So far only a hypothetical situation, but what would you do?

You me mentioned working at vax centres. Are people medically exempt from wearing a mask recommended to work in that area. Your colleague should be able to provide evidence to your employer about her exemption, not just her say so. Employers have a duty of care surely. I'd express your concerns to your employer there are very few conditions that exclude wearing a mask.

Blacksheep- you really don't know that for sure though,do you? I'm sure some who are vaccinated have, or indeed, could, still die from covid.Especially with the new variant out now.?

Tiggersuki- i fully agree.

Mu husband is immunosuppressed due to having chemotherapy for leukaemia. My son, daughter and SIL are all double vaccinated and test regularly before visiting us, and they wear masks in all crowded places. My son works from his home and daughter has had to start going into her office a couple of days a week, she has made it very clear to her boss that she is not prepared to work with a couple of anti vaxxers and he arranges they work on different days, also in staff meetings they take turns to zoom in. Her sister in law’s boyfriend refused to be vaccinated so told him he wouldn’t be able to visit over Christmas, her sister in law quickly persuaded him to get vaccinated. Other people are entitled to different opinions and me and my family are entitled to avoid these people as much as possible.

Should the situation ever arise, keep your counsel and keep your distance. Live and let live but don't let them live while you die ! By all means tell your manger that you are concerned but I don't feel that we have any right to tell others what to do so keep quiet and get on with your life your way. And do try to stop worrying- if you are vaccinated you ar not going to die now, are you ? So what's your worry really one wonders??

sandelf- does she think they are making it all up? For what reason exactly??

Totally you are in your rights to refuse to work with her. Vaccinations only work if everyone takes a shot. It is supremely selfish and idiotic of her not to. And you definitely should protect yourself from the risk she poses.

I have been quite careful during the whole of the Covid lockdown rules etc. We didn't see family apart from talking to them from our car when we delivered and received Christmas presents last year. They have all been fine with it. I have several friends who are either widows, single ladies or are living with their husbands but have never had children. It would be incredibly rude of me to respond to their comments of "Oh you've just got to get on with it and stop worrying" by saying that I have more to lose than them having a husband, children and grandchildren but their hectoring advice drives me crazy at times. In their situations I might take a similar fatalistic approach but I would never be rude enough to question someone's reasons for wanting to cause the least distress to their families by taking unnecessary chances.

My severely asthmatic son (got added to shielding list last lockdown) says he does not see how/why some are medically exempt from wearing a mask due to asthma?? He emphatically believes that wearing a mask HELPS his asthma, and keeps him safer- in fact when he goes out, (to medical appts & now back in college) he often wears 2 masks together, with no breathing trouble at all, & thats all day for college mostly.He wears gloves too.

Just stunned - so what does she think the people on ventilation and dying are doing.

Sadly, remember that vaccinated can pass on covid, just as much as unvaccinated. Also jabbed can get covid too... I'm not antivax nor a covid denier. We are going to have to live with it no matter what. Just saying.

I'm not attacking anyone on this thread. I'm just giving my views like everyone else.

I personally would choose not to work with her, she has CHOSEN to put you more at risk for very selfish reasons, someone who cannot have the vaccine does not have that choice. I would make the vaccine compulsory and would only let people have the lanyards through a GP. It reminds me of people misusing disability parking permits. It is really stealing and lying and should not be condoned.

I most certainly not work with her, she has made her choice, which she is totally entitled to do, but she should be considerate of other people's feelings, she obviously i not and only cares about herself.
I would have a word with your boss and tell him/her of your worries. Even tripple vaxed she can still infect other people whether she believes it or not.
I feel that people who do not believe that Covid does not exist are totally ignorant and I think that companies should not employ these people if they have to be working with other prople.

And getting the vaccine & being as safe as you can, is a conversation we should ALL be having with our own families.

I've said all along that the vaccine should be compulsory- and then there'd be no arguing over it- and many more lives would not be at risk- looks like Austria and now several other countries have a modicum of sense at least.

Double vaxed and booster, erred on side of caution and still caught Covid. So ill and still suffering exhaustion and joint pain.
I would choose not to mix with anyone who chooses not to be vaccinated.
They may well get Covid and survive but who might they infect who die?
Your colleague is entitled to her opinion, you should not be forced to share it.
I understand you may feel awkward saying how you feel to your boss and your collegue but its your health at risk.

How can she be entitled to wear a 'covid Exempt' lanyard if she doesnt bl**dy believe covid is a thing??sorry but that beggars belief !? In fact id have had to ask her that straight out! Stupid woman- She'll be sorry if any of her family catch it what with this new variant out as well- ive no sympathy for the idiots who think they're immune without even having the vaccine (or the illness) and especially not with the 'head in the sand brigade' ?

Where my son works requires anyone not vaxed to test every day before work to allow attendance.

Certainly speak to your manager as others have said and express your concerns.
I would also add that if you have a union (and they will often give advice even if you are not a member) contact them and see what they can suggest.
No doubt this problem may well not be that unusual. I was surprised by the negative comments on our local community Facebook group about mask wearing.

The covid situation along with vaccination or no vaccination people has caused quite a problem with friends, and/or families. My husband has experienced this with 2 of his adult grown up children, didn’t fully understand when he caught covid over last Xmas & new year, before he got it they couldn’t understand why we were staying put and not calling in ( as they were still doing all sorts!)
One of my sons hasn’t been vaccinated yet as much as I kept on at him. He is an adult and can make up his own mind!!! He says he will but not yet, don’t know what he’s waiting for... he knows how I feel but it’s a subject we do not really discuss. All I can do is hope & pray that if he gets covid that it isn’t bad. But I would refuse to fall out with him, unlike some families do, we do meet up & do the usual - coffee, lunches, family occasions etc. But I think if I was in your situation with a friend at work I probably would try & move desk or workspace away from her. I also might with friends, but there again my friends have been vaccinated. Good luck with what you choose to do.

Your line manager has a duty of care to undertake a risk assessment for those who are expected to work with anyone who doesn't wear a mask - it doesn't really matter what their justification is for that.
Given the more contactable strain of Covid our current risk is higher & being vaccinated is not protection from this strain.

Your employer has a duty to keep you safe just as much as those who choose not to wear mask.

They may need to put other measures in place for example screens - or indeed manage it so that she doesn't work less than 2 meters to anyone else.

I undertake health assessments & decline to do so for people that don't wear masks. Most of them - even those who have a medical exemption - put a mask on when I explain I won't do it without.

If you are in a vulnerable group either healthwise or age, I would point out the difficulty to your manager. Now there is a new directive to wear masks your colleague is being irresponsible - the only exemptions for mask wearing are for certain health conditions, not personal choice. I should think there would be sanctions for an individual who falsely claim to be exempt.

The anti-vaxxers I know are not budging at all over all this and I get frustrated listening to their reasoning behind it. I don't even know, god forbid, that they would lose someone dear to them to Covid would they change their minds. This woman you may up working with sounds like one of them and I would have a wee word with your manager about your worries and hopefully he can be selective when arranging placements for you with this woman.

Yes. If she’s free to refuse jabs then surely you’re free to refuse to work near her.

He's told his staff to request any non mask wearers wear one but doesn't expect them to try and enforce it and I agree with him.

It's not fair for staff to be put in a position where they may be subjected to abuse.