Some workplaces are allowing workers to take masks off at their desks, when eating lunch, even in meetings — while others require a mask almost all of the time.
March 1 marked a big day in Ontario, with proof of vaccination no longer required for workplaces, and capacity limits for indoor public settings being lifted.
With restrictions slowly being lifted, many workers are wondering what masking policies they will face as they slowly return to in-person work at the office.
The government of Ontario requires that people wear masks in the workplace if they are unable to stay at least two metres apart. In a common space, boardroom meeting, lunch room, people can be unmasked only if they’re a safe distance from one another.
But a survey of several companies by the Star found that some workplaces are stricter than others. Some are allowing workers to take masks off at a desk or when eating lunch, while others loosely require a mask to be worn if physical distancing can’t be met.
Patrick Stepanian, legal manager at human resources consulting firm Peninsula Canada, said his company still maintains strict masking rules. When an employee is not at their desk or cubicle, and going into more high traffic areas with a greater concentration of employees, they must stay masked.
As more people begin to come into the workplace with capacity limits lifted, he said it’s more important to adhere to stronger masking requirements to ensure everyone is comfortable.
“It’s been two years of remote work, people need to acclimate to the new working environment,” Stepanian said. “A safe approach is always better.”
A similar mindset has been adopted at the commercial real estate and investment firm Colliers Canada, where masks can only be taken off at a desk or lunch area, similar to food courts in the financial district, said CEO and president Brian Rosen.
When it comes to board meetings, if a senior executive wishes to take off their mask while giving a presentation, that’s not allowed.
“If they want to give the presentation without a mask, they can do it virtually,” he said.
Rosen added there isn’t a hierarchy on what certain employees can get away with in terms of the masking policy.
“There are no different rules for higher-ups, you need to lead by example,” Rosen said. “If you don’t stay consistent with the application of the work policy, it never gets applied.”
To date, if someone forgets to wear a mask, a gentle reminder is needed, but warnings or penalties have not been used. “People recognize they need to wear a mask where it’s mandated,” he said.
At HSBC, employees must maintain physical distancing and ensure that masks and face coverings are worn in all workspaces except when working at a desk or eating in the cafe space, said Sharon Wilks, head of external communications.
“These rules apply equally to all our employees, including executives. As we have been throughout the pandemic, we’ll be guided by public health guidance in making any changes to these requirements as we open up our offices to more employees in the coming weeks and months,” she said.
Gannon Loftus, director of corporate communications at Sun Life Financial, said everyone coming into its offices is required to wear a mask. People can remove their masks once seated at their work station or in a meeting room and at a safe distance from others.
But some offices are taking a different approach and allowing employees to remove masks when distanced.
Elke Rubach, president of Rubach Wealth, said her team discussed what policy made them most comfortable and arrived at a unanimous consensus: wearing a mask isn’t necessary if physically distanced.
“Everyone is vaccinated and has a booster,” she said. “Masks only apply when moving around.”
When employees are at their desk, eating in the lunch room, or alone in a closed office, a mask isn’t needed, Rubach said.
Though if someone were to speak up and ask for people in a board meeting to wear masks, the team would comply.
“For a smaller office it’s easier to adapt,” she said. “Bigger places like banks or government offices can’t. They need to pick a lane.”
At global research tech company Delvinia, it is encouraged — not mandated — that employees wear masks in common areas, said Adam Froman, CEO and founder of the company.
“If someone is uncomfortable with masking rules, we encourage them to wear a mask,” he said. “Those who don’t want to wear a mask need to be respectful of giving space.”
In a meeting, he said it’s up to the individual on whether they want to wear a mask. If an issue arises, the default is to wear a mask, which hasn’t been the case so far.
“In a meeting room it’s more about respecting distance than face coverage,” Froman said.
In a lunch room, he added, employees might get excited to see each other and sit next to one another. In that case, the company wouldn’t force them to distance.
For those who want to wear their mask at all times and distance, that’s encouraged — desks can be more distanced from others, they can eat at their desk, and choose to come to work one day a week.
“We’re all boosted. We’re dealing with mental health, more than anything right now,” Froman said. “People are tired of mandates. They want respect and empathy, and to recover on their own terms.”
Soon, companies could be dealing with an entirely new dilemma on masking policies.
On Monday, Premier Doug Ford hinted that the mask requirements may be lifted at an undisclosed date after the March break.
Rosen from Colliers Canada said that in provinces such as Alberta and Manitoba, where mask mandates are no longer in effect, the company recommends wearing one. The same policy will be put in place if Ontario lifts the mask requirement.
“If the mask requirements are lifted, then it really comes down to what the company decides and individual choice,” said Nola Simon, a hybrid and remote work consultant.
“The more conservative an employer is with masking, the safer they are as an employer.”
Some companies have also taken the time to renovate their offices and upgrade filtration systems — not all companies are depending on masking alone, she said.
“If they’re exceeding the guidelines and what’s required by law, you’re going out of your way to prioritize your employees, which is what they want,” Simon said.
Employment lawyer Stacey R. Ball said when the province does lift mask mandates, it will be hard for employers to continue to require employees to wear them, as they’ll need to show through medical evidence that they’re required to have a safe workplace.
“They’ll need to prove that they’re exceptional,” he said. “It will be tough for the employer to do that, as they will need specific scientific evidence that their workplace is exceptional.”
This can be done with medical documentation from an expert in public health or the medical field, proving that masking makes a significant difference in the workplace and if there’s an obligation in the Occupational Health and Safety Act that needs to be met.
Stepanian said he hopes the provincial guidelines make it clear that some businesses may still have the choice to implement the requirement, similar to the vaccine passport.
“I hope it’s not fully off the table, like how it happened in Alberta, which put employers in a tough place,” he said.
“Employers should feel they have the tools available to them to satisfy their safety obligations in the workplace.”
Article From: The Star
Author: Clarrie Feinstein
