I work in a Scottish store where face coverings are still mandatory. We have quite a few people mainly from the south but increasingly from Scotland who come in without any covering at all. Some of us would ask politely if they had a mask or would like one if they didn't. Very few of us, management included, do that now as we just get a mouthful of abuse.
Anyway I have been informed that someone complained to HO about me asking them about a face covering and I now have to have a 'Let's talk.'
I feel so let down now as, despite the masks being mandatory, there is no support from Tesco or management to help keep us safe.
I too am in a Scottish store. I want rid of the masks. We put up with the BS of covid queues abuse and lies from customers when it might actually have made a difference.
Our store manager wanted us to challenge customers not wearing. I flat refuse. get your jabs and dont come out and about with a cough and that is it get on with life, Also dont be a fat ass and you will likely be fine even if you get covid.
I wear the mask though as its law but the moment it is dropped it will be gone. I will not be inforcing anyone else to do it though.
It is worth keeping in mind nobody "has" a lets talk, its not a punishment its simply a record of a conversation, far to often these are used as some sort of backdoor punishment and the old 3 lets talks and it goes to a warning myth still does the rounds, and that is not part of the process at all and it never has been.
The whole point though is it IS mandatory. I, also, welcome the day when we don't have to wear them but until then I really think customers should respect us and obey the rules.
I wish Tesco would be more respectful and recognise that each country, Scotland, England, Wales and NI have their own rules and restrictions on covid and support the stores with whatever rules govern that country.
But until the company itself treats the people who work for it with trust and respect, the customers never will.
Face masks should be worn by all colleagues in all areas at all times. When shopping I avoid aisles where colleagues don't have masks or have them but not covering nose and mouth. I hope Tesco don't just decided one day there is no need for masks the virus has not disappeared.
It's a difficult situation. We all want the end of COVID and we all want protection from it until then. The however is that we have never been able to police how people behave, we can only rely on goodwill. We have only ever been able to politely offer a mask to someone not wearing one.
I am also in a Scottish store. I agree that more and more people are not complying. We had problems with groups of kids coming in late at night, about 10 of them. They were all buying something like a single choc bar and not a single mask. When offered masks they all said exempt. I emailed the school and said that I understand it was outside school hours and they have no control but could they do something to explain to these children that we get a lot of vulnerable customers who shop in the evenings as the store is quieter and I had a distressed elderly customer who has been in isolation from her family for so long and was now able to start seeing them again and she was afraid we were going to go backwards and she would not only be unable to see her family again but she would be stuck at home alone again. All of this was true and I don't know what the school did but we have less of this issue now. We only have one local high school within the town so the contact with just the one school was easy.
@General Thorn
I suggest you ask for a union rep (if you're a member), or a trusted colleague to accompany you at this " let's talk" meeting. Don't take no for an answer, as you state you're extremely upset and would like support!
You ask for confirmation as to what the store and government policy is regarding the wearing of face masks, as you are of the belief that government policy dictates the wearing of masks, and store policy should not deflect from this!
You are also of the belief that Tesco policy dictates, non conforming customers should be approached and politely request they don a mask...unless a lanyard is clearly visible to identify that customer is exempt!
Now this customer will have either stated that you were impolite in your request, or they were wearing an exempt identification?
You state that is incorrect, and would like any updated current policy on non conformity explained to you??
You also express your deep disappointment of being called in for a meeting regarding this matter, and obvious lack of support by the store, in assisting you in adhering to government/Tesco policy :-X :-X
Thanks for the answers evryone.
Redshoes, our store is very different. Our schoolkids are generally very compliant, it is adults who are the biggest problem. We have vulnerable colleagues working in store and a lot of vulnerable local customers who are very worried to even come in store anymore. Our SM just says that there's nothing he can do about it.
Lucgeo, I have made a note of your suggestions and will definitely be asking those questions. Thank you.
