Can employers still enforce face covering and social distancing

[Unsubscribed]

I've been mostly WFH with the odd day in the office.
Employers have been operating a very strict COVID policy with socially distanced desks , windows open, anti bac everywhere and compulsory face covering.

I've found it depressing although I totally understand the necessity at the time.
However now legal restrictions have been lifted, but my Employers say they are going to continue with their existing policy to 'keep staff safe'.
My question is can they legally force me to wear a face covering in the office when I don't want to?

You don't have to sit in a "sweaty minging mask" though do you? You said you can take it off when you are sitting. You just have to move around with a mask and frankly it's disgusting if you can't be bothered to use a clean one. Get the disposable sort. And get a grip.

If wearing a face covering is causing you distress you could always say you are exempt... that's what the .gov.uk site says anyway.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own

FWIW @Unsubscribed I agree with you, and I'm really happy that staff can choose for themselves whether to wear a face covering or not in my office.

I just don’t understand why it’s continuing?
At what point does it stop?

This can’t go on forever can it?

In 3 years are we still all going to be wearing masks?!

What’s the criteria for it no longer being needed at all?

@PaddlingLikeADuck

I just don’t understand why it’s continuing? At what point does it stop?

This can’t go on forever can it?

In 3 years are we still all going to be wearing masks?!

What’s the criteria for it no longer being needed at all?

Well I’m not sure why people accept it’s over based on the word of a known liar of a prime minister who has decided not to follow scientific advice anymore 🤷🏻‍♀️

It’s a virus, it will always be here, it’s not going to just disappear one day though is it?

I’m well aware Covid is still out there, as are the rest of the population, but enforced masks wearing can’t go on for years!

It’s not mandated so it should be personal choice.

I was in the pharmacy this week- up 'til recently they've had a sign saying "please continue to wear a mask this is a healthcare facility" ...this week the sign was gone, one staff member was wearing a mask but 2 others had their masks round their chins and 1 had no mask. I was fairly surprised (I've seen a lot of pharmacy staff posts around people coming in asking for meds with obvious Covid symptoms who hadn't PCR'ed) as I thought they'd be the last cohort of staff to stop wearing them, particularly as the likelihood of a further spike is high when people stop getting access to free testing in April. I imagine most non-medical workplaces will be removing their restrictions over the next couple of months.

@PaddlingLikeADuck

I just don’t understand why it’s continuing? At what point does it stop?

This can’t go on forever can it?

In 3 years are we still all going to be wearing masks?!

What’s the criteria for it no longer being needed at all?

I agree with you ... noone who thinks it's still to early to drop masks actually give a time for when they believe it's OK to drop them. People are well aware "covid hasn't gone away"... but it never will which is the fucking point.

@Unsubscribed

But the Government rules are the rules. And even if you think they're not valid they are still the new rules. So why can't we just get on with them.

Because that refers to what is legally enforceable.

Employers can set their own conditions. There's no legal exclusion period after D&V, but if you work for reputable catering company, there'll be an exclusion period following, requirements for hairnet, blue plasters if injured, other hygiene measures

@PaddlingLikeADuck

I just don’t understand why it’s continuing? At what point does it stop?

This can’t go on forever can it?

In 3 years are we still all going to be wearing masks?!

What’s the criteria for it no longer being needed at all?

Totally agree. I had to take my mum and her dog to the vet yesterday as the dog was really old and needed to be put to sleep. We walked in and were asked to put on masks and my mum was given one as she didn’t have one on her. We wore them but I just think it’s so ridiculous, having the go through a really distressing event like that, when your dog is being put to sleep, and crying with a stupid, bloody mask on your face (I loved that dog 😢). It’s like, as they class themselves as a ‘medical’ environment, they are still being really strict with it when it’s not even humans that are being treated there. What difference does it make compared to anywhere else? When’s it going to stop?

I’m sorry about your dog - I’ve had a few pets out to seep in the past and it’s heartbreaking.

