Covid is on the rise. But burger chains like In-N-Out won’t let their workers wear masks in most states.
“Irvine-based fast food restaurant In-N-Out unveiled through a memo this week that the chain will ban employees from wearing masks at locations in every state but California and Oregon, becoming one of the first major restaurant chains to formally end the practice following the COVID-19 pandemic . . .
According to the memo, all employees in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Texas, and Utah will no longer be allowed to wear masks, with the lone exception being for medical problems backed up by a note from a physician. The reason given by In-N-Out was due to wanting more ‘clear and effective’ communication and better customer service.
‘We are introducing new mask guidelines that emphasize the importance of customer service and the ability to show our Associates’ smiles and other facial features while considering the health and well-being of all individuals,’ said the memo. ‘If employees want to continue wearing a mask, they must provide a medical note for a specific medical condition or health concern that requires them to wear a mask to their manager or In-N-Out’s human resources department. Approved employees must wear a company-provided N-95 mask. The note should clearly state the reason for the exemption and include the estimated duration, if applicable.’
Infectious disease experts blasted the announcement on Monday and Tuesday, saying that it is likely a CDC violation and that the company may not heave heard the last of it. Conversely, many in the industry applauded the announcement, with many hinting that they would do the same soon.
‘You would have expected Chick-Fil-A or someone else to really be the first, but instead it was a Southern California chain,’ said Tom Schaeffer, a fast food industry analyst, to the Globe on Tuesday. ‘But they have long been against strict masking policies. They went with it in the beginning, everyone did, but a lot of locations began rebelling against local orders and it turned into a big thing.'”
For the full story, visit the California Globe here.