This is great getting the vocal people to blame the very small minority who do not wear masks - either deliberately or because of exemption - for the spread of the virus. It deflects blame from the government’s incompetence in handling the crisis.
I am exempt but my employer made masks mandatory in the workplace on 4th November, subject to exemptions.
After a brief chat with my line manager (who knows my medical reason), I’ve been wearing a lanyard even though it’s not compulsory.
This week, however, a manager from a different shift wanted an ‘informal chat’ with each exempt person, ‘just to clarify why you’re not able to wear one, or even a visor’. He claimed the law had changed to cover distribution centres (it has, but not recently) but I politely told him that in respect of exemptions, the law was unchanged.
It turns out the real reason behind these chats was some colleagues are hinting they don’t feel safe at work.
The manager even tried the emotional blackmail angle, saying that if I could wear
something, even if it’s only a visor, it might help others ‘feel protected’. As soon as I said that there was no evidence that masks work, he waved his hand across his face dismissively and said ‘I’m not interested in conspiracy theories’!
I was astonished.
I pointed out that at least one person with strong views on masks is regularly to found doing overtime, including on New Years Day, for enhanced pay and a day in lieu. Surely, if he felt
that unsafe, wouldn’t he restrict his days at work to his contractual hours only?
I also pointed out that at least two individuals who are in the Critically Extremely Vulnerable group, who stayed at home throughout the first lockdown, have declined to stay home in this current lockdown. One of whom is... my line manager!!!
I am fast losing respect for those that have swallowed this fear agenda without any use of their brain.