Doctor's Note Cost (Face Mask)

HollyTrees

I heard today that staff at shops dont need to wear face coverings, so currently employers cant make staff wear them. 

Grumpy_chap

Jimbob2k said:

Anyhow, this was a question regarding the cost of a sick note, so I won't debate with you the ins and outs of why a mask is required or not.  

I think I did answer that first but you chose to get uppity...

Grumpy_chap said:

Probably your wife's cost if it is a letter as you suggest.

Does the employer have an occupational health nurse?

Failing that, can she have an appointment with the GP and ask for fitnote?  There is space on the form for the GP to write any reasonable adjustment.

I am not sure that 

Jimbob2k said:

entering into a discussion with the employer why they are looking to go against Government requirements and the fact that workers have not been included in the law being passed should be considered. 

will be that effective.  The Government rules for coronavirus are the minimum, not the maximum, that needs to apply.  The Employer still has the normal duty of care under H&S rules, to do everything reasonably practical and the application of face masks to staff will likely have been assessed as everything reasonably practical.

The discussion probably needs to be around the visor being everything reasonably practical for staff with asthma or other respiratory ailments.  Which will bring you straight back to needing a Drs letter or fit note.

[Deleted User]

HollyTrees said:

I heard today that staff at shops dont need to wear face coverings, so currently employers cant make staff wear them. 

Course they can. It’s their workplace. They choose. 

tghe-retford

Grumpy_chap said:

Probably your wife's cost if it is a letter as you suggest.

Does the employer have an occupational health nurse?

Failing that, can she have an appointment with the GP and ask for fitnote?  There is space on the form for the GP to write any reasonable adjustment.

Is there actually evidence about people with asthma not able to wear masks?  How will the shop manage if a customer does not wear a mask because of asthma?  I imagine there are many working in NHS that have asthma and manage to wear a mask.

I follow a well respected and repeatedly cited scientist on YouTube with numerous peer reviewed papers to his name, Dr. Phil Mason. He did repeated tests on the oxygen intake and carbon dioxide expulsion in a recent video on his secondary channel (as YouTube kept taking it down on his primary channel) and he found on every test that there is zero effect on both. No drop on O₂ levels and no rise in CO₂ levels.

If Dr. Mason's findings are tested by other scientists, adopted by the World Health Organisation and accepted by Government, the exemptions we currently have will cease and everyone, even children, will have to wear a face covering.

onwards&upwards

tghe-retford said:

Grumpy_chap said:

Probably your wife's cost if it is a letter as you suggest.

Does the employer have an occupational health nurse?

Failing that, can she have an appointment with the GP and ask for fitnote?  There is space on the form for the GP to write any reasonable adjustment.

Is there actually evidence about people with asthma not able to wear masks?  How will the shop manage if a customer does not wear a mask because of asthma?  I imagine there are many working in NHS that have asthma and manage to wear a mask.

I follow a well respected and repeatedly cited scientist on YouTube with numerous peer reviewed papers to his name, Dr. Phil Mason. He did repeated tests on the oxygen intake and carbon dioxide expulsion in a recent video on his secondary channel (as YouTube kept taking it down on his primary channel) and he found on every test that there is zero effect on both. No drop on O₂ levels and no rise in CO₂ levels.

If Dr. Mason's findings are tested by other scientists, adopted by the World Health Organisation and accepted by Government, the exemptions we currently have will cease and everyone, even children, will have to wear a face covering.

The fact that oxygen levels aren't affected doesn't mean that it isn't very uncomfortable and distressing for people with respiratory illnesses to have to breathe through a mask.  Asthma UK have some guidance, including links to exemption cards:

https://www.asthma.org.uk/advice/triggers/coronavirus-covid-19/what-should-people-with-asthma-do-now/#Facemask

Face masks can also cause serious problems for people who rely on lip reading to communicate and those with learning disabilities or cognitive impairments. 

Lets remember when we're out and about that there are people with legitimate reasons not to wear them and not turn them into pariahs or abuse them.

rammy007

It probably was tested on someone who didnt already have breathing problems.If you work at a supermarket do they not recognise the hidden disabilities sunflower lanyards etc,they do an exemption card for breathing problems.

Dr_Crypto

Why can’t she wear a mask? Many of my colleagues are asthmatic and wear them. Plenty of surgeons are asthmatic and have worn them for years. 

What makes you think the GP will give her a note even if she pays? The GP may not agree that she has a reason not to wear one.
Anyway the correct procedure is if she feels she has a health problem affecting her ability to work then she should be asked to be referred to the occupational health team at the company to discuss what adjustments can be made. It would be unusual, but not unheard of, for GPs to give specific adaptations beyond basic stuff like “no lifting for a few weeks because they have a bad back.” Things they require more thought should be done by an occupational health specialist. A fine the size of B&M will have access to one even if they don’t employ a company doctor themselves.

Andy_L

bradders1983 said:

silvercar said:

Face masks are only going to become compulsory for shoppers not staff.

Yes but I can see a lot of shops making it compulsory for staff too. If anything it is stupid they they dont have to and everyone else has, do retail staff not breathe like everyone else?

Staff can only not wear a face covering if they are behind one of the plastic screens. If they are out on the shop floor they need to wear one

ETA: that is the Scottish Legislation - I presume the English law will cut & paste from that

Andy_L

HollyTrees said:

I heard today that staff at shops dont need to wear face coverings, so currently employers cant make staff wear them. 

They can under H&S legislation or the "any reasonable work instruction" implied work contract term

Mrsn

Interestingly our health trust has issued a statement saying they will not issue letters for exemptions regarding the wearing of masks. I’d imagine others may do the same, they say the government guidance is clear who has to wear one and who cannot. 

If work have given the instruction under H&S or any other term as per the contract as Andy has said then I don’t see how it can be challenged any further.