The wearing of masks is also advisory in other crowed and enclosed public places.
Whilst there are of course certain individuals who fall under categories which exempt them from wearing face coverings, anyone who fails to comply with face covering rules could be fined up to £100 (reduced to £50 if paid within 14 days).
Under new measures introduced last week by the Prime Minister, this amount will double for subsequent offences up to a maximum of £3,200.
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Here’s everything you need to know about updated face covering rules in the following stores:
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B&M
Geograph – Hugh Venables
When it comes to the wearing of face coverings in B&M stores, a spokesperson told the Lancashire Telegraph that: “We require the use of face coverings whilst visiting our stores.
“Anybody not wearing a mask may have a health reason not to be wearing one.”
The company didn’t add however if staff would be challenging any customers who do not wear a face covering in their stores.
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For more information and opening times, visit the B&M website here.
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Home Bargains
Home Bargains
A spokesperson for Home Bargains said: “We are absolutely aligned to the current legal requirements with respect to the wearing of face coverings and, where mandatory within the UK, we would ask all customers to follow this unless they have a health condition that exempts them.”
Home Bargains also did not add if staff would be challenging any customers who do not wear a face covering in their stores.
For more information and opening times, visit the Home Bargains website here.
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Wilko
Wilko
A spokesperson for Wilko said: “In line with the latest government guidance and to help keep our customers and colleagues safe, we’re asking that face coverings are worn when shopping in our English stores,”
“Coverings will be available to purchase upon entry in to store (whilst stocks last) however, medical and other exemptions may apply.
“We will not refuse entry to any customers.”
For more information and opening times, visit the Wilko website here.
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Poundland
Poundland
A spokesperson for Poundland, and sister company PEP&CO, said: “Out of respect for each other, we encourage all customers to wear face coverings where they don’t have a valid reason not to.
“Enforcement is the responsibility of the police, but customer compliance with the guidelines in our stores is high.”
For more information and opening times, visit the Poundland website here.
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For further information and guidance amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, do refer to official sources via gov.uk/coronavirus.
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One in 10 Brits are fired or disciplined after their work’s Christmas party, new survey finds
Emily Sergeant
We’re in peak office Christmas party season right now.
With just a week to go until the big day itself is here, many businesses across the UK are treating their staff to night out to celebrate both the festive season and all of the hard work they have been putting in throughout the year… and as you can expect, these are usually quite eventful gatherings, shall we say.
But now, a survey by has shed light on just how ‘eventful’ they actually are, as a new survey has revealed that, apparently, one in ten Brits face some sort of disciplinary action or dismissal due to their behaviour at Christmas parties.
The study was conducted by After Drink, and included more than 2,000 participants.
During the research, it was highlighted that 89% of employees admitted to drinking alcohol at these events, Lad Bible reports – with 65% of these confessing that they drank “excessively”.
One in 10 Brits get fired or disciplined after their work’s Christmas party / Credit: Kraken Images | Mimi Thian (via Unsplash)
There are a multitude of incidents which could lead to disciplinary action in the workplace nowadays, but according to the survey, some of the common reasons following festive celebrations with colleagues included inappropriate comments (23%) and even getting into fights (21%).
16% of these incidents were because of drug use during the event, while inappropriate interactions with colleagues accounted for 14%.
Some of the legal reasons you can be fired from your place of work after a Christmas party include gross misconduct, drunken behaviour, and fighting of any kind.
Despite all these risks, however, Christmas parties still remain as popular as always, and a whopping 79% of respondents said they are planning to attend theirs this year.
Clearly, the moral of the story here is , enjoy yourself… but just not too much.
Featured Image – The OurWhiskey Company (via Pexels)
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Chester Zoo is offering £1 tickets to families who ‘struggle to afford’ a festive day out
Emily Sergeant
Chester Zoo is offering £1 tickets this Christmas to families who may otherwise struggle to afford a festive day out.
Christmas is a time when many of us feel strapped for cash more than ever before, especially for those families on Universal Credit, which is why Chester Zoo is embracing the season of giving by offering thousands of locals the chance to visit the UK’s largest charity zoo for a fraction of the price of normal entry tickets.
The discounted tickets will be available for anyone claiming Universal Credit on visits from today (18 December) right up until New Year’s Eve (31 December), and they’ll need to be booked online in advance.
This brilliant initiative is a new addition to the zoo’s long-running Community Connections Scheme, which aims to reduce financial barriers to visiting for households and community groups.
Chester Zoo is offering £1 tickets to families on Universal Credit this festive season / Credit: Chester Zoo
Tickets priced at £1 will be available to people receiving Universal Credit, including claimants of Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support or Jobseeker’s Allowance, and Housing Benefit.
Chester Zoo said the scheme is designed to help families on lower incomes enjoy the zoo during the festive period and connect with nature.
“We know that spending time outdoors and around wildlife can have a really positive impact on people, and we hope this helps more families enjoy a special day out together over the festive period, especially when this time of year can be difficult for many,” commented Charlotte Smith, who is Chester Zoo’s Director of Conservation Education.
“We hope this brightens the season for many more households.”