Is it ok to ask a tradesperson to wear a mask?

August 17, 2021 8:48 PM

My landlord sent over a plumber who works for them who arrived at my door without a mask. Was I out of line asking him to wear one I provided?

When I asked if he had a mask he said no and I asked him to wear one and provided a surgical mask from a box I keep near my door. I also had a mask on.

The plumber seemed upset, he kicked some boxes I kept near the door and knocked makeup onto the floor. Then he left without fixing the apparent problem with my toilet. It made me uncomfortable especially since I’m a woman living alone.

I’m wondering if I was out of line asking him to wear a mask, I’m vaccinated but I’m still trying to be careful.

posted by anonymous to Human Relations (25 answers total)

You absolutely weren't out of line. That plumber acted like an ignorant, reckless asshole and I'm glad he didn't enter your rental unit. I hope the landlord acknowledges this and sends you another plumber who has been told that he must wear a mask.
posted by orange swan at 8:52 PM on August 17, 2021 [91 favorites]

A Very reasonable request!
This really should not be a big surprise to him- I mean, come on— this is 2021!!
posted by calgirl at 8:53 PM on August 17, 2021 [15 favorites]

I think it’s totally appropriate to have asked him to wear a mask, and his reaction sounds out of line.
posted by sucre at 8:53 PM on August 17, 2021 [11 favorites]

Hell no you were not out of line.

I get that your landlord having been the one to send them over means this is more complicated than you simply being able to FTMFA, but from a safety perspective, the plumber your landlord hired jeopardized your safety in multiple ways. Your legal protections may vary based on your jurisdiction, though.
posted by Pandora Kouti at 8:53 PM on August 17, 2021 [8 favorites]

He got upset, kicked boxes, and knocked things on the floor because you asked him to do something as simple as wearing a mask during a pandemic? Every single repair person I've had in my home in the past year has worn a mask and gloves, as well as disposable booties over their shoes.

Kick up a stink with your landlord about the lack of safety, generally unprofessional behavior, and damage to your belongings. Tell your landlord you'd be happy to find your own plumber and deduct the cost of that from your rent if that would be easier for everyone.
posted by erst at 9:15 PM on August 17, 2021 [72 favorites]

Completely unreasonable. I've had workers over to my house who were doing construction in the back yard who have worn masks without a fuss, despite being fully vaccinated.
posted by kdar at 9:18 PM on August 17, 2021 [8 favorites]

Every tradesperson I've had in the home since covid started has worn one without being asked, even the ones who said they didn't care if I wore one. You were totally reasonable.
posted by Candleman at 9:26 PM on August 17, 2021 [7 favorites]

Not out of line at all. It's your home. I had two masks ready for some blinds installers, who graciously wore them. I'm sorry that person gave you grief about it.
posted by soakimbo at 9:33 PM on August 17, 2021 [2 favorites]

Tradespeople where I live won't enter a house unless the occupants are masked. Complain to your landlord and demand that they send someone else out.
posted by Toddles at 10:00 PM on August 17, 2021 [9 favorites]

You were absolutely not out of line, and furthermore he was extremely out of line. I think anti-maskers are stupid, but at least if he had just politely refused to wear a mask and declined to enter your home without a fuss, I would chalk him up as a mere dumbass. He crossed the line into unprofessional and threatening when he kicked over boxes and wrecked your stuff. Report his wretched self to your landlord and tell him you will expect any tradesperson who enters your home to wear a mask.

What an asshole. I’m sorry that happened to you. I’m fuming about it on your behalf.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 10:24 PM on August 17, 2021 [24 favorites]

You absolutely weren't out of line.

The plumber seemed upset, he kicked some boxes I kept near the door and knocked makeup onto the floor. Then he left without fixing the apparent problem with my toilet.

This ABSOLUTELY WAS out of line.

Tell your landlord that you made a reasonable request in a pandemic and the plumber became violent and belligerent in response.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 10:27 PM on August 17, 2021 [26 favorites]

Completely unreasonable.

Just to be clear, I meant your plumber was the one who was completely unreasonable. You were absolutely in the right.
posted by kdar at 10:46 PM on August 17, 2021 [3 favorites]

I’d complain to the landlord and if the plumber works for a company, I’d complain to them too. I’m sure they’ll be really interested to know that he’s putting their customers at risk and driving away business. The guy is a total jerk.
posted by Jubey at 11:05 PM on August 17, 2021 [6 favorites]

Heck yes it's OK, and if they don't comply, bye-bye. This is absolutely not something you should feel pressured in any way to compromise about.
posted by Dansaman at 11:27 PM on August 17, 2021 [1 favorite]

OP, you're very much in the right here, and the plumber your landlord sent was unprofessional and belligerent. The part about how you're "uncomfortable especially since I’m a woman living alone" caught my attention. If you're not sure how to proceed, in your shoes I would write down everything about today's botched visit (date and time, the original plumbing problem, how the appointment was arranged, his name and general description, his company's name, your wholly-sensible request [while you were masked, no less!], his verbal and physical response, that he didn't fix the plumbing, the dramatic exit and the makeup he knocked onto the floor), photograph your stuff (and the persistent bath issue, if possible), and send that info off in an email to close friends while the details are fresh.

