In-N-Out Burger Is Banning Employees from Wearing Masks So Customers Can 'See Our Associates' Smiles

[stewie_e]

In-N-Out Burger is prohibiting employees in five U.S. states from wearing masks unless they receive a medical note from a doctor. https://t.co/HL47hDTZdW
- NBC News (@NBCNews) July 18, 2023
In-N-Out Burger is apparently banning employees from wearing masks while working

Comments

[a_files06]

It is a damn lie that customers care about seeing those pearly whites. All I ask is that you fake the tiniest bit of enthusiasm when you give me my food and not like your about to die.

[sirlolsworthy]

oh they care alright, but it's because seeing people masked is a reminder that we're not 'back to normal' and never will be

[archersangel]

Some people* want retail workers to smile & look friendly.
A few years ago on someone's blog a fast food worker was getting berated by a customer for not smiling. The worker said that her Dad had passed away the night before.

*This is mostly a United States thing. Wal-Mart had their workers in Germany smile at customers a lot & the customers thought the workers were flirting with them.

[__onthebound]

When I worked at Starbucks UK (2005) they wanted us to start putting names on cups. People were so offended! They did not think me (or anyone else in the vicinity) needed to know their name to serve coffee.

I know it's globally pervasive now...but it wasn't always!

[yami_no_hoshi]

People are so entitled about retail workers and their behaviour. I was shocked when I went to Europe for the first time and saw that cashiers were allowed to sit down. Here, some people think that’s “lazy.”

[archersangel]

Aldi allows the checkout clerks to sit, but they're a German company. Lidl might too, but I've never been to one.

[astrofisica]

I remember when my old bank DM said "sitting doesn't convey a sense of urgency" but the same day I got pulled aside because I also was too focused on getting customers out the door and didn't spend enough time on my "warm welcoming" and introducing myself. What's the name tag for then?

[archersangel]

A the bank I used to go to they started making the tellers say it was a "pleasure" to help you. I thought that was too much.

[astrofisica]

It's too much. During my last week, I got into a fight with a customer because he got upset I asked him some compliance questions due to his withdrawal amount. He didn't like that I didn't apologize for the trouble and instead said I am just doing my job here. He told me I should be busing tables with my attitude and this is the second I delivered poor service to him . It was a Saturday both times! My branch was one of three open extended hours! The wait time was roughly 45 minutes. I was trying to get people out there. But since I didn't smile in that man's face I was doing a poor job. I was so mad I was shaking afterwards, lol.

[archersangel]

F*ck that guy!

[umilicious]

I don’t even ask for that much. Retail and food service workers aren’t paid nearly enough to fake enthusiasm.

[sirlolsworthy]

lol right? 'you want me to look happy? pay me enough that I am happy, bitch'

[couldvelovedyou]

Yeah just give me my food and I'm gone, don't need anything else!

[crawdadddy]

yeah imagine how exhausting it would be to have to fake enthusiasm for every single person they meet that day. jesus christ.

[umilicious]

The only time it was worth it was when people were being awful to me/my team and I’d get to roll in telling them that they were wrong with the biggest, most cheerful smile.

[astrofisica]

This is what "emotional labor" originally meant. The Managed Heart is a great text.