In-N-Out to ban employees in 5 states from wearing masks

[mahatmakanejeeves]

U.S.

In-N-Out to ban employees in 5 states from wearing masks

BY FARIS TANYOS

JULY 19, 2023 / 12:09 AM / CBS NEWS

Beginning next month, employees for the popular chain In-N-Out Burger will be banned from wearing masks in five of the seven states where it operates.

According to internal company memos leaked online, In-N-Out employees in Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Nevada and Texas will be barred from wearing masks beginning Aug. 14. Those who wish to wear a mask after that date will need to obtain a medical note, the company said.

However, employees in California — where In-N-Out is headquartered — and Oregon will be exempted from the requirements due to state laws there.

The company wrote in its memos that its new policy will "help to promote clear and effective communication both with our customers and among our associates." ... Employees who receive permission to wear a mask "for medical reasons must wear a company provided N-95 mask," the memos read.

{snip}

[jimfields33]

1. Very odd timing since wearing a mask is no longer a thing.

Even politicians have stopped wearing them.

[Ferrets are Cool]

4. I wear mine every day, but I admit to being the odd man out.

[Freethinker65]

2. So if they might be coming down with/or recovering from a virus

They are required to NOT attempt to protect the public and coworkers?

Who determines who qualifies to wear the company provided N-95 mask?

[vanlassie]

5. And why would the company provide it?

[Freethinker65]

6. Actually, I can understand the company choosing to provide masks

I assume employees already wear a uniform and have a dress code to follow. Everyone that chooses to wear a mask being provided with identical masks continues the uniform look.

The problem is, it should now be the employee's choice. Perhaps the employee thinks they might be coming down with or getting over a cold and feel well enough to work but want to lessen the risk of infecting others should they actually be infectious. Perhaps they are caring for an immunocompromised friend or family member, or have a big event in the near future and want to lesson their own risk of getting ill.

With air quality issues from particulates from forest fires, people at risk with breathing issues where I live have been advised to wear masks for going outside. We will continue to see people wearing masks in public.
Though I do understand communication between employee and customer is sometimes difficult when wearing a mask (I work retail), I don't think the company should be able to ban/restrict the wearing of masks worn to lessen possibility of virus transmission.

[FarPoint]

3. That is awful....just let people live!

Way too much illogical control....I say, this policy is a good reason NOT to work there if it is enforced.

[Warpy]

7. Employees with no sick leave?

Honestly, I'd rather they mask if they're running any sort of a temperature.

Secret sauce with phlegm is not appetizing.

[walkingman]

8. I ate an in-N-out burger about 20 years ago in California just to see what it was like

we didn't have any here in Texas. I didn't think they were anything special. But I didn't notice the Bible-verses thing at the time? Has this always been the case?

So why would they ban wearing a mask? Seems stupid to me. Is this a version of the chick-fil-a thing?

This country has gone bonkers with the Christian thing - praise Jesus ☮

[msongs]

9. but what about employee sincerely held beliefs to wear a masK? btw they have always

peddled religion on the products

[ReadItnWeep]

10. Sounds like lies

Well the reason given for the ban sounds like utter bullshit. Have the communications between customer, employee, and management been so large that the company was losing profits? Was the miscommunication causing the restaurant to have major issues in all these states that they caused *major* disruptions in operation? And if this was the case, (which I doubt), was there noone who might add a simple system to verify communication to overcome these communication problems? Maybe printing out, or writing in a large whiteboard, etc. And touch menus or similar for the customer to clearly order what they want.

More likely, the company felt like the masks after COVID-19 mandatory usage only gave the impression that the restaurant was unsanitary. Or they really don't like the reminder of being forced to wear masks, and forced to be vaccinated when they felt as though the virus, the shutdowns, the vaccines, and even the deaths were all blown out of proportion for political reasons. So they are now forcing their employees to cut it out already.

And are there not federally mandated safety measures required of establishments that work with food?

Because 100% likelihood that this new policy will result in an employee infecting several people with whatever contagious disease they had. If you need a job, as most do work for survival rather than for a lark, then going to work with a sniffle or cough is going to happen. Rather than mask up easily, cheaply, painlessly, as a precaution and regard to keep everyone healthy - an employee would have to take a sick day, probably unpaid- go to doctor, probably with a co pay cost that might not be in budget, and get that note. And a company that makes this type of policy will have an environment of management that will make the employee who has a note (a valid health-related reason to do so) feel ostracized for doing so.

Shit policy.