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Original poster

Why are Sainsbury's (and others) asking for continued mask wearing?

447 replies

jowly · 26/01/2022 23:22

To keep their staff well? ( many don't wear one even now)

To give customers a sense of security?

I'm very willing to wear one if there's a reasonable reason to.. and I get all the theories why we may be wise to. But why are supermarkets going for this request? Why is it in their interest?

Am I missing the obvious?

OP posts:
Luredbyapomegranate · 27/01/2022 00:20

@MrsSkylerWhite

Because it’s an easy way to help prevent transmission.
This.

You know this, surely.

Fluenty · 27/01/2022 00:22

Because no one trusts the judgement of the government

JanglyBeads · 27/01/2022 00:22

Masks are still required by law on public transport (to the pp upthread)

stayathomer · 27/01/2022 00:25

We have screens up in work and now is a constant flow of comments from customers that they're looking forward to the screens coming down and masks coming off. None of us agree. We just say nothing or the odd time say 'well probably not yet!!'

Lalliella · 27/01/2022 00:27

Umm, to limit the spread of covid. Have you heard of that at all?

Or maybe because they realise that scrapping Plan B is all about politics and popularity, and nothing at all about public health, and they don’t want to collude in that.

ArnoldBee · 27/01/2022 00:35

As sage has discovered you are more likely to catch covid at the supermarket than at the pub or on public transport.

Aimeehedge · 27/01/2022 00:57

  1. because it’s an easy way to stop transmission and keep staff and customers well

  2. it protects staff and mean less sickness and disruption for the business (and customers)

  3. it reassures the millions that are vulnerable who know they could still get very ill. It allows them to you know but food.

Aimeehedge · 27/01/2022 00:58

Buy not but!

Chloemol · 27/01/2022 01:03

Because we are still in a pandemic

Because covid cases are still high

Because Omicron is highly transmissible

Because they want to ensure staff are in, not off sick because covid is being transmitted easier because of non mask wearing anymore

Because Government guidance reverts to suggesting continuance of mask wearing in crowded and enclosed spaces, especially where you come into contact with people you do not usually meet.

Because they,at least,are trying to be responsible to both staff and customers

Siepie · 27/01/2022 01:08

To keep customers happy. They did the same in July.

By putting up signs about masks, people who want masks to continue will be happy.

By not actually enforcing the masks, people who don't want masks to continue will be happy.

I'm not denying that masks reduce transmission, but I expect Sainsbury's executives are thinking 'how do we keep customers happy and make lots of money' not 'how do we help in a public health crisis'. Maybe I'm just too cynical!

needmoreshinys · 27/01/2022 01:23

What are the rules in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?

Depending on their business model, it might be easier to keep to the strictest rules of whichever country. Rather than the chopping and changing.

I would also think its to do with staff and making sure the money keeps coming in, not so much in a I care for my staff, more we need the staff to put shit on shelves and not pay for them to be off sick

TheLovelinessOfDemons · 27/01/2022 01:29

@ElectraBlue

Frankly I have never seen anyone being stopped in my local Sainsbury for not wearing a mask.

So I hardly think that the staff will bother to say anything now.

Just posturing from their head office.

My friend works in Sainsbury's, and as a woman in a wheelchair, feels extremely vulnerable when people get aggressive when she refuses them entry, so now she doesn't.
Onthedowns · 27/01/2022 04:36

@nocoolnamesleft

We're still in a pandemic. I presume they've twigged that Boris is lifting the mask mandate well before the scientific evidence would suggest it, because he's more interested in saving his politic career than saving lives.

Pragmatically, they'd like the clinically vulnerable to still feel able to come and spend money. And they'd like enough staff to be able to work to be able to sell stuff.

This
Huntswomanonthemove · 27/01/2022 04:44

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User764832 · 27/01/2022 04:45

A bit of posturing, trying to keep people 'safe'. It will probably last about a week because people will get used to not wearing masks like they did last time, I don't shop in Sainsbury's, none local to me but a lot of people haven't been wearing them in the last week or so anyway in a lot of shops.

CarrieBlue · 27/01/2022 04:48

Because there were 100000 cases and 350 deaths yesterday and Sainsburys realise that restrictions are only being lifted to please right wing MPs so they’ll witter on about how the prime minister’s lies to parliament aren’t serious?

redandwhite1 · 27/01/2022 05:31

Because when cases rise again Due to lifting all the rules and we go back to having to wear them they won't have issues making people wear them again 😂

Sparklingbrook · 27/01/2022 05:38

Good PR. They want people to shop with them so they want to be seen as a supermarket who supports those that still want to wear a mask, if it’s the difference between shopping there or not…

Iggly · 27/01/2022 05:50

@nocoolnamesleft

We're still in a pandemic. I presume they've twigged that Boris is lifting the mask mandate well before the scientific evidence would suggest it, because he's more interested in saving his politic career than saving lives.

Pragmatically, they'd like the clinically vulnerable to still feel able to come and spend money. And they'd like enough staff to be able to work to be able to sell stuff.

^this
Iggly · 27/01/2022 05:51

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Quotes deleted post

SickAndTiredAgain · 27/01/2022 05:56

@ElectraBlue

Frankly I have never seen anyone being stopped in my local Sainsbury for not wearing a mask.

So I hardly think that the staff will bother to say anything now.

Just posturing from their head office.

I agree with this, it’s just to get in the news because in reality it doesn’t actually mean anything. We shop in sainsburys and currently in our local shop they don’t ask people to put on a mask if they aren’t wearing one, so they aren’t going to start doing that now. They haven’t said anything close to “we will refuse to serve unmasked people” they’ve said “we will encourage” so I imagine they mean a tannoy announcement occasionally.
MyOtherProfile · 27/01/2022 05:57

To do their bit to try to minimise transmission. I've never loved Sainsbury's more.

SickAndTiredAgain · 27/01/2022 05:59

@JanglyBeads

Masks are still required by law on public transport (to the pp upthread)
Not in England from today. Masks are not legally required in any setting.

Sadiq Khan has said they are still mandatory on TfL.

chocolateorangeinhaler · 27/01/2022 06:01

They are not making people wear masks they are asking them to.

Other supermarkets have responded saying they won't ask people to wear them.

Not sure what sainsburys is trying to achieve, if they read the posts on here they would see the majority won't wear them when not mandatory.

Just show them you don't support it by shopping elsewhere. They'll change their tune if it starts to affect sales.

Missey85 · 27/01/2022 06:03

Here in Australia you can't go in any store without one my local supermarket has security guards that stop you entering if you don't you also have to scan your phone to say you've been there