Then I'd contact the landlord and put in a request for a different contractor which isn't a request at all. Something like, "The plumbing problem wasn't addressed on Wednesday, so you'll need to send a different plumber here. Masks are required in my home, and when the last person showed up, I met him at the door wearing a mask. He wasn't masked, and he refused the one I offered. Then he left, knocking a few of my things over on his way out. I needed to let you know the work didn't take place, and to send another, professional, plumber." I'd do this message by email, if possible.

And if the same guy appeared at the next appointment, I wouldn't let him in even if he wore proper safety gear, because he'd be so, so at the wrong address. Loudly, through the locked door: "You're not scheduled here, must be some mix-up at the office." Then I'd call the landlord.
posted by Iris Gambol at 12:46 AM on August 18, 2021 [17 favorites]

Absolutely tell your landlord you will never let that plumber in your house again and he better find a different one for next time.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 2:20 AM on August 18, 2021 [10 favorites]

Here to sing with the chorus...You were completely ok to ask the plumber to wear a mask. Every tradesperson I've had come into my house during this time has worn a mask. Now, some of them had it down as they approached the door, until they saw I was wearing a mask, and then they put theirs up, too.

Additionally, the guy kicked a freaking box and left. WTF? Absolutely tell your landlord about this and demand a different plumber to come fix the problem. I'd be afraid the same guy, even if he wears a mask next time, is going to hold a grudge and do half-assed work.
posted by Thorzdad at 4:27 AM on August 18, 2021 [6 favorites]

No, you weren't out of line. HE was incredibly out of line. As a data point, I had to have someone come clean my dryer vent and I asked them to wear a mask. I apologized for it because I felt funny requesting this, and he said: "Not at all. I'm happy to do it. Thank you for doing your part to keep everyone safe." That is a perfectly normal reaction. Your plumber acted way out of line, and your discomfort is totally warranted.
posted by twelve cent archie at 6:54 AM on August 18, 2021 [5 favorites]

Jesus, no. What? You were completely reasonable. It's your home and you make the rules, period. I would contact the landlord and tell him what happened and you don't feel comfortable with that individual in your home. If you think it will make things easier, you can tell the landlord you're at high risk. I like Iris Gambol's script.
posted by HotToddy at 8:29 AM on August 18, 2021 [3 favorites]

Not only were you not out of line, but you would be entirely in-line if you let other people know about that plumber and the company they work for.
posted by emelenjr at 9:36 AM on August 18, 2021 [2 favorites]

I had a plumber over to fix my toilet a few days ago and when he showed up maskless I met him on the porch and said, hi, thanks for coming, do you have a mask? And he said, oh yeah, and pulled one out of his pocket and put it on. It was a complete non-issue.

Your guy was a jerk about it.
posted by epanalepsis at 9:40 AM on August 18, 2021 [2 favorites]

You a worker to use safety precautions and the worker behaved badly. Call the landlord and complain; this is unacceptable. You have every expectation of safety in your home; I would not want this person near me.

As a bonus, as people realize mask safety affects their livelihood, maybe they'll adapt?
posted by theora55 at 11:35 AM on August 18, 2021 [2 favorites]

Professional home enterer and fixer here: Your home, your rules. I wear a mask any time I'm in a residential hallway or an occupied residence. All of my coworkers do the same. You can also say, for example, visitors must wear booties over their dirty work boots. Stuff like that is commonplace.

The most common bit of friction I got from years of going door to door was when someone asked me to take off my shoes, and I would say, I'm keeping my shoes on because they protect my feet, but let me put on these disposable booties for your house. Sometimes I'd have to repeat three times that I'm not taking off my protective shoes, which might keep my toes from being crushed by their appliance, but I'm happy and ready and willing to wear these booties.

If there was any real problem with a resident (they're yelling at me, taking out emotions on me, being a huge jerk somehow) I'd give them a chance to cool down, but otherwise I'd just leave. No tantrums, no weird violence.
posted by panhopticon at 11:35 AM on August 18, 2021 [4 favorites]

I think your landlord also should have given you the option to not be at home when the plumber came...I think this might actually be required under current regulations where I live (you can also deny the landlord entry under some circumstances because of the pandemic here).
posted by pinochiette at 12:14 PM on August 18, 2021

Kicking your belongings was EXTREMELY inappropriate regardless of the reason, so even without the mask question this is not a person who has any business being in your home. Add on your absolutely reasonable mask expectation, and this whole situation just sets my hair on fire with rage.

You were absolutely in the right to expect him to mask up, and I hope this toddler's tantrum doesn't make you hesitate to keep upholding this expectation. I also hope you won't hesitate to reach out to your landlord and (if applicable) the company this person works for to make sure they know what choices he made, and to ensure he never gets sent to you again. I'm sorry you experienced that.
posted by DingoMutt at 9:13 AM on August 19, 2021 [3 favorites]