Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

tblue37

(64,979 posts)
Thu Jul 30, 2020, 10:15 PM Jul 2020

"Stop turning retail workers into mask police":

Stop turning retail workers into mask police, union leader says

by Kim Bellware
July 30, 2020 at 6:24 p.m. CDT

As more major U.S. retailers require their customers to wear masks, a growing number of store employees are being confronted by unruly and sometimes violent customers who refuse to comply. Now, the head of the largest union representing retail workers said businesses have unfairly burdened their employees with enforcing mask-wearing policies, to the detriment of workers and customers alike.

Employers bear the responsibility to provide a safe workplace, said Stuart Appelbaum, president of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, who called for companies to hire security to enforce a store’s mask policies or task members of the management with the role.

“Employees should not be expected to put their safety and their life on the line for the employer. That’s an unreasonable expectation,” Appelbaum told The Washington Post on Thursday.

In some instances, the union has negotiated for the right of workers to bow out of interactions with unmasked customers without reprisal. Employees without such protections have little choice, he said, but to endure a risky working environment on the front lines of the culture war over mask-wearing.

Snip


9 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies

BigmanPigman

(51,430 posts)
1. That's why some places are afraid to enforce the rules.
Thu Jul 30, 2020, 10:25 PM
Jul 2020

There are too many "Karens" and "Kevins" out there. It needs to be a federal mandate. Period.

"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.

Retailers and their employees are finding themselves playing the uncomfortable role of mask police. The increase in coronavirus cases is prompting concern over how to protect both customers and workers in crowded stores from infecting each other.

There is no federal mandate to wear a mask, and many state and local governments have not required wearing one. This has forced retailers to navigate a patchwork system and left them in the position of having to create their own policies."

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/

Blue_true

(31,261 posts)
7. Police officers and Police Chiefs are some of the Karens and Kevins.
Thu Jul 30, 2020, 11:05 PM
Jul 2020

A federal mandate would need to have teeth to get aberrant police to cooperate, like their federal funds get immediately cut off if complaints about their lax enforcement checks out after FBI or US Marshals come in unannounced and investigate. Trump isn’t going to do any of that, so we are stuck with retailers doing the best job they can. I was in the Publix near where I live earlier this week, I would say that mask compliance in that busy store was close to 100%, I saw one customer not masked, I avoided him and I noticed a few other customers purposely avoid him, one even turned around and went in the opposite direction.

When the people that can wear masks, but don’t want to wear a mask start standing out as assholes, they will get the message.

MiniMe

(21,676 posts)
9. They don't realize that some people will not shop where masks are not worn
Thu Jul 30, 2020, 11:24 PM
Jul 2020

I live in Maryland, and there is a statewide mask requirement. If people refuse to wear a mask, I turn around and exit the store, or whatever business I am in. Who am I kidding, I don't go out very often.

Blue_true

(31,261 posts)
8. They will need off duty police officers.
Thu Jul 30, 2020, 11:10 PM
Jul 2020

Remember earlier this year when a guy got a gun from his vehicle and shot a security guard that was enforcing a mask requirement to death.

You can have security guards, but an actual police officer needs to be close by to deal with the real assholes, IMO. From what I am seeing, most people are complying, I am seeing close to 100% mask wearing in the last week+.

mucifer

(23,371 posts)
3. If trump would have mandated it months ago this could be doable. Now it's a mess
Thu Jul 30, 2020, 10:28 PM
Jul 2020

Workers are put in danger if they try to enforce the mask rules.

genxlib

(5,506 posts)
6. It is misdirected anger to blame the employees
Thu Jul 30, 2020, 10:36 PM
Jul 2020

The fault lies entirely with the maskholes and the media/politicians that led them there.

Having said that, the frontline employees should not Jane to risk life and limb to police theses assholes.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»"Stop turning retail work...