MOM’s Organic Market bans employees from wearing face masks while working

Employees at MOM’s Organic Market locations across Maryland are demanding answers after the Rockville-based grocery chain instituted a policy prohibiting them from wearing medical face masks on the job.

According to an internal document reviewed by The Banner, the policy, which went into effect Monday, is related to customer service.

“In our continued commitment to delivering the best possible customer experience and ensuring open, welcoming interactions between our employees and the customers we serve, employees are not permitted to wear masks, face coverings, or face obstructions while clocked in,” the document, which was distributed to managers of MOM’s stores, says.

Employees with disabilities and health conditions that require them to wear a mask are exempt from the ban, under the Americans with Disabilities Act, if they provide a doctor’s note.

One Baltimore-area location manager who spoke to The Banner on the condition of anonymity said they plan to resign due to the new policy.

“I was completely blindsided. I mask full time at work for my safety,” they said.

The employee said the policy was “squeezed in” a larger document sent to managers about new store guidelines.

“They just wanted to slide it in under the radar, I think, to avoid making people mad,” they said.

That employee got a doctor’s note that exempts them from the ban. However, they plan to quit “on principle,” they said. They noted that employees have limited sick time and that masks can help prevent illnesses that may cause them to miss work.

“It’s just morally wrong. I cannot work for a company that does shit like this to people,” they said.

Representatives of MOM’s did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Banner on Saturday.

MOM’s employees unionized in 2022 and are represented by local chapters of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union and the Teamsters. College Park MOM’s employees are part of UCFW Local 400, and Hampden employees are part of Teamsters Local 570. The unions did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Banner on Saturday.

A group of former employees of the MOM’s Hampden location have organized to support current employees through a campaign called “Support MOM’s Workers.” The group created an email template for union supporters to send to corporate leaders.

“If masks help people, why would you ban them?” the email says in part. “Why would you want your employees to get sick at work, get their families sick, and get co-workers and customers sick?”

An employee at the MOM’s Organic Market location in Silver Spring told The Banner on Saturday morning that this was the first she had heard of a mask ban. She said that, in the past, her managers have given out masks to employees to wear while serving customers at counters.

“I’m really confused,” she said.

A 60-year-woman at the Silver Spring location, who wears a mask while shopping due to a medical condition, told The Banner on the condition of anonymity that she feels the new policy is discriminatory.

“I think everyone should have the right to wear a mask if they so choose,” she said.

Ciara Wells contributed to this article.

This article has been updated.