I just picked up a take-out order at a well-known local restaurant, a place that’s been part of the community for a long time. We had called ahead and paid with a credit card. After pulling into the parking lot, I put on my mask and went in to the takeout counter. I was glad to see the 6-foot spacing markers on the floor and the big container of hand sanitizer. What I was not happy to see was that not one of the counter staff from whom I had to pick up the order was wearing a face mask.
This wasn’t the first time. On my last retail shopping trip, at an “essential” business (again a well-known local establishment), my purchase was rung up at the counter where none of the staff wore masks.
At a time when businesses are claiming to reopen responsibly, this is not okay. Managers need to enforce state requirements that staff wear masks.
The governor’s guidelines state, “Employees must comply with the following guidelines” including: “While at work and in public, employees should wear a cloth face covering to help protect against the spread of the virus.” What makes it okay for businesses to flout this standard?
As a healthy 70-year-old, I think that I should be able to go out in public occasionally with reasonable caution. The cavalier and irresponsible behavior of businesses that fail to enforce safety guidelines is not acceptable. It endangers both customers and employees.
JUDY ELLIOTT
Canterbury