I completely agree that you’re mother shouldn’t have had to wear a mask at such an upsetting time - I’m sure the dog would have loved to see her face whilst falling asleep as opposed to just her eyes with half her face covered. It’s just not right.

What risk did they actually think your mother was posing? If anything she would probably have been classed as the most vulnerable due to age (?) so if she was happy to go maskless then why enforce it.

I’m sure plenty of people will come along shortly though to tell us how the vets and reception staff may be CEV

Anyhow, sorry again about your dog and I hope you and your mum are managing as best as you can

We have a one way system, take our temperature to enter the office, wear a mask when we're away from our desks. The stupid thing is we then go out to lunch together, often sharing a car!

Exactly - it’s ridiculous.

My guess is the employers think it’s ridiculous too but nobody wants to take on the responsibility of saying “enough is enough now” and just let working life return to normal.

And what if you do have a temperature? Do they just assume it’s Covid and send you home even though it could be a number of other things?!

Yes, we're not allowed to go any further into the office if we have a temperature. Not that the thermometer is accurate, my temperature was 32 recently!

@Unsubscribed

But the Government rules are the rules. And even if you think they're not valid they are still the new rules. So why can't we just get on with them.

Because at a guess it's not based on science

What does “the science” even say these days?

@PaddlingLikeADuck

Maybe the OP just doesn’t want to wear a mask across her face all day and be forced to keep away from people.

And does this mean employers can make you isolate for a positive LFT even though the Government say it’s not required anymore?

Yes and why wouldn’t they

Think about it, as an employer with say 10 employees in the office. One is positive, asked to stay at home so 9 carryon working

Employer has 10 employees one tests positive comes in, spreads it to 2 others, who are so ill they have to be off work, so 8 employees left, however those 2 take it home, it spreads to family, who go to school, work, it spreads again

Just because the Government has stopped isolation doesn’t mean it’s right to go into work when positive

Think about it, as an employer with say 10 employees in the office. One is positive, asked to stay at home so 9 carryon working

I imagine there are quite a few employers out there though who wouldn’t pay someone to be off. Surely employers can only enforce it if they give the person full pay and also don’t include it in the staff’s sickness record in a manner which leads to disciplinary action?

@Crackingowlsanctuary I'm sorry about your dog , hope your Mum's ok . I have a puppy and can't imaging ever loosing him. We had to take him to the vets for an emergency. The strict rule was one person per pet plus mask wearing. But I was really upset and in a panic, so 2 of us went and we didn't have a mask . None of the staff asked us to put a mask on, they were just really lovely about it

To the poster who said I should get disposable masks, I do have disposable ones but they feel unclean and uncomfortable very quickly. I want to breath air with no barrier.

@munchbunch12 I don't feel I can say I'm exempt because its not causing me severe distress although I do feel its sucking the enjoyment out of my day and making me miserable.
It's great to hear that some employers in office environments are giving staff the choice. This is what I was hoping for across the board but sadly not.

Owwwww I've just googled and found this 'You do not need to prove that you are exempt from wearing a mask' ? I wasn't aware of this

@PaddlingLikeADuck

In that case it should be “if people want to wear a mask they can.”

It should not be a blanket rule of “EVERYONE MUST wear one.”

It’s time to just let people make their own decisions now. This has gone on long enough.

Just as you say my wishes to not wear a mask don’t trump the opinions of those who do want to wear one, but it works both ways!

Except that wearing a mask has more protection for others

Except that wearing a mask has more protection for others

So people who don’t want to wear masks should still have to wear them forever for the sake of others?

And you actually think that’s okay?

Indefinite mask wearing against people’s will?

Except that wearing a mask has more protection for others

This was the case but now its not. Its OTT, things have moved on, we've gone past that , etc etc etc.

I've reached the point where I think those who feel they still need 'protection' should be the ones who are the exception now.
And they need to ask their employers to make special provision for them if they don't feel 'safe'.