Face Masks Required At Manalapan Wegmans? Store Reps Say No
MANALAPAN, NJ – To contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, an executive order signed in April by Gov. Phil Murphy mandates that face coverings be worn by individuals in public indoor spaces, such as retail stores or recreational areas.
Yet, despite the repeatedly emphasized requirement for face coverings in grocery stores, the Wegmans location in Manalapan is presenting a conflicting policy when asked if face masks were required for customers to enter:
Coverings are recommended, but not mandatory, multiple customer service representatives at the location are telling customers. “You will be allowed to enter the store [without a mask], but it is a preference that you do wear it,” one customer service staffer told Patch.
The conflicting messages initially drew concern from members of the public who alerted Patch to the discrepancy. A June letter to Patch from an area local further detailed the "recommendation" policy in action:
“Wegmans in Manalapan aren’t requiring customers to wear masks nor will they approach customers who aren’t wearing masks to tell them to put it on,” the contributor wrote. “I called corporate and [they] said that they will not confront customers who don’t wear masks.”
The contributor told Patch that at least one customer was observed walking around the store without a mask.
A representative from Wegmans' corporate Customer Care number told Patch that masks are “definitely encouraged," but guests won’t be turned away in New Jersey.
“We don't tell people they can’t enter without the masks, but we would like everyone to wear a mask,” said the rep.
Gov. Murphy’s April 8 executive order also states that, if a customer refuses to wear a cloth face covering for non-medical reasons, and if such covering cannot be provided to the individual by the business, then the business must deny entry to the individual. Read more: Gov. Murphy: Masks Now Required At NJ Stores As 275 More Die
"Short of refusing entrance to our stores, we are doing everything we can to educate our customers of the mandate and stress the importance of voluntary compliance to keep themselves and everyone around them safe," Wegmans spokesperson Laura Camera told Patch in an email.
In New Jersey, exceptions to wearing a mask only apply to instances where doing so would inhibit that individual’s health or where the individual is under two years of age.
According to the executive order, if a business is providing medication, medical supplies or food, the business policy should provide alternate methods of pickup and/or delivery of such goods (the Manalapan Wegmans participates in InstaCart, an online food delivery service).
When asked why the Manalapan store isn't refusing entry to unmasked customers, Camera said: "Customers are required to wear a face covering while shopping in our stores in accordance with applicable local or state mandates. It is important to note that the mandates do not require a mask or face covering if it would inhibit or otherwise impair an individual’s health. In addition, we cannot question what that health or medical condition is or may be."
A spokesperson from the governor's office sent a copy of the executive order when asked about the legality of the Manalapan location's mask enforcement.
Contrary to answers from the Manalapan location and the corporate Customer Care number, Wegmans’ official website urges customers in several states to comply with local mandates. “Customers in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, and Massachusetts must wear a cloth face covering, such as a fabric mask, scarf, or bandana, over their mouth and nose while shopping,” the website reads.
Camera echoed the website’s statement to Patch, agreeing that customers are required to follow any state or local mandates. However, the spokesperson stressed that the company cannot question what health or medical condition a customer may have.
As reported by CNN Business, Wegmans also aims to minimize the likelihood of in-store conflicts and does not want to put customer service workers in the position of having to deny entry to patrons.
“We are focused on complying with these mandates, while keeping the health and safety of our employees and customers a top priority,” said Camera, “and that includes minimizing the likelihood of conflicts in our stores.”
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This article originally appeared on the Manalapan Patch
