Kohl’s tells workers to wear masks
Kohl’s Corp. is once again telling its employees to mask up.
All Kohl’s store employees who work in counties with high rates of COVID-19 transmission will be required to wear masks starting Tuesday.
It is not requiring customers in those areas to wear masks.
“Effective Tuesday, August 3, Kohl’s will require our store associates in counties with substantial or high risk of transmission, as identified by the CDC, to wear masks while in store,” Kohl’s said in a statement Monday. “We also recommend that customers in substantial and high-risk counties wear masks while shopping.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its guidance about wearing masks last week to instruct all people, regardless of vaccination status, to wear a face-covering indoors in places with high rates of transmission.
There are at least 20 counties in Wisconsin that meet the CDC’s recommendation for indoor mask-wearing. The list includes Milwaukee, Waukesha and Ozaukee counties in the metro area.
Kohl’s announced the change Monday, following updated policies at other large retailers like Target and Walmart. The Menomonee Falls-based retailer has more than 1,100 stores in 48 states. Kohl’s stopped requiring all customers to wear face coverings as of May 17.
“We continue to encourage Kohl’s associates to get the COVID-19 vaccine and are providing resources to help them do that,” Kohl’s said in a statement.
While many of the nation’s largest retailers required masks for all employees and customers last year, the new requirements apply only to employees.