Sprouts, WTF? Store Mask Requirements Aren't Really Requirements If They Aren't Enforced

[TheBlackAdder]

.

Regardless of local or state mandates, guess who is not enforcing the policy?

The supposedly Healthy Food store. Perhaps they don't want to offend the anti-vaxxers.

On July 2, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) issued a statewide mask requirement to dampen a surge in coronavirus cases. Under the order, most Texans would have to cover their faces when entering buildings open to the public, like grocery stores.

The following day, managers at a Sprouts Farmers Market in Texas received a memo related to the new policy. When it came to customers who refused to mask up, the mandate wouldn’t be a mandate after all.

“If customer doesn’t have a mask, we offer them one. If customer still refuses, let them shop,” stated the July 3 memo, a copy of which was provided to HuffPost. “WE ARE NOT KICKING OUT CUSTOMERS WHO DON’T HAVE A FACE COVERING. That is not Sprouts policy.”

A Sprouts spokesperson told HuffPost the company implemented a strict requirement for masks the following week, on July 11. The policy applies to the chain’s 300 stores nationwide and is posted at entrances for customers to see.

“The wellbeing of our team members, our customers, and our communities remain our top priority and we’re continually updating our response to COVID-19 as the pandemic quickly evolves,” the spokesperson, Diego Romero, said in an email.


https://www.huffpost.com/entry/store-mask-requirements-arent-really-requirements-if-they-arent-enforced_n_5f1b483dc5b6128e6825c501

That's OK. I'll just report them to my County Board of Health and to the State Dept. of Health.

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[unblock]

1. Everyone's wellbeing is so important to them that they welcome people to spread lethal germs there.

[BigmanPigman]

2. I have heard that CVS and Walmart are doing the same thing for

the same reason.

[Ms. Toad]

8. Looks like you're right.

Take them off my shopping routine. A mandatory mask policy that isn't enforced is worthless.

PITTSBURGH (CNN/KDKA) — Walmart and other major retailers made headlines last week with a new requirement for customers to wear masks in its US stores. But the new rules only go so far.

Walmart, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Walgreens, CVS and others say they still won’t prohibit customers who refuse to wear a mask from shopping in stores. The issue, they say, is they want to avoid confrontations between angry customers and employees.

https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2020/07/24/walmart-home-depot-cvs-and-others-will-still-serve-customers-who-refuse-to-wear-masks-despite-new-rules/

All you have to do is offer a mask, if they refuse, then tell them they can't come in the store - and offer to shop for them. If there is a very-very-very rare medical condition, they are accommodated. If not - you have protected your customers and employees from politically motiviated protests.

[BigmanPigman]

15. Airlines are finally doing what Delta did,

making passengers wear masks. No more doctors' excuses either.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/12163736

[TreasonousBastard]

22. In NY it's the law, so the stores aren't left on their own to make the decision. FWIW, in my...

little area there was some grumbling, but now masks are almost 100%. These other states I put it entirely on the lame leadership. They'll raise hell about condoms on the counter, but say nothing about real health risks.

As much as I would love to hate any store for not being absolute about masks, taking a hard line exposes them to other risks-- employees and customers are at risk from what nutjobs can do when provoked.

And it often makes a mess someone has to clean up.

[Ms. Toad]

26. True - but if we don't COVID 19 under control,

It's going to be a lot bigger mess that we all pay the price for. Yes, the nujobs do create risks - BUT they create risks whether they are confronted or not. It is just a different kind of risk: The immediate risk of physical violence, or the insidious risk of COVID 19, which they are likely spreading because they don't believe it is real.

Most stores are complying (and, yes, it is the law here - via order from the health department). As far as I'm concerned, when the health department gets repeated reports of stores not enforcing the mask order - they should enlist police presence to enforce it.

We had the "pretty please" version for the last 2 months - and our cases skyrocketed. We are now under a statewide mask order, and we already know pretty please doesn't work.

[TreasonousBastard]

27. I have no problem shutting a store down if it doesn't enforce masking-- they shut it down...

if they don't card tobacco or alcohol buyers, don't they? Well, OK, shutting a store down is extreme, but at least write 'em up for it so there's a record.

We have to start taking these things seriously.

