Face coverings: The damage of challenging
There’s no doubt we’re living in strange times right now, with the law now requiring face coverings to be worn in public settings. But there are reasons we should be less concerned about the enforcement of the law and more concerned about keeping social distancing and other safety measures in place.
[Updated following amendments to the law in September].
The science behind the new law requiring face coverings has been developing throughout the pandemic. There’s clear data to show that wearing masks can help in the fight against the virus and may be important in preventing further outbreaks. We therefore should wear them where guidance says we should.
Yet, as we’ll cover shortly, it may not be reasonable or safe for everyone to wear a mask. And over-zealously challenging one another may do more harm than good. We’re all anxious to avoid catching the virus, and with good reason, but we should be careful not to rob others of their dignity in the process.
Face coverings & disability
There may be a variety of reasons why an individual isn’t wearing a face covering or may be unable to. The government has produced guidance on those that may be exempt from wearing one, which includes those who have an age, health, or disability reason.
While the government have made available the ability for those with exemption to create an official exemption card, proof of exemption is not required by law, and the guidance says that people “should not be routinely asked to give any written evidence”. What is clear though, is that individuals can decide if they have a justifiable reason not to wear a mask. The law asks employers to take reasonable steps to ensure compliance with the law within their premises, but enforcement is a job for the police.
What we should consider though is how fear can inhibit our ability to be rational and how that could lead to dehumanising behaviours in challenging people who may be exempt. We already know as a union that hidden disabilities often get overlooked — because it’s not visible it’s assumed that it doesn’t exist.
There are many types of hidden disabilities — including anxiety disorders and neurodiverse conditions such as autism. People with breathing or respiratory conditions may not show obvious signs of difficulty, but are at significant risk with Covid-19 — even more reason to ensure safety measures are in place. A sunflower 🌻 symbol — usually in the form of a badge, lanyard, or card — can be worn or shown to indicate an individual has a hidden disability.
When it comes to the twelve million people who are deaf or living with hearing loss, there are several issues to consider. Face coverings can interfere with hearing aids and implants as the straps go over the ear and can therefore be impractical to wear. The bigger problem is that many use facial expressions and lipreading to communicate, so the world becomes a difficult place to interact with. While the law allows for masks to be removed in order to communicate with those who lipread or need clear sound, but as the responsibility to ask rests on the individual with the disability, it’s another reason not to interact in the wider world right now.
You may think challenging anyone for not wearing a mask is fine, but put yourself in the other person’s position. Being asked to justify yourself for something that is linked to a disability or medical condition is dehumanising. It may not be the first time they’ve been challenged that day, and it may be the hundredth overall since the law was introduced. It’s exhausting and does have a negative impact on the individual.
Face coverings and race
Whilst disability and health are defined by the government as justifiable reasons for not wearing a face covering, reasons such as race or religion are not covered by the guidelines. However, there are reasons why some groups of people may be nervous about wearing masks, or why they’re more difficult.
The first thing we need to do is revisit the purpose of a face covering. Wearing something over your mouth and nose helps prevent the spread of the virus by filtering the air that we breathe out. Face masks tend to rely on forming a seal over the mouth and nose to be effective, and facial hair alters the effectiveness of this seal. As you may already know, some religions such as Islam and Sikhism, see beards as being essential for men.
Those with beards need to make considerations of the type of face covering to wear. It should be loose fitting, or a visor may feel more comfortable.
But that’s not all. There are other issues that may contribute to those in minority groups feeling less able to wear a face covering. The government’s own statistics show that the police use their stop and search powers disproportionally against black and other ethnic groups.
A recent report by the National Police Chiefs’ Council has found that during the pandemic, minority groups were 1.6 times more likely to be fined than white people. This may mean that choosing whether to wear a face covering or not could be a much more difficult choice for some.
Let’s not forget that some groups of Muslim women were demonised by the media, and certain politicians, for wearing face coverings. Now, if we don’t consider our own actions, it appears they could be vilified for not wearing them!
Whilst we should all be concerned about the spread of the virus, what we should be more worried about is inequalities in our society getting even worse as a result. The TUC has already reported evidence from the pandemic on racism and the risks at work, and written blogs on the childcare crisis and migrant exploitation. And we already knew before Covid-19 that disabled workers faced barriers in finding and maintaining employment.
Handling the challenge of non-compliance
As already explained, there may be more behind someone’s decision to not wear a face covering than meets the eye. It’s important that we don’t make assumptions, and don’t challenge people unnecessarily. Remember to look for a sunflower 🌻 symbol which can help avoid these problems.
It’s not up to us to police the law on face coverings, and we mustn’t take action into our own hands. The best course of action is taking preventative measures ourselves to remain safe. If you, or others around you can’t wear a mask, ensure that social distancing is maintained, and any prolonged conversations (anything over 15 minutes) should be conducted through Perspex screens.
Some companies are providing face coverings that can be given to customers to wear, but this should be done respectfully using an agreed word pattern— this handles the challenges of this conversation in a sensitive and respectful way. If there is a specific problem in a workplace, a security guard may be necessary to assist with these challenges.
However, I’d reiterate that we all have a legal and moral responsibility to wear a mask when we don’t have a reason not to. Whether that’s staff in a shop, or as a customer. We have a responsibility not just to prevent the spread of the virus, but also to make the wider world safe for those who can’t wear masks to go out. There’s a real danger that those with health conditions don’t feel safe if too many people ignore the requirement to wear a face covering and therefore remain isolated. We need to look after each other, as well as ourselves. Be kind to one another.
If you can’t wear a mask personally, download an exemption card to your phone and pro-actively show this. Get yourself a sunflower 🌻 lanyard or badge too, so that those around you can see without needing to ask.
A note on wearing masks for extended periods
Wearing a face covering or mask for an extended period can become uncomfortable. We have sought agreement with LBG to ensure that members in customer facing roles can take regular breaks so that you can take a break to get fresh air. If you’re not getting some time to do this, please contact your local Accord Officer.
A note on choosing the right covering
There’s plenty of guidance from the government and elsewhere on the internet about choosing the right face coverings and how to make your own. The general consensus is to have a covering made of multiple layers that is breathable and must cover both your mouth and nose.
It’s important to remember the purpose of the covering when choosing what is right for you or the situation you’ll find yourself in. While there is no official guidance, science suggests that masks with valves should be avoided — these valves may allow someone to breathe more freely, but they also spit out unfiltered air at high velocity which can lead to the spread of the virus. Remembering that the face covering is less about protecting the wearer, and more about protecting those around them
We’re here to help. If you want to talk to us confidentially contact us at equality@accordhq.org
