Can I not go to work if my company does not issue masks? What should I do if my company does not issue masks during the epidemic?

We all know that the recent period of time has been a difficult time for the new coronavirus. Many people have been infected and sick, and the number of infections is increasing. In order to avoid infection with the new coronavirus, everyone will wear a mask when going out. So can I not go to work if the company does not issue a mask? Let's take a closer look!

Can I not go to work if my company does not provide me with masks?

cannot.

Article 42 of the "Work Safety Law" stipulates that production and operation units must provide employees with labor protection supplies that meet national standards or industry standards, and supervise and educate employees to wear and use them in accordance with the rules of use. However, for general enterprises, masks are not labor protection supplies that must be provided by the unit. Some places stipulate that masks are not required in the office. For example, the mask use guide of the Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention can be used as a reference: masks are not required in well-ventilated offices. During normal work, if there is no mask, you can wear something to cover your mouth and nose, and wash and change it frequently.

Therefore, employees cannot refuse to go to work on the grounds that the company does not provide masks. However, providing masks to employees during special periods fully demonstrates the company's care for employees. It is recommended that companies with conditions can prepare some masks for employees.

What should I do if my company does not provide masks?

If the company does not provide masks, employees can only prepare them themselves. If masks cannot be purchased, it is best for employees to apply to work from home online, which is the safest way to work.

The novel coronavirus is still mainly spread through droplet and contact transmission. Aerosol transmission may occur under certain special conditions, such as during professional medical operations such as clinical endotracheal intubation. Under routine clinical care and general working and living conditions, the droplet transmission protection measures of wearing masks correctly are sufficient to protect the general public from infection.

It is recommended that citizens must wear masks. Usually there are ordinary cotton masks, disposable surgical masks, N95 masks, etc. The general public can wear surgical masks.

Questions about the unit not distributing masks

1. Question: If the company cannot provide masks, can the employees terminate the labor contract on the grounds that the working conditions are not provided, and can they claim economic compensation?

Answer: No. This is in response to the need for epidemic prevention and control, not the company's own labor contract obligations. Moreover, the company itself cannot buy masks, so it cannot force others to do so.

2. Question: If the company does not provide masks and employees do not go to work, will they still be paid?

Answer: It depends on the situation. If you can go to work but don’t, it will be considered as absenteeism and you will not get paid. If you don’t go to work because you don’t have a mask, although it is an objective reason and cannot be considered as absenteeism, you will not get paid if you don’t provide labor.

3. Question: If the company does not provide masks and employees do not go to work, will it be considered as absenteeism?

Answer: It depends on the situation. If an employee has a mask but does not go to work, it is considered absenteeism. If an employee does not have a mask and cannot go out due to objective reasons, it is not considered absenteeism.

4. Question: If the company does not provide masks and employees do not go to work, can the company terminate the labor contract on the grounds of serious violations of regulations?

Answer: Not going to work when you can is a refusal to perform the labor contract obligations, which is considered absenteeism and can be terminated for serious violations of discipline. Without masks, employees cannot go out. It is not the fault of the employees, and the labor contract cannot be terminated for serious violations of discipline.

How to protect yourself at work

1. Workplaces and other crowded places should keep windows open for ventilation at least twice a day in the morning and afternoon for 30 minutes each time. Reduce the use of air conditioners and clean them regularly; for centralized air conditioning systems with return air, install low-resistance medium-efficiency air filters at the return air outlets, and strengthen the cleaning and replacement of air filters at the fresh air outlets.

2. Wash your hands frequently. If there is no hand washing equipment, you should provide 70-75% alcohol hand sanitizer or hand sanitizer.

3. Minimize the frequency and duration of meetings without affecting work. Choose a relatively spacious and ventilated space, and all participants should wear masks. It is best to use information technology to carry out various activities such as office and production organization.

4. Strengthen the safety and sanitation of the canteens of the units, and strengthen daily disinfection and ventilation of the canteens and restaurants. Restaurant service staff must undergo health checks before taking up their posts every day, and must wear gloves, protective glasses, medical masks, protective shoes, etc. during work. It is best to eat alone, and you can eat in different time periods, keep a distance of more than 1.5 meters between diners, reduce conversations, and deliver meals to each post.