My company is forcing us to wear them at all times at our office.

My issue is that I am more than 6 feet away from anyone while at my desk, so it seems a bit much to have to wear it at all times. Are there any concerns having to wear one 8-9 hours a day? Some have been saying CO2 exposure but I'm not sure I believe that. Others have said nasal blockage. Even skin damage.

Is it really a need to wear one when not within 6 feet of anyone? We also do mandatory temperature checks which I agree with. But the masks at all times seems like overkill. I'd like to be able to drink a dang cup of coffee at my desk when no one is within 6 feet of me.

You will get a rash for sure. Just put it on when someone comes by to "enforce".
Let's hope they don't make u do that until there is a "vaccine" next year.

It's his company, so I can't complain with it when it makes sense, i.e. we are within 6 feet of one another.

But when I sit at my desk at times for 2-3 hours straight without coming into contact with anyone? Yeah, that's unnecessary and just rashing your nose to spite your face(tried to come up with a nice line there but it's probably a failure)

AggieOO said:

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i am pro mask so we can get through this thing, and have no problem with requirements to wear them when in public...and even i think this mandate is a bit dumb and is coming from lawyers. I'd wear it while interacting with people, but wouldn't keep it on all day while working by myself.

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I completely agree with this. Silly when sitting alone, when outside away from people, and when alone in a car. The goal is compliance when unable to socially distance. This rule is dumb.

Are we talking an N95 or can you wear a thin cloth covering (like a buff)?

Doesn't matter. I can't drink a cup of coffee with either. It's not necessary either way so that question is moot.

Also, you know what else prevents me from unknowingly spreading it to the 6-7 people all day long I will even see?

Not being within 6 feet of any of them for 95% of my day. I would have no issues with it being required when within 6 feet of them for maybe 15-30 minutes a day that I am. It's just an arbitrary, stupid, useless rule to make the owner feel better. I'm just trying to figure out how to word it and ask that we change the wording in the policy to match the CDC recommendation. Why we are doing more than what even they recommend is beyond me.

Maintaining social distance in my position is quite easy:

CDC on Homemade Cloth Face Coverings

CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.

In your OP you asked about side effects from prolonged mask usage, including skin damage. An N95 will rub the bridge of your nose raw after a while. A light cloth buff won't.

I understand complaining about the government requiring a mask, but it seems completely fair for a business owner to require it.

I work for a Japanese company. People wore masks all day all the time, even before CV. I don't see it as a major inconvenience and I dont care if its efficacy is minor. Like I said, easy trade off for me to be able to come to work and keep my job.

Sorry! You're right. The conversation had already switched at that point.

I am wearing a cloth mask. They want us to wear N95 all day and are even issuing one out every 2 weeks. I have also strongly worded a letter to them disagreeing with this as our employees don't even wear them right and we are wasting them when they could be better used at hospitals. But that fell on deaf ears, so I have a feeling me recommending we change our stance to match the CDC will also fall on deaf ears.

HotardAg07 said:

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88planoAg said:

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HotardAg07 said:

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I went to work twice this week for the first time. Wore a mask the whole day. Pulled it off my mouth to drink and eat when needed then put it back on. It was an extremely minor inconvenience. I was just happy to go to work and have work to still go to.

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This defeats the one of the recommendations, which is to not touch the mask. Same problem I have with San Antonio requiring masks in restaurants unless eating. You are supposed to put it on, leave it alone, then take it off when done and set it aside/wash before wearing again.

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I am wearing a cloth mask which isn't doing almost anything to prevent getting myself sick, it's just to suppress the chance I unknowingly spread the virus by coughing or sneezing.

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Right - one of the things recommended is to avoid touching the outside of the mask -cloth or whatever you are using as face covering, which can become contaminated. One is supposed to treat it as such - avoid touching the outside of the mask, leave it alone when on, remove and wash after use.

