State mandate requires ALL customers over the age of 2 to wear a mask upon entering Macy's. Apparently this is news to the managers as I have seen them literally walk past customers without masks, wearing chin straps or wearing masks just south of nostril height. (according to the CDC, not covering ones' nose with said mask is the same as not wearing a mask at all.) Signs are posted at all doors about masks being required. Associates are FORBIDDEN to address mask wearing (or lack there of) with the customers that they are forced to provide "great customer service" to. Plexiglass barriers are placed to protect metal cash registers but we "live people", are expected to deal with customers across two-and-a-half foot wide fully-exposed wrap-stands with no protection at all. By now we all know what 6-foot distancing looks like. Macy's even installed big red circles in the aisles to remind everyone- so why are those of us on the front lines put at risk with EVERY SINGLE TRANSACTION. In addition, we have open fitting rooms where our credit-card-carrying-piglet-on-parade customers continue to dump clothes on the floor (and remnants of stolen goods) in piles. Signs and verbal suggestions that they rehang the clothes they've just tried on fall on deaf ears. We tell customers that returned clothes as well as tried-on clothes must be taken off the selling floor for 24-hours (later changed to next business day) yet management expects us to handle these just worn goods from the fitting room all day long. The "company issued" masks are inadequate. Just watch how often associates pull at their masks to adjust them. Again, something the CDC states increases risk of infection. If Macy's wants to put on a show for the customers, why not limit it to fireworks and parades as opposed to putting their most "valued" colleagues at risk of serious illness or death just to make customers "feel" safe to shop. It's all about appearances. Macy's get real! Because Covid-19 is.
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Many managers would like nothing more than to be able to ask customers who refuse to wear a mask to leave the building, but company policy prevents any people leader from doing so. We can and do ask customers without a mask to wear one and even offer them a mask. If they decline or indicate that they have a medical condition, then we have no recourse but to allow them to shop without a mask.
The company could and should change this policy. Other retailers like Walmart have placed employees at the entrance to ensure no customer without a mask is allowed into the store. In addition, if customers enter and take off their mask, they are asked to leave. Our state is seeing huge increases in cases and the country now has over 200,000 dead from the virus. We would like to protect our teams better than we do today but company policy prevents us from do so.
Yes, we have had cases in stores and yes colleagues and family members with have died or almost as bad now have cases of what is called "long Covid" where they have long term heart, lung, kidney, and other systemic issues which have put them on disability and in all likelihood will greatly reduce their life span.
We are heading into the fall season when the flu and Covid are expected plague the country even worse than this summer. Experts predict that the US will be at over 400,000 dead due to the virus by the end of the year, when can we get serious about allowing customers without masks into our buildings? Our stores are private property and we can and should require masks for entry AND continued shopping. Managers are willing, ready, and able to have these conversations to protect our teams if and when Jeff and the other stay at home leadership team decides to put the safety of our colleagues ahead of customer service scores and the possibility of missing out on a few dollars in sales.
If you believe masks are useless, please tell your physician and team not to wear one if you have surgery.
Masks don't work?!! Wow. Really? Yeah, they may not be the be-all-that-ends-all, but at the moment, even the CDC says it's one of the few proven protections we have. Jeez, you're not one of those people who believe in injecting bleach are you?
Boo hoo, masks are useless anyway.
What would like Macys to do?
Your Store seems to be a problem,
My store is following all CDC regulations and our Customers 99% come with mask, if they forget it we give them one to wear. We have sanitizer and cleaning spray everywhere. Your Store needs to follow regulation or maybe u should report them to Corporate.
I appreciate your responses to the mask issue, but I am talking predominantly about CUSTOMERS, not colleagues. Colleagues I address personally out of concern for their, and everyone else's welfare. It is the customers that are the biggest problem. Since associates are forbidden to address masks with customers it is up to management, ALL management, to address this very real risk EACH AND EVERY TIME THEY SEE IT while walking the selling floor. Waiting to address the issue when a colleague picks up the phone is too late as the inconsiderate ignorant customer has usually moved on by the time management arrives on the scene (if they come at all.) I know everyone, including management, are stretched thin, but SAFETY MUST BE THE PRIORITY AT ALL TIMES DURING THIS PANDEMIC. Remember folks, we are closer to the beginning of this nightmare than the end. Rules must be adhered to now to protect us through the fall/flu season if we are to remain viable as a company. What will happen to Macy's (and our jobs) if stores experience virus outbreaks and are forced to close. Will there be a second act? Do the right things now. The CDC has been pretty clear about how to best protect ourselves and others. Waiting for a miracle vaccine to save the day is not optimistic- it is childish wishful thinking. We are all in this for the long haul. Macy's, if you care about surviving the economic depression we are heading for, you need to keep your staff healthy. If all you care about is the bottom line, than care about your employees- because ultimately, we ARE your bottom line.
If you see team member not wearing a mask, or wearing improperly, start there! You wouldn’t have a problem if they did anything that threatened your safety before Covid19. It is your safety. Some just need frequent reminders regarding company policy and local requirements. If still a problem, partner with your manager
News flash colleagues are not always wearing their mask. So where do we start addressing?
We opened earlier in the south. Masks are difficult to get used to, especially when wearing for 6-8 hours in a retail situation, (unlike medical field, we talk constantly). Most of us found our comfort level, even asking corporate to lower ac temp a bit. And some of us resorted to different style masks. As long as approved for safety, all must agree that masks should be worn, and properly at ALL times when in store. Even outside of operating hours. Partner with your manager and share what you’ve witnessed. He/she cannot be in all places at all times.
New York
What state are you in?