Wearing masks will remain an important aspect of workplace safety due to COVID for the foreseeable future. Here are some important points when wearing a mask for every day.
In late February, Vogue magazine, "America's last word in style," insisted that while face masks are not a fashion accessory, some look decidedly more attractive than others.
The Vogue 100-piece list opens with a $120 designer silk mask and includes everything from plaid, florals, and minimalist monochromes to recycled, recycled, and vintage "masklets."
The Western world has certainly come a long way in its attitude towards protective face masks since the outbreak of COVID-19 in early 2020. Outside of healthcare facilities, wearing face masks is no longer seen as odd as it used to be, but as a necessity to prevent the spread of the virus and other germs, and to stop inhaling pollen and pollution.
Aside from the important life-saving role of face masks, as Vogue rightly points out, “they take up a fair amount of real estate on your face.”
As masks are required in a variety of circumstances for the foreseeable future, and their use is now widely normalized, savvy companies have rushed to provide employees and customers with reusable masks that promote their brand while also positioning their business as environmentally and socially responsible.
Image Consciousness
Pamela Jabbour is the CEO of the Unified Professionals division of Total Image Group. Demand for custom face masks has skyrocketed over the past year, she said.
"Head-to-toe represents who you work for and what that means, so if you're an employee of a financial institution ... and you show up to work wearing a really bright flowery mask, that's not in line with the business."
Giving employees custom face masks that color-match with uniforms or that simply add a logo to a standard black mask has allowed companies to curb personalization and take control of their brand messaging, Jabbur said.
According to her, if employees encountered resistance, it was not a denial of individual self-expression, but comfort.
“If it wasn't mandatory, most people didn't want to wear a mask all day as it was uncomfortable. The feedback from the business was to make the masks adjustable, different sizes and as comfortable as possible, and to make them as accessible as possible to customers,” says Jabbur.
Safety is more important than self-expression
Aside from style and branding, an important consideration for businesses is that employees' own masks may not comply with health and safety regulations, says Aaron Gunry, partner in workplace relations and safety at Australian law firm Lander & Rogers.
Along with safety, “if employees choose to wear their own masks at work, they will need to comply with the parameters of any other uniform policy or dress code that businesses may have,” he says.
“For example, if a workplace clothing policy prohibits employees from wearing clothing with offensive or inappropriate slogans, then this includes masks containing any inappropriate designs or messages.”
A face mask made to look like a wolf, for example, or with a slogan like "Wait, the sarcastic comment is loading" - two real-life examples - might seem funny outside of the office, but not everyone knows where to draw the line. .
The personalization of masks also raises more serious questions about the possibility of discrimination. While HR departments often talk about how employees should feel comfortable "working as a whole," management can discriminate against an employee who chooses to wear a mask with political overtones or a union logo.
Missed lines
Masks can also directly affect our ability to communicate with colleagues and clients.
“If an employer implements a policy requiring masks, they should also provide training on mask use, which may include training on how to properly communicate and interact with employees while wearing masks,” says Gunry.
Face masks hide visual cues that allow us to read people's emotions, reduce misunderstandings, and help build trust and empathy. Several studies show that covering the lower part of the face distorts our perception, making it difficult to distinguish disgust from anger, or happiness from indifference.
To help connect and communicate, HR professionals are urging those wearing masks to be patient and speak more slowly and clearly to compensate for slurred speech and an inability to read lips.