I've just spoken to a friend at my old work. Usually from the 1st the manager would insist everyone wear Christmas jumpers. This has been cancelled this year because of covid "health and safety"
I asked if the directors are still pushing the same mask and gloves rules, which are as follows.
Wear the same medical mask for your whole work day. (They have a wear time of 2-3 hrs) but this is an improvement from when he said to keep the same medical mask for a while week and just keep it in your locker, it changed when I complained.
Also his rules based around wearing gloves, don't change after each interaction (a big part of the job includes touching people's faces) just use anti bac on the gloves, only change when they start looking dirty.
I refused to wear the glove's because they wouldn't buy any in my size (I was the only one who needed small gloves) I just washed my hands between every single person I saw. Which they didn't like because I would keep disappearing to go wash.
When I was doing this I quickly realised I was the only one washing my hands at all. When people did remove their masks or change gloves they didn't wash hands to remove or handle new things.
Honestly you guys. Anywhere you go that look like they are dealing with covid well... question everything. Especially if it's a clinical environment.
Please don't blame the staff, they are unhappy with the rules implemented, they want to change PPE more often, but are told they can't because of the costs, they want to wash their hands between seeing people, but have been told off for wasting time.
They fear that not following covid and PPE guidelines means that they are part of the problem.
But they fear that speaking up about the issues to management means a threat on their jobs.
And they would be right, when I made complaints to the directors about how they were handling it, and how unsafe I felt the environment was, they very heavily implied that I should shut up and put up, otherwise they would have to investigate my abilities to fulfill my job role.
I was lucky enough that I could call their bluff, that I knew I was needed more than they would ever say, and that I was in a position where I could quit my job.
But I know my position is a rare one, and that most desperately need their jobs.
So again I want to highlight, please question everything, don't be rude, but ask if these are new gloves/masks. If they say no, ask if this is implemented by management. Ask or even watch when they do change their PPE, are they doing it correctly, are they washing hands. Or do they look rushed because they have someone telling them they need to be quicker.
And make the complaints to the right people, not the poor staff, but managers, directors etc. If they have enough complaints they might be forced to change.
