In-N-Out Burger is reportedly banning employees from sporting masks while on the clock unless they have a doctors note.
The changes are being sold with the intention to promote better communication between staff and customers, The Street reported. Activist Dr. Lucky Chan says via Twitter that he obtained a corporate document announcing the policy. Chan described the new rule as “discriminatory” and encouraged the public to reach out to higher-ups at the fast food chain to address their concerns.
You can send In-N-Out Burger a comment about their discriminatory policy banning masks here: https://t.co/GXFsBbzgMZ
— Dr. Lucky Tran (@luckytran) July 14, 2023
“We believe this policy will also help to promote clear and effective communication both with our Customers and among our Associates,” the document reads. “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 wellbeing of all individuals.”
Should fast-food workers at the chain wear a mask while working, they could face the risk of termination, according to the documents. (RELATED: Major Media Outlets Mum On New Study Showing Masks Make ‘Little To No Difference’ In Stopping COVID-19)
The purportedly leaked internal document is addressed to branches operating in Utah, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada and Texas. Restaurants in California and Oregon were excluded from the document.
Drivers wait in the drive-thru line at an In-N-Out Burger restaurant in Alhambra, California, on August 30, 2018. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)
Locations in those five states can expect the policy to be rolled out by August 14, The Street noted. (RELATED: Shania Twain ‘Loved’ Working At McDonald’s Before Achieving Stardom)
Some Twitter users expressed similar disdain for the anti-mask mandate dished out by the burger joint:
Fuck In-N-Out for putting their employees and their customers at risk with this forced no mask policy
I don’t want to see their fucking smiles, I want them to be safe. They’re working shit jobs to survive and now you’re telling them it’s either protect themselves or have a job https://t.co/SDqZODuRtC
— Hanner (@GangstHannah) July 14, 2023
Please boycott In-N-Out. This is just plain mean.
In-N-Out Burger Bans Employee Mask Wearing https://t.co/CmMjt8FQat
— Phillips ☀️🌕🌎🌬️🌊🔥 (@Thephillipsers) July 16, 2023
Boycotting In-N-Out until they remove the employee mask ban. Flood their inboxes with your thoughts. https://t.co/xRYzFn4wtt https://t.co/xGmMRiptqF
— Curiousmente (@curiousmente) July 14, 2023
President Joe Biden officially ended the national coronavirus emergency nationally back in April.