the police either but we have thrown out known pickpockets as well. Literally thrown them

We have regular vulnerable and elderly customers and we care about them, care if the get robbed of their meagre pension or if they become poorly. Its common decency and being community minded

No I'm not having a laugh

@carrythecan

Masks are completely pointless anyway, so I wouldn't worry about it OP.

What a load of crap.

Seriously, why would anyone think they work? Especially in the case of wear them when standing but they are not needed when sitting. If they work, why have hospitality been allowed to not implement the rule?

@Flaxmeadow I'm not sure where you work, but it doesn't sound anything like my job. I care about the regular customers we get in, but I work and live in a tourist destination, so I mostly deal with holiday makers. My job and clientele sound very different to yours.