Worker must follow the recommendation to wear a mask, say entities

With the rise in cases of Covid-19, entities that represent companies and workers in commerce and banks, where contact with the public is frequent, recommend the use of masks in closed environments.

The guidance is in line with what states and municipalities have been doing. This Wednesday (1st), the City Hall of São Paulo, for example, followed the state government and suggested that the population take this protective measure again, after a rise in the number of new cases and active cases of Covid-19.

“The state of São Paulo, at the height of the pandemic, had thousands of workers who died exercising their profession. One of the most affected areas was commerce and supermarkets, where contact with the public is greater”, says Ricardo Patah, president of the Trade Union.

“You don’t have to wait for the number of cases to continue to rise, it is necessary for the employers’ federation to determine that in workplaces where there is a concentration of people, a mask must be worn, especially where this concentration is greater, such as the region of Rua 25 de Março. , in Sao Paulo.”

FecomercioSP, which brings together employers’ unions from the trade and services sectors, in view of the recommendation of the Prefecture, suggests to the sector to continue adopting measures to protect its establishments.

“Thus, merchants and service providers can request the use of masks by their employees. This would be a simple and low-cost measure, which can minimize the spread of the disease”, the entity told the Sheet.

“In the case of consumers, in addition to the guidance of the municipal administration always prevailing, entrepreneurs can, on their own initiative, reinforce the recommendation that they use masks when shopping.”

The Bank Workers Union of São Paulo, Osasco and region also recommends that institutions encourage the use of masks by workers in the category.

“The protocol requires the banker to leave in case of suspicion of Covid and take the test. The orientation is to keep the use of the mask to protect himself from the flu, the recommendation is that the employee leaves to be tested and, if he is infected, stay at home”, says the entity.

The union also demands that banks adapt their air conditioning and ventilation systems to eliminate the virus in the environment.

Last month, even before the recommendations, Bradesco reported that employees are instructed to wear a face mask in the work environment, according to internal protocol. Masks are made available, free of charge, to all employees and employees.

“Employees diagnosed with Covid-19 follow the recommendations of our internal health professionals to withdraw from face-to-face activities, according to the guidelines of health bodies and individual clinical evaluation. Bank.

Febraban (the entity that represents banks) says that the banking network has adopted, throughout the pandemic, a careful system of prevention, monitoring and control to protect employees and customers, through strict protocols.

“Although the use of masks is not mandatory, banks have already been recommending their use by employees, in addition to the practice of hand hygiene, providing gel alcohol, respiratory etiquette, social distancing, among other initiatives”, says the entity.

In a note, Abrasce (Brazilian Association of Shopping Centers) informed that “it is monitoring the situation of Covid-19 cases and that it will comply with the determinations that may be taken by the authorities of São Paulo”.

The end of the mandatory use of masks in closed places was decreed by former governor João Doria (PSDB) on March 17. With the increase in cases, however, experts questioned whether the measure was prudent.

According to labor law specialist Ricardo Calcini, companies can force the use of masks on their premises, regardless of what city halls decide.

“The company is responsible for the work environment and can impose the use of a mask, if it understands that this will increase the safety of employees. In this case, employees can request that they provide the protective material. The company, however, is also free to recommend use if the authorities only recommend it.”

If the company again requires the use of the mask, the employee needs to follow the recommendation. Disrespecting this decision can lead to warnings and, in the last case, to a dismissal for just cause, complements the president of AATSP (Association of Labor Lawyers of São Paulo), Horácio Conde.

“In addition to being a protection for the employee, it is also safer for the company to force the use, even for it to protect itself, in the case of an increase in cases in the team”, he says.