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.

But you can shop somewhere else. I don’t have Costco membership as I can’t afford it. Shall I demand to be let in?

In the UK, under the disability discrimination act, that amounts to discrimination and is therefore illegal. People saying good on them or whatever, it doesn't matter, it's against the law. If you think shops should be able to discriminate, then look to get the law changed because currently the law of the land is such that this practice is discriminatory.

This is aside from the moral question of whether discrimination is ok ever or just when someone is really panicked about a disease...

As for OPs question, no, their membership policy makes no difference to the law and their ability to discriminate. The only difference is that because it is a membership only shop, only people whose details Costco have will be allowed to shop there. This may make a difference culturally.

So if it is against the law, will Costco have to change their own policy?

I went back to read their own guidelines and it applies to staff as well as customers. So I hope no one that works there has any mental/physical reasons they can’t wear one.