Mask advocates have been protesting after In-N-Out, the West Coast burger chain, noted that they were going to ban their employees in five states from wearing masks. The policy is going to be enacted on August 14 according to a leaked memo from the company.
Employees working in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Texas, and Utah are going to be immediately affected by the ban. Those stores in Oregon and California are going to remain unaffected as the states have laws that block employers from stopping employees from wearing masks.
In the leaked memo it was noted that this move was going to improve customer service as customers would be able to see the employees smile. Those employees who have a “valid medical note” are going to be exempt from having to follow the police.
In cases that their exemption is approved, then those employees will be given N-95 masks provided by the company unless the employee’s doctor specifies otherwise.
Mask advocates have criticized this policy on social media and have pushed for others to call the customer service line of the company to oppose the policy.
Dr. Lucky Tran, a Columbia University Irving Medical Center scientist, commented about the policy that it was both “harmful” and “discriminatory.” She also encouraged her followers to contact the burger chain and oppose the mask-wearing ban.
Many liberals on Twitter were quick to slam the policy, pointing out that the company did not appear to be concerned with whether or not people had immune-compromised people in their family. Others stated that they were very upset about the policy.
