Western burger haunt In-N-Out will soon ban employees from wearing masks in five states, according to a leaked memo attributed to the fast-food joint.
The company announced its new policy in an internal statement, which was shared on Twitter last week by Dr. Lucky Tran, a public health advocate who works at Columbia University. On Monday, Insider confirmed the policy in the leaked memo via the company’s customer service department.
In-N-Out, which is known for its cheery staff, no-nonsense burgers and Bible verse-bearing cups and wrappers, said its employees in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Texas and Utah will no longer be allowed to wear protective face coverings as of Aug. 14.
The company said that the policy was being put in place to “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.”
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The memo said non-compliance could lead to dicipline “up to and including termination of employment,” but employees with “specific medical conditions or health concerns” can be granted an exemption with a doctor’s note.
In-N-Out will be unable to enact the no-mask policy in its restaurants in California and Oregon, where employers are prohibited from banning employee masking.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said masks, along with regular vaccinations, serve as an effective measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“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 federal agency’s website states.
On Thursday, In-N-Out’s chief operating officer, Denny Warnick, confirmed the policy changes in a statement to HuffPost.
“At In-N-Out Burger, we’ve communicated with our smiles since 1948, and a smiling Associate helps to set a warm and inviting atmosphere in our stores,” it said. “We believe that wearing a mask literally adds a barrier to communication ― much of which is nonverbal ― and promotes a more distant and disconnected environment.”
“In balancing these fundamental values while still accommodating the specific circumstances affecting our Associates, we have updated our internal guidelines to permit only those Associates with a medical need to wear a facemask while working. This change will be effective August 14, 2023, where local regulations allow.”
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These new rules aren’t the first instance of the burger business taking a COVID-skeptical stance.
In 2021, its San Francisco location was temporarily shut down after the establishment refused to check the vaccination status of indoor dining customers, in accordance with the city’s vaccine mandate.
At the time, the company’s legal officer, Arnie Wensinger, said, “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.”