Fast-Food Fight: Employees’ Masking Bans – In or Out?

Twitter Users React to In-N-Out Burger’s Mask Policy

Twitter users were buzzing on Friday about the controversial mask policy at In-N-Out Burger, sparking a heated debate among fast-food enthusiasts. The discussion comes months after the federal COVID-19 public health emergency officially ended, leaving businesses to determine their own guidelines.

At the center of the controversy is a flyer allegedly sent to In-N-Out Burger locations outside of California, the chain’s home state. The flyer outlines new health guidelines, stating that employees are no longer required to wear masks unless they have a valid medical exemption. Those with exemptions must wear a company-provided N-95 mask, unless advised otherwise by a physician.

The policy applies to employees in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Texas, and Utah, with exceptions for those whose job duties require them to wear masks or other protective gear. The policy is also subject to local health authority guidelines and regulations.

Lucky Tran, a self-proclaimed “science communicator” working at Columbia University, shared a screenshot of the flyer on Twitter, urging people to voice their concerns to In-N-Out Burger’s customer service page. Tran labeled the policy as “discriminatory” and called for action against the chain.

Businesses like In-N-Out burger are banning staff from wearing masks (unless they provide a medical note) pic.twitter.com/OchZl5STIH

— Dr. Lucky Tran (@luckytran) July 14, 2023

Twitter users had mixed reactions to the news, with some expressing horror and others showing appreciation. Washington Post columnist Taylor Lorenz criticized the policy, highlighting the potential dangers it poses to low-wage workers. Lorenz also accused leftists and labor organizers of aligning themselves with corporations that promote anti-mask and anti-public health messaging.

While some called for boycotts or legal action, Tran clarified that In-N-Out Burger is not implementing this policy in California due to existing laws that prevent employers from banning masks. Tran also pointed out that a recent court ruling in California, which stated that employers are not legally responsible for COVID transmission to family members, may have emboldened companies to try mask bans in other states without similar protections.

Among the voices praising In-N-Out Burger was the Twitter account for the conservative group Turning Point USA, which simply tweeted “Based” in approval of the policy. Criminal defense attorney Marina Medvin applauded the move, calling it an interesting way to address problematic employees. Another user expressed their support for the policy, stating that they dislike when customer service representatives wear masks and appreciate In-N-Out’s use of inclusive language in the guidelines.

“In-N-Out Burger just did the single GREATEST thing I’ve ever seen a business do,” exclaimed “The Patriot Voice” account. The tweet also advocated for these guidelines to become the new standard, claiming that masks are unnecessary, ineffective, and hinder customer service.

Another Twitter user sarcastically remarked, “In-N-Out has banned their employees from wearing masks unless they have a note from a doctor and the left is losing their woke minds over it,” highlighting the polarized reactions to the policy.

In-N-Out Burger previously made headlines during the pandemic when several California locations were temporarily closed for refusing to check customers’ vaccination status. The fast-food chain stood firm, stating that they would not act as the “vaccination police” for any government.

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