I'm not worried or vulnerable just know the produce workers in my local Tesco don't wear masks over face and nose so go elsewhere for these items. Prefer my local Iceland with less customers, less workers and its well faced up at all times. Can get better items elsewhere too as the dotcom haven't taken all the best dates.
Quote from: lucgeo on 31-10-21, 09:57AM
@General Thorn
I suggest you ask for a union rep (if you're a member), or a trusted colleague to accompany you at this " let's talk" meeting. Don't take no for an answer, as you state you're extremely upset and would like support!
You ask for confirmation as to what the store and government policy is regarding the wearing of face masks, as you are of the belief that government policy dictates the wearing of masks, and store policy should not deflect from this!
You are also of the belief that Tesco policy dictates, non conforming customers should be approached and politely request they don a mask...unless a lanyard is clearly visible to identify that customer is exempt!
Now this customer will have either stated that you were impolite in your request, or they were wearing an exempt identification?
You state that is incorrect, and would like any updated current policy on non conformity explained to you??
You also express your deep disappointment of being called in for a meeting regarding this matter, and obvious lack of support by the store, in assisting you in adhering to government/Tesco policy :-X :-X
Policy does not dictate that we approach customers and request we ask them to wear masks, you will not find that in writing anywhere. In Scotland it's mandatory for people to wear masks, unless exempt. If exempt, that person does not have to wear a lanyard or to prove they are exempt. Policy dictates that nobody with a hidden reason that they should not wear a mask is made to feel at all uncomfortable about not doing so. As such, we have no power to do anything about it. We can only rely on goodwill and trust. On the whole we can trust most people, we just live in a world where there will always be rule breakers. Some bend rules but some smash them to pieces. A chunk of people expect everyone else to follow rules but think they don't apply to themselves.
You can however offer out masks, the key is polite and friendly. Should be done in such a way that it won't upset someone exempt. I tend to say something like "I have some free masks if you have forgotten yours today" if they say exempt there is nothing you can do.
So it's mandatory, but not Tesco policy ???
Seems like Tesco are skirting around the issue here...it's not Tesco policy to ask customers to wear a mask, but it is Tesco policy, to dictate to not make a customer feel uncomfortable by having a hidden reason and not wearing one ??? If it's hidden, how does the colleague know?
You yourself, state that you approach customers without masks, and offer them one? You say "the key is to be polite and friendly". Who decides whether the colleague was " polite and friendly" enough ??? the customer that's who! So when you yourself have approached that customer, used your uttermost friendly and polite approach, for that customer to then complain to HO at you asking them, how do you defend yourself ???
As always, the customer complains, HO send them a voucher, and the poor colleague gets a reprimand based purely on the customers version of events! As a manager, would you get a " let's talk"? No, because you have a voice amongst the management team, the shop floor colleagues are denied their right to a voice!
As a customer, I have on numerous occasions felt the need to ask a non mask wearing customer to move away from me! Occasionally, a customer has taken offence, and stated they don't need to wear a mask, as they have a hidden disability which they don't need to declare!! I usually tell them, I'm not asking them to declare their illness, I'm asking them to respect my right of space! Just because they are exempt from wearing one, does not mean they are exempt from adhering to the distancing rule, or exempt from spreading Covid, by breathing all over me, as the mask I'm wearing is to protect them not me!!
As a customer, I shouldn't be put in the uncomfortable situation that I need to do this! As a customer, my right to a stress free shopping experience should be as paramount to Tesco, as their policy in not approaching or making a non mask wearing customer feel uncomfortable!!
I'm aware this is not just with Tesco, but I do know of two other store retailers that are not so quick to discipline their colleagues in similar situation's, but take the stance of supporting them instead!
It might be mandatory but its left to the company to try to enforce it, coupled with people being able to claim to be exempt and not having to prove it there seems very little either the company or an individual employee can do.
Not sure what you expect to happen, if you want to ask someone then ask if they say no for any reason there is nothing you can do about it so just move on with your life.
