Lowe’s not enforcing mask rule

Home improvement chain cites safety of workers as reason

Citing safety concerns, Lowe’s Home Improvement said Tuesday that it will not allow its workers to enforce the company’s new mandate that all shoppers wear masks or facial coverings to combat the coronavirus.

“Safety has been and continues to be our priority,” the company said in a statement to The Charlotte Observer. A handful of shoppers complained to the Observer and on the Lowe’s website about the lack of enforcement of the new mandate.

“We will not ask our associates to put their safety at risk by confronting customers about wearing masks, so we are consistently requesting that customers wear masks for the safety of everyone in our stores,” according to the company statement.

Lowe’s mask mandate took effect Monday.

The chain joined a growing list of retailers requiring customers to wear masks or face coverings to combat the coronavirus.

“As a retailer offering essential goods, we have a responsibility to our associates, customers and small businesses in communities nationwide to help provide a safe shopping experience,”

Marvin Ellison, Lowe’s president and chief executive officer, said in a statement Friday announcing the initiative.

Signs at the entrance of the

Lowe’s in Mooresville, N.C., said customers must wear masks inside, but the signs did not address the consequences of not wearing one.

During a span of just 10 minutes Tuesday afternoon, however, an Observer reporter saw at least a dozen maskless shoppers enter and walk about the store, then check out at registers.

All Lowe’s workers at the store had masks on, as did many shoppers.

In early May, Lowe’s began requiring all employees to wear masks or approved face coverings while working in a store or in a customer’s home.

Masks and gloves were made available to workers, company officials said at the time.

Lowe’s is adding signs at all store entrances mandating that customers wear masks, officials said Tuesday. Stores also are providing free masks at their customer service desks for those who need them.

And the company is continuing to reinforce social distancing at its stores through “overhead announcements, signage and ambassadors,” according to Tuesday’s statement.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings, along with following social distancing measures, to slow the spread of the coronavirus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others.

A mask requirement at Home Depot was to take effect Wednesday.

Such retailer mandates have led to occasionally violent confrontations between customers angered at having to wear a mask and cashiers or other workers told to give the order.

(AP) Customers wear masks in March as they enter a Lowe’s home improvement store in Los Angeles. Lowe’s officials say the retailer will not allow its workers to enforce the company’s new mandate that all shoppers wear facial coverings.