A big change has just been made at the popular fast-food restaurant In-N-Out Burger, which has more than 40 locations in Texas and employs nearly 1,000 people.
The California-based company reportedly sent a memo to employees asking them not to wear masks unless they have a doctor’s note. Employees who do not comply will face discipline, including possible termination.
Many restaurants required employees and some customers to wear masks during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The new policy, which is scheduled to take effect on August 14, was mentioned in a tweet by molecular biologist Lucky Tran, who writes regularly about public health issues.
“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,” the policy says. “We believe this policy will also help to promote clear and effective communication both with our Customers and among our Associates.”
In-N-Out previously received attention for pushing back over government COVID-19 mandates. During the pandemic, two of the chain’s California locations were shut down temporarily for refusing to check customers’ vaccine cards, which was required under state law at the time.
“We refuse to become the vaccination police for any government. It is unreasonable, invasive, and unsafe to force our restaurant associates to segregate customers into those who may be served and those who may not, whether based on the documentation they carry, or any other reason,” said Arnie Wensinger, In-N-Out’s chief legal and business officer, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
At the end of last month, the Texas Supreme Court ruled that local government mask mandates were invalid in light of a previous executive order from Gov. Greg Abbott, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
The chain’s new mask policy comes in the wake of a recent California Supreme Court ruling. It declared that state businesses cannot be sued over COVID if employees contract the virus at work or take it home.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) qualifies mask-wearing as a defense against the spread of airborne diseases.
“Layered prevention strategies — like staying up to date on vaccines and wearing masks — can help prevent severe illness and reduce the potential for strain on the healthcare system,” the CDC claims on its website.