Interacting with people day in and day out in close proximity was frightening for many frontline workers during the pandemic. At least with mandatory masks they had a layer of protection. With masks no longer being required, do these employees still feel safe going to work?
Most companies are allowing employees and customers to make the decision for themselves on whether they wear a mask or not if they are fully vaccinated. However employees are not allowed to confirm whether or not these customers are.
While employees can no longer easily enforce mask policies, they can protect themselves and the public by keeping up on the sanitation, using Plexiglass barriers, and getting vaccinated themselves.
“It’s been interesting, but we’re trying,” said Safeway employee, Kathy. “We’re still out here trying really hard to make it comfortable and safe for everyone.”
It’s no secret restaurants were hit hard during the pandemic. Many restaurants are continuing to only allow take out and limited dine in options. Laughing Planet on 2nd St. is still only allowing take out options, but it has given its employees the freedom to choose whether to wear masks or not.
“Most of us are still wearing them. We are mostly the same as we were. We are still distancing and have hand sanitizer stations set up,” said Laughing Planet employee, Elyse.
Local restaurants have an easier time deciding on their policies without a corporate office to answer to. Once the mask mandate was lifted businesses, Bo and Vine Burger Bar opened back up to full capacity and are almost back to business as usual.
“A lot of problems have been avoided now that masks aren’t required. No one is fighting us on the policy anymore,” said Bo and Vine hostess, Eva Fiffert. “I’m fully vaccinated also so I don’t worry about it as much now.”
Salons are going through the same tough decision process. For Adore Salon, owner Alexis Wright decided to send out a survey to the salon’s 3,500 clientele asking whether they preferred the masks or not. The choice to go maskless won by a landslide. Wright also allowed her stylists to make the decision for themselves. With the majority of stylists vaccinated, only a few in the salon are still masked up.
“The overall moral of the salon has gone up since masks no longer became a requirement. Everyone seems to be more comfortable without it,” said Wright.
Adore Salon is still keeping certain Covid procedures in place to protect its staff and clientele. They will continue to ask screening questions, distancing stylist stations, and asking people to regularly wash their hands.
With the majority of people being vaccinated in Benton County, workers are more comfortable performing their job and getting back to business. It is still crucial to keep your distance, wash your hands, and be respectful of others to not only keep yourself safe, but also the workers who have continued to show up for the public every day.
By Kayla Mosley
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