Visit OHH or pay for PPE

[Onion509]

Hi,

Just after some advice.

My workplace has introduced a clean shave policy due to health and safety, for the proper mask seal to the face.

The only way around this is a hooded mask suitable for people with beards, and after a battle between the union rep and workplace, they have agreed to provide one only if you pay for it yourself, which is a couple of hundred £.

Option 3 was to get an exemption letter from your GP, if you are exempt from shaving then you are exempt from paying. Work have agreed to this.

I was asked to see my GP and get a letter which I did, which was for m/h and confidence reasons. Now I've submitted this to work, they are saying I now have to see occupational health over it.

I told them I don't wish to see occupational health as I have already provided them with what they need, and I don't like having to divulge my personal problems to strangers. Work's reply was well our policy on the mask exemption is you get a GP letter in the first instance, and then see OH to finalise it (news to me), and if I don't agree then I will just have to pay.

Where do I stand on this? I want to exercise my right to not see OH, which as far as I am aware that is my choice and not theirs. Am I within my right to say no, and can they just ignore my GP letter and then what... take money out of my wages without consent?

Thanks!

[ULA]

You are correct you do not have to agree to an OH appointment.

In regard to any deduction from wages you will need to check your contract of employment to see of this or a similar situation is set out as being something for which an employer can deduct wages. If so then yes they can do this because you have effectively given your consent by signing the contract.

I would however try and discuss the situation further with your employer since you have already provided a GP's letter which was what you understood was all that was required for the hooded PPE mask to be provided to you by the company.