:thumbup: >:D :thumbup: :D
I'd imagine that the complaint says that you've been rude rather than you've asked someone to wear a mask. The Let's Talk will them be to get your side of the story and a record that it has been looked into rather than it being a form of punishment. You can take a rep with you but they will have to be available at the time as it's an informal meeting
I once had a Lets Talk because a customer complained I had been breathing heavily! 8-)
(pre-Covid but on a bad asthma day)
I almost had one because a customer complained that I was "very unhelpful" because there was no stock of a nappy she wanted ( 1 ) I don't work in that department but offered to check in the back and ( 2 ) I can't make stock appear out of thin air!
luckily same day someone else actually wrote to the store saying how I went "the extra mile" despite doing 4 jobs at once, so they decided to dismiss the complaint marking it as "an exception", whatever that means.
It's kind of pointless with it the security company in the stores is worse than useless, working in a store in Wales and we have uni campus within 10 minutes from us you have plenty of them coming into our store you question them and the reply is 'oh I'm English I do not have to wear them' but announcements over tannoy saying it's a legal requirement are said constantly it's falling on deaf ears it's crazy .. even with confirmed Covid in the halls they were still coming into store the security on site for them one night trying deliver food to someone said they are extremely selfish thankfully he advised the delivery wasn't to be taken into halls and he phoned the girl to get it.
"Oh I'm English I don't have to wear them"!!
So would they drive on the left hand side abroad, because they're English??
You're in wales matey, follow the country's rules :-X
Masks at this time are not mandatory, there is no law that backs the claim. Corporation is not government and compliance to corporation is communism and the support of. Stop giving corporation your power >:D
Masks should be worn at all times in all areas. I will not shop in a store full of workers/customers not wearing masks. If you are happy with sales dipping as customers boycott the store then carry on with any excuse not to wear a mask. No mask no job is the way it's going.
Maybe you enjoy breathing in your own carbon dioxide, I don't. It does nothing to prevent a virus who's molecules are thousands of times micro that of a mask, it's a gagging tool. Going to wear it for the rest of your life are you. Just because you are gullible doesn't mean I have to obey your fear!
Quote from: Shoestring on 13-11-21, 06:48PM
Masks at this time are not mandatory, there is no law that backs the claim. Corporation is not government and compliance to corporation is communism and the support of. Stop giving corporation your power >:D
In Scotland they ARE mandatory in shops. I know Tesco have said we are not now to ask anyone about masks (came down in our T5 this week) so basically it's a free for all, do whatever you want to do. :-X :-X
Yeah, what the person above me says, also the pfizer vaccine causes autism, now pass back the crack.
(I'm joking, the poster above is clearly a loony bin.)
Quote from: General Thorn on 13-11-21, 07:27PM
Quote from: Shoestring on 13-11-21, 06:48PM
Masks at this time are not mandatory, there is no law that backs the claim. Corporation is not government and compliance to corporation is communism and the support of. Stop giving corporation your power >:D
In Scotland they ARE mandatory in shops. I know Tesco have said we are not now to ask anyone about masks (came down in our T5 this week) so basically it's a free for all, do whatever you want to do. :-X :-X
Because they are not a law implementing corporation, they have no right in law to force you to cause self harm with no backing law. We are not children for gods sake, we can make our own minds up how we conduct ourselves within the right of our own understanding.
And if anyone forces you otherwise, join "The Peoples Union of Britain" who will swiftly sort it!
You make your own mind up, by all means, but don't inflict your belief's on others! I believe that by my wearing a mask, helps protect others, that's my bit for keeping vulnerable people safe...MY BELIEF!
You believe it's ok to go breathe all over everything and everyone, during a pandemic, as it is your right not to be treated like a child and told to wear a mask! Did you wear school uniform, or refuse? Do you work for Tesco, and adhere to wearing the uniform, because you're told to!!
