My mother-in-law (who is 82 and been vaxxed for a long time now) asked my husband if he thought it was okay for her to let unvaccinated housekeepers come clean her house (she stopped having them come during the worst of it). His response was “hell no”. Partially it was because he doesn’t want to expose her to anything even if she is vaccinated, but partially because vaccines are readily available in our state and he doesn’t think she should do business with someone who won’t bother to get vaccinated.
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I think that it shows how difficult things are for employers these days.
Even though the employees know that one of theirs has immunocompromised family, they still have employees that won’t vaccinate. It’s a very sad situation.
I don’t think that it’s easy for employers to insist that their employees get the vaccine. This is a small retail shop that I am sure is having a hard time finding help. Additionally when I’ve been in this particular shop, the employees seem to be close to each other. So I’m sure it’s very difficult when some of your “family” refuses to get a vaccine even though it would be helpful to the larger “family”.
Employers especially small employers are between a rock and a hard place.
For me, I would respect the shop and wear my mask. It will get more and more difficult for them as time goes on though
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In that situation it seems there is far more likelihood of infection from one of the unvaccinated employees than a random customer, given that any customer contact will presumably be brief and fleeting (assuming this is not a salon or similar). I think that sign is more likely to lose them business if it stays for more than a week or two while everyone adjusts to the new circumstances.
What is the downside to just requiring that unvaccinated employees (or perhaps all employees for the time being) wear a mask and are tested regularly? That seems like it will be the plan for college classes.
I don’t disagree with you.
I was showing the OP an example of a Facebook post for a situation they have that paralleled their dilemma. I thought it was a nicely worded post asking their customers to still mask up.
Our county just lifted the mask requirement, which was a bit of a surprise. Most national retailers in our area are still requiring masks for entry-- Target, Whole Foods etc. – which makes me more comfortable. My household is fully vaxed and I’m enjoying the new-found freedom to smile and see people’s smiles outside, without masks. But I still feel more comfortable masked indoors and would not be put off at all by a smaller retailer continuing to require masks for entry. I’m hoping that national chains will lead the way in continuing to require masks indoors for at least some time.
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I’m not “eager” to throw away my mask, so if a business has a sign asking patrons to wear one, I will. If the employees working where I am going are wearing masks, I will, too. I don’t find it such a huge imposition that I would raise a fuss or avoid shopping at the stores I always shop at if they still request mask wearing.
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I fully expect that many businesses will continue to require masks, and I would have no problem continuing to wear them while they are required.
I would be more likely to shop your store in the coming months because of your mask mandate.
Here is a small local women owned store I frequent. I appreciated their statement .
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Given that 7 people in the Yankees organization, and Bill Maher have tested positive after full imunization, I will continue to mask up. Their viral load is small but I dont want to risk others.
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Since it appears that the US won’t reach herd immunity and covid-19 will become endemic (i.e. stick around forever), I think the focus and onus will shift to the vulnerable population needing to look out for themselves.
Specifically, I think the family members with the immune-compromised child should start wearing a N95 respirator masks (the respirator masks are easier to wear for longer periods). That will provide self-protection, vs cloth masks which provide protection for others.
In the long term it’s not viable to expect all customers to willingly wear masks for months or years to protect a small subset of the population. This specific situation to me is the perfect example of why it’s such a tragedy that so many people refuse to get the vaccine, preventing us from reaching herd immunity.
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Unfortunately I have a coworker who has been anti-mask, anti-vax this entire time. She truly just told me, “then I won’t shop there” -
@surfcity - Personally I will be wearing a mask indoors for the time being (and I’m fully vaccinated) and I don’t plan on any large indoor events for the time being either.
I’m sad that some people are so very selfish and can only think about themselves, and I’m sorry your shop and employees will likely have to take the brunt of the selfishness.
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Trader Joe’s has dropped it’s mask mandate.
https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/14/business/trader-joes-mask-guidance/index.html
OP here. The state still has not officially announced that it is dropping mask mandates since this CDC notice came so abruptly. From what I am reading, it will drop the mandate very soon though.
The county and town will probably follow suit.
We ended up making a nice social media post along the lines of what deb and a basket posted above. We already got 300 “likes” and many positive comments, so I think we will be okay. Like I said, our customer base leans left so I think that makes things a little easier for us. Our neighbors are frustrated with their clientele but have been hurting for business during the pandemic, so for now are sucking it up.
I was just in CVS and the grocery store and I think 100% of the customers I saw had masks on. Including the family next to me at CVS who was asking the pharmacist where they could get “reliable COVID tests.” Hence my apprehension about dropping masks.
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I realize this thread is about retail stores, but I was very surprised to hear about two of our local school district’s decisions. Yesterday they issued updated mask guidelines for school buildings, saying people who are fully vaccinated are no longer required to wear them.
While the schools are entitled to make these changes, I just felt with only two weeks of school left, that this could have waited until the school year was over. Those in face to face learning could deal with two more weeks of mask wearing. I don’t have school aged children, so not sure if I did, if I would be ready to remove the band aid so fast.
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… for fully vaccinated customers.
However, will it be relying on an honor system (unrealistic to expect there to be no cheating) or will they be doing some “vax or mask” policing (likely to lead to conflicts at the door, or cheating with fake vax cards)?
People who have started the vaccination process but have not yet reached the fully vaccinated state two weeks after the final dose are probably the largest group who will be more concerned, though their number should diminish in the coming weeks. People who cannot get vaccinated for medical reasons and parents concerned about their under-12 children with higher medical risks will also be more concerned.
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I just had to go to the Apple Store an hour or so ago for some service and was not surprised to see that everybody was wearing masks and socially distant on designated spots but I was surprised that they were requiring everyone who entered the store to answer a verbal screening questionnaire and taking their temps. Didn’t bother me, but I was surprised. I think I will continue to mask up 
inside businesses.
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I’m not going to trust anybody. Anti vaxers are just going to lie and spread the virus. I am fully vaccinated and will remain fully masked.
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This announcement by the CDC was a big mistake. Did they somehow think that this would entice vaccine-hesitant people to get immunized? It was already tough enough for stores to enforce masking, with the CDC behind them. Now? It’s going to be a free for all. People who are still at risk (those who cannot be immunized, or cannot respond to the vaccine) are going to be endangered by this policy, since masking largely protects the people around the mask-wearer.
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I could not agree more. I have to wonder if more vaccinated people will remain masked than unvaccinated. Those that care about others will continue to do so.
I’m actually baffled by this.
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I wonder how many people who are at higher risk (medically unable to get vaccinated, or have weak immune response to vaccination) will switch to N95-with-valve masks (protect oneself but not others).
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