[Ms. Toad]

28. That's why I report anything other than a minor violation to the health department.

They are the enforcement tool.

They've already responded to my daughter's workplace.

There was a patron in the cafe without a mask (permitted, if they are eating or drinking), and a barista had symptoms ofCOVID 19. (They are very strict - they are required to check temp and a list of symptoms daily. If anyone has secondary symptoms - like loss of sense of taste or smell not only are they kept from work for two weeks, so is everyone who shared a shift with them.) The person has allergies, which give her a cough and a raspy voice.

But I'm glad to know the health deparatment is checking - and that I'm not the only one making reports.

[Midnight Writer]

24. Was at Walmart today. They were offering masks at the door and telling folk it was required.

But inside the store were several shoppers ( and employees) with no mask.

I'd guess 80% compliance. Much better than the maybe 20% compliance I saw last week.

[mr_lebowski]

3. It could be argued that the proper course of action is to alert the authorities ...

Unless the TX rule in question specifically demands that the stores themselves are legally responsible for implementing the policy ... which I kinda doubt is the case.

But I could be wrong.

I'm curious whether they're at least advising their staff that they should alert authorities?

[Ohio Joe]

4. Hmmm...

With the batshit crazy RWNJ's out there, I don't blame them. I like my local Sprouts and not only am I the furthest thing from an anti-vaxer but I don't agree with associating Sprouts with those morons. I never heard of it before and a check of the google machine shows nothing.

[sweetloukillbot]

5. I've seen the Sprouts by my house turning away customers

Every time I've been in there has been 100% masks, even before the city started requiring masks.

[ChazII]

17. +1 the Sprouts close to my house

is also turning away people who will not wear a mask.

[kimbutgar]

6. I avoid Spouts and Whole Foods because they are a rip off and too expensive to shop at!

[LeftInTX]

20. Sprouts is cheap!

Whole Foods is way overpriced, but not Sprouts

[Ms. Toad]

7. I had a similar (but worse) intereaction with Dollar General yesterday

I noticed one person not wearing a mask in the store and one half-wearing a mask as well.

As I was checking out, two people confidently sauntered in without masks. It was clear they knew they would not be challenged.

I mentioned it to the cashier. Her response was that they were told they could not say anything to them. I asked where that came from. She said from her manager, who got it from higher up.

For reference, I went to 5 stores yesterday - this was the ONLY store in which there was even a single person who was not making any attempt to mask. In two other stores, 3 individuals got to the door, saw the mask sign, turned and went back to their cars to get their masks.

The store has been reported to the county board of health, and I have written a letter to corporate telling them I will not be shopping there in the future until they come into compliance with the mask order.

[OverBurn]

9. Shut Them Down.

[Mosby]

11. What are retail workers supposed to do?

Would you prefer off duty cops in every grocery store?

Most retail workers are not allowed to confront customers about their lack of masks.

[FreeState]

16. Not ring them up

It’s not hard. If they do t have a mask joy tell them you can’t serve them.

[MichMan]

23. Hire out of work bar bouncers

If people still refuse they can punch them in the face and forcibly eject them from the premises.

[panader0]

12. My experience at a Frys (Kroger):

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=13805427

[I_UndergroundPanther]

13. In Bel air md

The local sprouts out here mandates masks to enter and has a big huge sanitizer stand up bottle
display,sanitizing wipes and a masked guy in the cart area disinfecting carts before you take it into the store.

[Flaleftist]

14. Some of those nutjobs are pulling knives and guns on people who challenge them and using them.

That may be a consideration in their policy.

So if you see an unmasked person while you are out shopping, maybe you just keep your distance. Because they are probably a psychopath.

[rownesheck]

18. Thank you!

That's exactly the case. These companies don't want their employees getting attacked, murdered, etc.

[marlakay]

19. Surprisingly at my city in southern oregon

Costco, walmart, Safeway, Trader Joes, REI all have people that stand at the door now and you can't go in without a mask.

This is new at Safeway where they were very lax, now they also have another guy stands by fruit and veges to make sure you don't take mask off in that area.

[lame54]

21. More and more stores are doing this

[JI7]

25. Becsuse anti mask people are getting violent unlike shoplifters

They are physically attacking people just for being asked to wear a mask.