Perhaps if you had lost loved ones to Covid, and couldn't even sit to hold their hand as they passed, in the grand scheme of things, is the non wearing a mask really of such great importance to you :-X
Quote from: Tesla on 13-11-21, 07:09PM
Masks should be worn at all times in all areas. I will not shop in a store full of workers/customers not wearing masks. If you are happy with sales dipping as customers boycott the store then carry on with any excuse not to wear a mask. No mask no job is the way it's going.
Stop talking drivel, no one polices wearing masks also if you have the choice and decide not to then you have nothing to complain about.
Perhaps you would be better suited to living in a bubble with no access to the outside world.
Perhaps you're a gimp
Surprised you use computers what with computer viruses being rampant and all.
[admin]Thank you both, end of.[/admin]
Too many paranoid people. If you're that scared of a virus with 98 percent survival rate then you should stay in. Let the normal people go about their lives
Not at work today but do we have to wear masks in the store or is it our choice.
I would advise wearing at all times when in shops and public transport to protect your self and others.
this is now law and cannot be over ridden by tesco or anyone else.
Failure to comply is a fine of £6,000 for individuls and more for companies.
Quote from: Mark calloway on 30-11-21, 07:43AM
Too many paranoid people. If you're that scared of a virus with 98 percent survival rate then you should stay in. Let the normal people go about their lives
Err...you really are one that jumps on the popular bandwagon, aren't you ???
Time and again, you have stated that your family are vulnerable, with many medical problems and that you are their main support ??? You have requested, and received, a great deal of support and advice from other VLH supporters, with regard time off, your rights etc...for family medical appointments and your commitments ???
Kind of makes your latest statement rather questionable methinks :-X
Recently due to the cold weather, some of my co workers who couldn't wear anything across their face for medical reasons had snoods, scarves on so only their eyes were visible. Now we as staff have been asked to wear masks again, the 'I have an invisible condition' lanyards are back around their necks...
If customers don't wear masks and do not get challenged or refused entry, it makes it difficult for staff to be "whiter than white" and follow the rules.
It clearly is a fact that it's easier to do your job (7+ hour shift) not wearing a mask than it is wearing a mask - whether that be on the shop floor (more energetic than checkouts for example) or being on checkouts and being "expected" to talk to customers continuously.
This latest set of rules is also very perplexing given the different rules if you work/visit a retail shop versus a pub/restaurant.
Just read this on BBC news:
The Co-op has become the latest supermarket chain to say it will not enforce new mask-wearing rules to avoid their staff being abused by customers.
Mask rules were reintroduced in England on Tuesday after concerns about the Omicron coronavirus variant. It's now mandatory to wear them in shops and public transport, among other places.
Supermarkets are taking a light touch approach with Tesco, Aldi, Lidl and Iceland not challenging customers.
Industry body The British Retail Consortium said it is up to police to enforce face mask rules, not retailers.
So I wonder whether management will take a similar light touch approach with staff?
Quote from: Modena on 30-11-21, 09:12AM
Not at work today but do we have to wear masks in the store or is it our choice.
both, I imagine.
Quote from: barafear on 01-12-21, 02:14PM
Just read this on BBC news:
The Co-op has become the latest supermarket chain to say it will not enforce new mask-wearing rules to avoid their staff being abused by customers.
Mask rules were reintroduced in England on Tuesday after concerns about the Omicron coronavirus variant. It's now mandatory to wear them in shops and public transport, among other places.
Supermarkets are taking a light touch approach with Tesco, Aldi, Lidl and Iceland not challenging customers.
Industry body The British Retail Consortium said it is up to police to enforce face mask rules, not retailers.
So I wonder whether management will take a similar light touch approach with staff?
Personally i wear the mask to save grief. i don't pull any staff up on not wearing it or having it below their nose. If they are on my departments I just ask for any sort of letter that can be bung in their file to literally cover their ass incase someone has a go at them
Face coverings must be worn by staff working in those settings where the public are required to wear face coverings and where staff come into direct contact with the public. In these settings employers are prohibited from asking their workers to remove a face covering
Quote from: barafear on 01-12-21, 12:14PM
If customers don't wear masks and do not get challenged or refused entry, it makes it difficult for staff to be "whiter than white" and follow the rules.