Duncan Idaho said:

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6 ft isnt some magic distance. The likelihood of transmission decreases with distance. 6ft is just a workable distance that fits most interactions. So yeah making you wear a mask when you aren't within 6 of people isnt crazy

Seems like you have 3 choices.

1)quit
2)wear your mask
3)start a strike and see if you can mobilize enough of your coworkers to refuse to wear them to change the company's mind.

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Yeah, it absolutely is crazy. What about 30 feet? Because that's the closest person to me a good portion of the day. One person is 9 feet from me(and we are 33 and 32 respectively so our risk is minimal to begin with). Some of you will just fall in line with anything without expressing individualism when something makes no sense. That's what is crazy to me. And a little scary about where we go from here when this is all over.

I'll choose neither of those 3 choices. I'll just wear it as little as I can. If it ever gets brought up, then I'll bring up the CDC recommendations and say the policy wasn't clear. I was just following CDC regulations. They aren't firing me over this, that I do know. We all have to drink water and eat sometimes. Unless they want to provide more frequent breaks to go outside the building. I'm still considering writing a friendly letter to encourage following the CDC guidelines. Because there is no clear parameter here. According to the rules, it's at all times while in the building, which means even to remove it for a second to get a sip of water is technically violating his policy. Though I'm confident he wouldn't do anything about that. It's just semantics, though.

I wear a mask (basic disposable surgical) when in direct patient care as that is when the risk seems to be. Prolonged close contact. I do not wear a mask when I'm charting or in my office doing paperwork that is just silly. I carefully remove it and store it in a paper bag when not using it. They usually last about 1 day before you start inhaling fibers as it disintegrates.

beerad12man said:

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My company is forcing us to wear them at all times at our office.

My issue is that I am more than 6 feet away from anyone while at my desk, so it seems a bit much to have to wear it at all times. Are there any concerns having to wear one 8-9 hours a day? Some have been saying CO2 exposure but I'm not sure I believe that. Others have said nasal blockage. Even skin damage.

Is it really a need to wear one when not within 6 feet of anyone? We also do mandatory temperature checks which I agree with. But the masks at all times seems like overkill. I'd like to be able to drink a dang cup of coffee at my desk when no one is within 6 feet of me.

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Ya. That's overkill. Heck, I think it's all over kill. But it's only human nature to overreact and also temporary. Plus, as you said, you still NEED to be able to drink and eat and handle basic needs that require removing, at least partially, the mask. I think most of this is attorneys and legal fears initially from corporate levels, plus appearances (i.e. we are sensitive to your fears-companies absolutely live in fear they won't appear sensitive). Our corporate office put out rules that all staff at Anytime Fitness must have masks and gloves. TX only requires gloves in the gym and that is vague too. Plus we are required (all staff) to wipe down everything at certain times (not end of world but overkill too-heck it might be good to eliminate much more serious threats like MRCA and other staff infection causing microbes, forget Covid-19). Employers will do this to give the appearances that they are following all procedures and than some to lessen the threat of lawsuits and to try to coax customers back in.

In my opinion, even 95% of what Abbott is calling us to do will not stop the spread of the virus. Now that the powers that be feel comfortable that the curve has been flattened enough (the whole and ONLY point of the shut down) and our hospital capacity will not be overrun, they are taking a conservative approach to reopening. B/c they won't close again. So they want the appearance that all of these measures will reduce or eliminate the spread of the virus. It won't, imo. But it's like both a way to CYA and also make those caught in the fear of all of this feel a little more comfortable. In the few weeks to a month I have a feeling that most will feel more comfortable and a lot of the requirements will officially be dropped or at least they will be laxed from the office level as those can be more strict than what the governments are requiring.

