Up until Saturday, we did not have to wear masks at work if we didn't want to. Only one employee did. The boss did however bring in masks for everyone that his wife made for us. Wednesdays are my long days right now. I work 10 hours and not only do I do the bakery but I'm also the manager in charge of the store. The Wednesday before last a customer stopped me to point out that I wasn't wearing a mask. I can't even recall what I said to her and then went on my way. About a half hour later another customer called and let me have it about our store not wearing them. I told her I would pass her concern on to my boss. She said you do that and I will be calling him to let him know how I feel. I should add her she is an ex employee. She never did call but the boss received an unsigned letter a couple days later. It pretty much said the same things the ex employee stated on the phone plus a threat to spread bad publicity if we didn't start wearing them.
So needless to say they are mandatory now. I know, the majority of people think I should be wearing one any way but try wearing one for 8 hours straight. They make it hard to breathe, your glasses fog up, they kill your ears and for me, they get tangled in my hearing aids. I'm well aware of the arguments for wearing them. I also know that covering my cough or sneeze is important which I do and I also wash my hands frequently during the day and avoid touching my face. I also wear gloves while I'm working. I chose to NOT wear a mask. But here I am now with my mask.
I came across a crochet pattern on Facebook for straps you can use so that you don't have to put the elastic from the mask over your ears. I have made several. One for myself and one for anyone at work who wants one.
16 comments:
The straps would be so much more comfortable. Oh gosh, I hope you are not miserable all day! I don't know how anyone breathes in them, it is so hard for me. I guess because I have a snub nose.
Andy and I wear masks when we go to the store, but we don't have to wear them all day long. That would be a real nuisance. I'm glad you modified yours so it would be more comfortable at least. Good luck!
I have seen people working around food these days that are wearing masks...AND hair coverings, plus men with beards, beard nets...and thought they are not comfortable...you just confirmed it.
Our daughter says the same about difficulty breathing through a simple cotton mask; no filter.
Since they are optional at this time; it would be my wish that anyone with and 'opinion' would at least approach it with grace and kindness.
Sorry that you had to take the criticism and that your business is subject to public opinion changes when the business is following current guidelines of having an option.
One day at a time, sigh.
You are right about the masks. They do make it hard to breathe. I wonder how doctors stand it for those long surgeries. I wore one to the grocery store, and gloves. There were a few other customers with them and a few not. The cashiers were behind plastic barriers at the checkout, the keypad machine had saranwrap over it, but they were not wearing gloves or masks. It is probably because of difficulties with them.
This whole thing is bizarre. What are we doing? I think it is time to re-open.
Bizarre is so right. Masks give people a false sense of safety - if I went into a grocery store and saw all the staff in masks I'd turn around and walk out - it suggests the worst. Dare I suggest that you all wear really creepy looking masks so that customers will ask you to take them off. :)
I hate that you have to wear one. I cannot imagine wearing one that long.
Like working long hours at the store isn't enough? Ugh. I understand that it is ideal for everyone to wear a mask, but I also know how hard it is to breathe through one for long periods of time AND work. Joe ran into this at the pet store the other day--the kid had the thing hanging from his ears. When Joe teased him about it, the kid replied "I can't breathe and my ears are KILLING me."
I hope the crocheted band helps ease the stress on your ears...and I hope that you can get used to the mask while you work. I have a feeling this will be a new normal and a requirement for all of us moving forward.
today I wore a mask shopping at senior Walmart hour, every senior had one on, but not one employee in the whole store had one on. I can't imagine wearing what you have on for 8 or 10 hours. last week I wore a similar one like yours but wihtout the comfy strap, and lasted 5 minutes. it was fogging my glasses. 2 days ago, my friend Jackie dropped by in my driveway to give me 2. she has the I 95 or k 95 that nurses wear because her mother had immune problems and she had them left over from that. they are so much easier to breath and I wore it for an hour. if they make you wear them they should get the kind meant for wearing for hours. I could not believe the difference in the good mask and the home made. they stand out from the mouth so we can breathe. one county in Florida started at midnight last night a new law that is 500.00 fine or 60 days in jail if ANYONE is caught outside off their property with out one...
I'm so sorry this has happened to you, Ann. :-( Masks are indeed hard to wear for hours & hours on end.... as a nurse, I know. Plus, the type of mask you're wearing is absolutely useless after an hour or so (because of the regular fabric), so shortly after you get to work it's like you're not wearing a mask anyway. I don't know how our grocery store owners & employees are handling the situation, as far as employees wearing masks, but I do know that Meijers and Walmart and those types of stores are only letting so many people inside the store at one time. They have "counters" stationed outside and customers are waiting outside, to be let in. I believe it's so many customers per so many square feet of the store. But I don't know if employees are required to wear masks or not. I haven't been in a regular grocery store since February 29th so I just don't know. But I have been to our local health food store, which is my "grocery store" for these times. We order online & then Dan does the curbside pickup at the store. They've had increasingly more stringent rules with each passing week. Dan said that when he picked up our order yesterday, there was a sign in front of the store that said a maximum of 4 customers at a time would be allowed into the store (it's fairly small) and that the customers would HAVE to be wearing gloves & mask to enter the store.... and the employees & owner all wear gloves & mask. To be honest, it's their caution that makes me shop at the store at all. I wouldn't shop at a store where both employees and customers weren't wearing masks. It's just too risky. But, that's my personal choice and admittedly is clouded by me being a nurse and knowing what I know about disease transmission.... especially airborne disease transmission of a deadly virus. That being said, nothing "gets my goat" more than these worthless fabric masks! They're fine for short trips out, in containing virus particles being exhaled into the atmosphere or virus particles being inhaled from the atmosphere. But for wearing long-term, as in an 8-10 hour work shift? Absolutely worth-LESS!! They get moist from respiration and perspiration... and no longer serve as a barrier whatsoever. So I'm with you, kiddo. If your employer can not supply an N95 mask... or at the very least a surgical mask, like doctors & nurses wear in the operating room.... then you should be allowed to forget it. The moral obligation of wearing a mask, to protect the public and those vulnerable to death from the disease, is another discussion altogether. Love, Andrea xoxo
That would be hard to wear a mask all day long. But it is the best for everyone. Ann, have a good day.
There are always those that want to dictate to everyone else. Bless their hearts.
I tried wearing one yesterday at the grocery store and I couldn't see. It was awful. I took it off.
Have a fabulous day, Ann. Big hug to you and scritches to Gibbs. ♥
I have been making mask and yes they are uncomfortable but required here in Calif. I actually feel better seeing others in mask. My son works at a market that has barriers and now has all employees working the register wearing a mask. The news said that 30 workers have died from Covid 19 but did now say where. I think we all have to do our parts while this awful virus is still spreading. I am sorry you have to wear it for so many hours. That headband thing sounds like a great idea. I think I will make a few for my niece(RN) and my daughter(a medical assistant). Stay safe.
"This too shall pass".
It is not easy wearing a mask but it is important. Doing it for 10 hours would be difficult!
I can't imagine wearing one for that long! They make me itchy, hot and my face breaks out in a rash if I have one on for too long. I think the homemade ones are a lot softer than the mass produced ones but yours looks hot. Such a great idea to make the bands. Sorry you have to endure this.
Ann, the straps work good I am told and also if you make a headband and put buttons on it, it will help. Frustration is the word of the day isn't it.
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