Costco.... AIBU to be confused?!

[PinkSnowAndStars]

* Disclaimer - this thread isn’t for a fight on masks or no masks*

Genuinely interested if what they’ve done is legal and I can’t work it out.

Apparently Costco have said you have to wear a mask or a face shield or you aren’t coming in.

I work in healthcare. I’m not exempt and I do wear a mask, but totally get that some people can’t manage it. But it’s a membership only thing, so does that change the law? Is there a law? I’m so confused.

Dr Google isn’t helping me work it out.

AIBU - it’s legal and they can do what they want.
YANBU - it’s illegal and discrimination.

Who can't wear a face shield?

@speakout

Who can't wear a face shield?

A number of posters have said they struggle with anything on their heads

I have no clue whatsoever pink

@speakout

Who can't wear a face shield?

I’ve seen posts from people that say they can’t manage anything on their face. Luckily I don’t have that problem and can wear a mask.

There’s been so many people on the Costco FB page getting angry about what they’ve done, it just made me wonder!

Who can't wear a face shield?

Some people with trigeminal neuralgia.
Some people on the autistic spectrum and other sensory hypersensitivity.

It's a lucky break for anyone wanting to avoid Costco especially at this time of year.

If a business is making a policy decision that disproportionately impacts those with a disability, that is indirect discrimination. It's the equivalent of stating part time workers cannot be promoted, most part time workers are women and therefore such a measure is sex discrimination.

Disabled people have encountered numerous discriminatory measures throughout the pandemic, but many people don't have a problem with that as it doesn't affect them. We're definitely not all in this together.

There's already a long thread on this

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/4113820-Costco-denying-entry-to-mask-exempt-unless-they-wear-a-shield

You can choose not to wear a mask or shield.
They can refuse to serve you.

Simple.

they do it in others countries

you comply or u dont go in

Can't get worked up over it as they do delivery.

[quote Sargass0]There's already a long thread on this

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/4113820-Costco-denying-entry-to-mask-exempt-unless-they-wear-a-shield[/quote]
Sorry, I hadn’t seen this.

I’ve seen plenty of bars/cafes near beaching with signs saying “No shirt, no shoes, no service”. If they can do that, I don’t see why Costco can’t refuse to serve people not wearing masks.

I think more shops should apply this rule...

@MaskingForIt

I’ve seen plenty of bars/cafes near beaching with signs saying “No shirt, no shoes, no service”. If they can do that, I don’t see why Costco can’t refuse to serve people not wearing masks.

I Hadn’t thought of it that way.

I guess it’s a choice to take off your clothes and shoes though, and some people have genuine medical reasons.

I’m so on the fence.

People have been going mad about it!

i don't get these sort of posts, I thought as long as they make a allowence like delivering/getting the shopping you need then it is allowing for adjustment for people with disabilities. Here in Spain you have to wear a mask all the time including outside. Today was actually the first time I've seen someone I don't know outside without a mask walking around.

Yes it can definitely amount to unlawful discrimination in some contexts. But they probably don't care and will pay off the handful of law suits they get.

@MaskingForIt

I’ve seen plenty of bars/cafes near beaching with signs saying “No shirt, no shoes, no service”. If they can do that, I don’t see why Costco can’t refuse to serve people not wearing masks.

Because I don't think there is any disability that prevents people who are otherwise out and about from wearing shoes/shirts ... the difference is pretty obvious surely.

Yabu. It is for the safety of everyone ffs. There's a pandemic!

@MorganKitten

You can choose not to wear a mask or shield. They can refuse to serve you.

Simple.

The Equality Act tells you it's not that simple... Not in the UK anyway.

As for the delivery service - not the same products and/or price unfortunately.
So yes definitely discriminatory as disproportionate.

Because I don't think there is any disability that prevents people who are otherwise out and about from wearing shoes/shirts ... the difference is pretty obvious surely.

But what ignore someone has autism and doesn’t like wearing a shirt, or has a foot disability and can’t wear shoes? Then it would be discriminatory. It is no different at all.

@byebyeboyee

i don't get these sort of posts, I thought as long as they make a allowence like delivering/getting the shopping you need then it is allowing for adjustment for people with disabilities. Here in Spain you have to wear a mask all the time including outside. Today was actually the first time I've seen someone I don't know outside without a mask walking around.

I’m honestly not trying to stir up bad feeling.

I just happened to be scrolling through the dreaded FB on my break at work earlier and there was such an outcry on their posts, and from people wanting to cancel their memberships that it got me wondering and I couldn’t work out if they are right or wrong.

I completely accept there are people that cannot wear a mask. I’m not arguing that at all, but when I’ve been outside there are lots of people not wearing masks, perhaps it’s different in other parts of the UK to where I am in the South East.

There’s only (I’m guessing!) 20ish Costco’s in the UK. I can’t imagine Tesco/Sainsburys or any of the other big supermarkets doing it. But because Costco is members only I wondered if that changed things.

I wonder about people who are completely disabled by MH issues around health and germ phobias. People who cannot currently enter shops because of a crippling anxiety about those not wearing masks. Quite a few of these post here on MN.

Costco has just become the ONLY safe place for them. Would you wish to take that away? Would that be discriminatory, do you think?

Wonder how many claims, from members there will be?

I'm surprised they let people in without a mask anywhere especially a shop, you can't even go into the local cornershop here without one, they deliver to my neighbor. Only young kids under 5 don't wear masks but most do especially in school.