The funny thing is, it's privately owned and no lawyers are involved involved in this. It's just an owner who's heart is with good intentions, but doesn't seem to be using logic. He claims he is just following CDC guidelines with everything, but that doesn't seem to be the case; 1) He wants everyone to wear N95 masks even though the CDC says to leave those for the hospitals. 2) Our employees haven't been properly trained to wear them making them even more of a waste. 3) Again, not following the guidelines set out by the CDC which says to wear them when other social distancing measures cannot be obtained. Which is quite easy in many of our positions. It's just company wide, which I understand with the technicians coming close contact with others. But not for each desk worker separated by a lot of distance.

I'm just not the type to fall in line with orders when they don't make logical sense. Never have been, which is a big reason I am not working for a corporate firm but have chosen to stay at likely a lesser paying job. This has more of a private, family feel where the owner knows all of his employees at a personal level. This is a firm that has usually been very relaxed in rules, but now are going overboard on something I don't think they know much about. They are Engineers and I respect the heck out of their opinions in their area of expertise, but they are not health officials . I know more about general safety, COVID 19 and CDC guidelines than they do.

Some people don't seem to understand that putting on a mask is not just a simple easy thing to do for some people. My husband says he could wear one all day every day and be just fine. I am partly claustrophobic and it causes me a fair amount of anxiety. Plus, I seem to overheat easily. I was forced to wear one to take my son to a doctor appointment. I almost couldn't even take him because my temperature was measuring too high. They made an exception and let me in anyway. After the hour and a half appointment, I checked my temp again and it was 100.6! I thought maybe I was actually getting sick! Checked when I got home after a little break and it was back to 98.

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I'm just not the type to fall in line with orders when they don't make logical sense. Never have been, which is a big reason I am not working for a corporate firm but have chosen to stay at likely a lesser paying job.

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I'm like you. I want to do the right thing and all, but being overly careful when even the CDC and local authorities say something isn't necessary, it gets annoying for sure.

Dr. Not Yet Dr. Ag said:

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I wear a mask 8-12 hrs/day while at work without breaks as do all of my ER physician colleagues. It really is a minor inconvenience. I barely notice it most of the time.

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But you are a doctor. That makes sense for sure. His situation is overkill. I can see his frustration. No, it's not at all the end of the world and I do feel it will be temporary. Also, sounds like a regular mask should be fine and the employer is not up to date as to what to require and needs to research that. If he requires the type of mask the CDC and medical experts tell us not to use, what else is the employer getting wrong.

Personally, I'd just bring whatever mask I can get my hands on, wait to see if they check that or even notice (good chance the employer doesn't even know the difference) and at that, wait a few days to weeks to see how far one can stretch the requirement in a careful but realistic fashion. Like sipping coffee. Do it. Pull the mask down to drink. Pull the mask down to eat (I eat multiple meals a day and eat at my desk), and the like and as time goes on, just leave it around my neck. Point is, just play it by ear. See how committed the employer is at staying strict or if they lessen the requirements as the weeks go on or if they even notice or care after a few weeks. I'd also try to use it selfishly to see if I could stay at home and work if this is that big of a deal to the employer. If that is even possible of course...

Complete Idiot said:

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I am sure a group of people will soon start saying wearing a mask is leading to a lot of suicides and violence.

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Huh?

But I think he addressed the questions in the OP as far as CO2 concerns, getting your sinuses blocked by a mask, and facial damage. He wears a mask during long shifts and did not report issues relating to those topics.

Whether it's needed for virus spread is another question. Whether it's needed to keep the person paying your check happy with you is probably known.

Complete Idiot said:

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Whether it's needed for virus spread is another question. Whether it's needed to keep the person paying your check happy with you is probably known.

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He gets that part for sure. As would and do I initially. I just see why he would see it as annoying as it's not needed. But I think if he just plays it by ear, he may find he gets a lot of time he can remove it and get around the rule as there may be no one around him to call him on not wearing it, and when he is "caught" have a beverage or meal going and use that excuse...I honestly feel like after a few weeks most businesses and employers will but down on the rules a bit. Everyone is just freaked out right now.