It clearly is a fact that it's easier to do your job (7+ hour shift) not wearing a mask than it is wearing a mask - whether that be on the shop floor (more energetic than checkouts for example) or being on checkouts and being "expected" to talk to customers continuously.
This latest set of rules is also very perplexing given the different rules if you work/visit a retail shop versus a pub/restaurant.
One cant help but think pubs and cafes etc will be next for the masks, bringing them in bit by bit until we are back to the rules on them that were in place this time last year, first it was the latest rules will be reviewed in three weeks, today the talk is the review could come sooner.
All hail the mask. The true saviour of humans. Pfft
Quote from: Mark calloway on 09-08-20, 12:18PM
Quote from: expressman77 on 08-08-20, 10:34PM
Quote from: gaz123 on 06-08-20, 05:33PM
"Anxiety"? FFS.
Not sure what you mean "anxiety FFs", you think that's not a reason for not wanting to wear one.
Guess you don't suffer from it and and how sometimes having something over your face can make you feel more stressed and anxious.
I suffer from anxiety,I take medication daily, I'm wearing a mask. Just wear the darn thing. It's amazing how many people now seem to suffer from anxiety, asthma, claustrophobia etc.
8-) 8-)...Your own words above...Pfft... 8-) 8-)
I live in Scotland and we have been wearing masks all along. I notice that those colleagues who don't wear seem to be the ones ill, not always COVID but a lot of colds and stomach bugs. We have seen a rise in these bugs in the last couple of months. We have also had a huge rise in track & trace but a very low level of positive results. A big rise in track & trace from people meeting for nights out.
We can't police people wearing masks, customers or colleagues. As has previously been said, colleagues who can't wear due to a hidden condition should have this on file. If it's asthma, anxiety or any of the other reasons. If it's strong enough to prevent you wearing a mask during a pandemic it's a strong enough to have this recorded and be in your file.
Quote from: lucgeo on 02-12-21, 08:52AM
Quote from: Mark calloway on 09-08-20, 12:18PM
Quote from: expressman77 on 08-08-20, 10:34PM
Quote from: gaz123 on 06-08-20, 05:33PM
"Anxiety"? FFS.
Not sure what you mean "anxiety FFs", you think that's not a reason for not wanting to wear one.
Guess you don't suffer from it and and how sometimes having something over your face can make you feel more stressed and anxious.
I suffer from anxiety,I take medication daily, I'm wearing a mask. Just wear the darn thing. It's amazing how many people now seem to suffer from anxiety, asthma, claustrophobia etc.
8-) 8-)...Your own words above...Pfft... 8-) 8-)
bless you my stalker friend
Quote from: Shoestring on 13-11-21, 07:20PM
Maybe you enjoy breathing in your own carbon dioxide, I don't. It does nothing to prevent a virus who's molecules are thousands of times micro that of a mask, it's a gagging tool. Going to wear it for the rest of your life are you. Just because you are gullible doesn't mean I have to obey your fear!
Amen
I still dont get it that some people still thinking that when virus come out of our body, it come out itself without medium to live in. And think it behave like living being with wings and legs that can move and navigate even in the air.
Come on our fellows viruses, there is a gap in the mask on 2 o'clock direction, tilt 45 deg and turn left gently and move vertically i 3..2...1...
I don't like wearing a mask, however I do in crowded places. While the masks may give little protection to say they give nothing is overlooking the fact that the virus cannot live on fabric as it draws the moisture out of the virus and it dies because of dehydration.
Genuinely forgot my mask while nipping into Sainsburys local this evening, was offered a mask and accepted it from a very polite young man, who informed me most people who turn up without one simply resort to abuse when asked if they would like one, he looked totally dejected when telling me this and did say he never challenges anyone who says there exempt or has the sunflower lanyard, and this about 3 days into the new rules. As ever its the staff taking the flack for simply trying to ensure people obey rules made elsewhere.