{"id":3999,"date":"2021-05-18T10:44:24","date_gmt":"2021-05-18T14:44:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lgcassocprod.wpengine.com\/?p=3999"},"modified":"2024-04-29T10:24:09","modified_gmt":"2024-04-29T14:24:09","slug":"updates-to-mask-mandates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lgcassociates.com\/es\/updates-to-mask-mandates\/","title":{"rendered":"New Updates to Mask Mandates | Hospitality in the News"},"content":{"rendered":"

Every week we comb through the news to find employment trends affecting the hospitality\u00a0<\/span>industry<\/span> so you don\u2019t have to. This week\u2019s topic: recent updates to mask mandates and how it impacts the hospitality industry.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

New Updates to Mask Mandates<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Just a few days ago, the\u00a0<\/span>CDC<\/span> announced new updates to mask mandates. Their update said that <\/span>fully vaccinated Americans<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>can begin to resume\u00a0<\/span>pre-pandemic<\/span>. Their full statement goes as follows: \u201cFully vaccinated people can resume activities without wearing a mask or physically distancing, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The updates to mask mandates and social distancing requirements is likely <\/span>due to<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>two things. One,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>36%<\/span><\/a>\u00a0of Americans\u00a0<\/span>have been\u00a0<\/span>full<\/span>y<\/span>\u00a0vaccinated<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>T<\/span>wo,<\/span>\u00a0May 16<\/span>th<\/span>, 2021,\u00a0<\/span>s<\/span>aw\u00a0<\/span>the lowest number of new\u00a0<\/span>COVID\u00a0<\/span>cases\u00a0<\/span>since March 25<\/span>th<\/span>, 2020<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0For those reasons, it only makes sense that health and safety requir<\/span>ements have st<\/span>arted to loosen.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For businesses<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0this change guidelines\u00a0is\u00a0<\/span>exciting but<\/span>\u00a0can also cause confusion\u00a0<\/span>amongst customers. This is particularly true in the hospitality industry, where guests have likely been asked to follow slightly different updates to mask mandates than other businesses: masks down when you\u2019re alone at the tab<\/span>le,\u00a0<\/span>eating,<\/span>\u00a0or drinking \u2013 and masks up when you\u2019re interacting with staff or are away from the table.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As mentioned by the CDC,\u00a0<\/span>local businesses\u00a0<\/span>can\u00a0<\/span>still\u00a0<\/span>impose their own restrictions and\u00a0<\/span>r<\/span>equire customers to\u00a0<\/span>adhere to them<\/span>\u00a0regardless of vaccination status.\u00a0<\/span>We believe this will be the status quo until either\u00a0<\/span>vaccinations<\/span>\u00a0increase or new cases decrease. Until the<\/span>n<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>t<\/span>here are a few\u00a0<\/span>challenges hospitality businesses may face as we adjust to the loose<\/span>ned restrictions<\/span>. We’ll outline them below with possible solutions you can implement with these recent updates to mask mandates.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Challenge:\u00a0<\/span><\/b>Customers are confused about<\/span>\u00a0your business\u2019<\/span>\u00a0safety requirements.<\/span><\/h5>\n

Solution:\u00a0<\/span><\/b>In order to\u00a0<\/span>set proper expectations, you should communicate in as many<\/span> ways as possible what your requirements and updates to mask mandates are. This may be through physical signs <\/span>at your establishment<\/span>, via social media, or any other way you can reach your audience.\u00a0<\/span>I<\/span>t<\/span>\u2019s key to be transparent and consistent\u00a0<\/span>with<\/span>\u00a0guests<\/span>\u00a0that way they<\/span>\u00a0understand what\u2019s expected of them.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Challenge:\u00a0<\/span><\/b>Whether you need to confirm vaccination status.\u00a0<\/span><\/h5>\n

Solution:\u00a0<\/span><\/b>Per the CDC, only those who are fully vaccinated\u00a0<\/span>can go mask-less\u00a0<\/span>(<\/span>where permitted<\/span>)<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>Currently many restaurants are choosing to continue upholding mask mandates<\/span>\u00a0but for those that aren\u2019t, are they allowed to ask customers to see their proof of vaccination? What\u2019s the best way to assess vaccination status?\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to\u00a0<\/span>Inc.com<\/span><\/a>, \u201cIn most states, there’s legally nothing stopping you from requesting to see a customer’s vaccine card\u201d and is up to the employer\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>discretion<\/span>. But not every person is<\/span>\u00a0willing to get the vaccine or<\/span>\u00a0going to be comfortable\u00a0<\/span>sharing that personal information, especially if they\u2019re exempt from receiving\u00a0<\/span>it<\/span>\u00a0due to religious or\u00a0<\/span>health-related reasons<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>If you\u2019re going to be asking customers whether they\u2019re vaccinated, consider\u00a0<\/span>the following:\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n