In-N-Out Burger bans employees from wearing masks in five states

In-N-Out Burger is prohibiting employees in five states from wearing masks unless they have a valid medical note starting on August 14.

Locations in Arizona, Colorado, Texas, Nevada and Utah will prohibit masks. The popular burger chain noted in its guidelines that those who wear a mask for medical reasons may only wear company approved N95 masks. Valid doctors' notes must include the medical diagnosis, the reason for exemption and the estimated duration if applicable.

The memo was posted to social media from the In-N-Out Burger Associate Notifications email list. The new policy was created to create "clear and effective" customer and employee interaction.

“We are introducing new mask guidelines that emphasize the importance of customer service and the ability to show our Associate’s smiles and other facial features while considering the health and well-being of all individuals,” the memo said.

If employees don't follow the new company policy, they could face disciplinary action that could include being fired depending on the severity and frequency of the violation.

In-N-Out Burger's memo read that the company will continue to review this new policy to ensure it follows local health guidelines.

“We will continue to evaluate and approve (where appropriate) reasonable accommodations for medical, religious, and other protected reasons of our grooming guidelines,” the memo said.

This is not the first time In-N-Out has come under scrutiny since the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, the burger chain's San Francisco location was forced to temporarily shut down after it failed to check a customer's vaccination status before allowing them to dine in.

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At the time, Arnie Wensinger, the company’s legal officer, critiqued the local San Francisco health guidelines, saying that In-N-Out refuses to "become the vaccination police for any government.”

USA TODAY has reached out to In-N-Out for comment. The fast food chain has not issued a statement on the current mask bans.