Hellobee Boards

@periwinklebee: thank you. I feel so much for those of you in the US right now as we watch from Canada. It’s so unfair and I guess I just naively thought I wouldn’t have to deal with this mentality within groups I am close with. Thankfully none of our friends and family share these thoughts.

Case in point, I had to do an urgent non contact service for a client this morning and one of the bro’s had been in on Monday. 4 disposable gloves were left out on our reception desk and shared lab surface. Who knows who used those? Why he didn’t put them in the garbage?! And no cleaning supplies were out so he didn’t wipe surfaces after.

Strangers, I get it. So many people don’t distance properly but it’s thankfully a millisecond interaction. But this is hours and hours of shared time. Thankfully it looks like our reasonable boss is growing a backbone and taking a harder stance. Whether they personally follow through, I don’t know though...

@misolee: yes exactly. I was feeling a lot of guilt thinking I wouldn’t be able to be straightforward with clients that we follow every precaution to keep them safe because some would and some wouldn’t. If I hear the phrase ‘everyone has different comfort levels’ one more time, I’m gonna lose my mind! It’s not about comfort! It’s about doing the right thing! I immediately texted everyone about the gloves and surface cleaning so they all know now.

@MenagerieMama: I honestly said to DW I was thinking maybe I don’t belong in this organization anymore if this is what it’s coming to. The job market and uncertainty made me put that on the back burner for now but I am not willing to put myself and family, plus clients at risk for my job. I’m sorry your DH is facing this as well. It’s completely maddening.

Thanks everyone for your replies. I think our rational boss must have read the bro’s the riot act as our most recent team meeting tone flipped suddenly to ‘fine we will do what the masses want FOR NOW’. I think also in part to seeing some competing clinics reopening guidelines and our professional associations protocol was released. Everyone is masking up, sanitizing with proper CDC cleaner, hand sanitizer, and limiting in person visits. We are now doing the same and our clients will be emailed and website updated. I’m still wary of their attitudes but crisis averted for now. I feel so much better as I really didn’t know what to do! I appreciate everyone’s feedback. It made me feel less alone

@Kemma: oh I absolutely agree. Which is why this was so upsetting to me and making me reconsider working there if things didn’t change. Luckily it didn’t come to that but I’m sure this won’t be the last ‘debate’ and it has changed my perception of my coworkers permanently. In lots of people’s cases, including mine, my coworkers also genuinely believe their ideas are right and is ethical, and the governments recommendations are wrong and thus unethical.

I’m sure it’s different everywhere, but I think this issue will come up quite a bit as things open up as the recommendations are still not mandatory here, even outside of businesses. Face coverings are ‘strongly suggested’. Cleaning protocols are a vague ‘we will clean more often’ but really who knows what that means? Stay home and keep within your family when many people are not doing this out of necessity or by choice. Keep social distance...just go to a grocery store and see how well this works. How is anything enforced to ensure the question of ethics or personal belief is not the guiding principle? I know of bylaw being called for gatherings and tickets given in parks where patrols are happening, but in a store or clinic or business where there isn’t an outside observer they will rely on someone reporting if it’s unsafe or not. I even looked into my rights as an employee if I had to look into having an inspector come in and basically if the business follows ‘reasonable safety steps’ I cannot refuse work and the business is deemed safe. Very up to interpretation. This is why I really hope others can put aside their personal thoughts so patrons can trust they are doing the right thing. It’s opened my eyes that there are those who strongly believe against the mainstream and are willing to fight against it even in a small capacity like this. That it’s not unethical if you believe you are right.