Employees Of A Reopened Restaurant In Texas Reveal They're Not Allowed To Wear Masks

Hillstone Restaurant Group branches in Dallas have, reportedly, imposed a no-face-mask policy for its staff.

Employees of the establishment told CBS News that restaurant managers prohibited workers from wearing masks as they reportedly do not complement the atmosphere or style of the hospitality of the venue. They also revealed that, if they expressed uneasiness or discomfort with that rule, they were removed from the restaurant’s work schedule.

Given A Choice

In an interview with Texas’ People Newspapers published Sunday, the unnamed employee expressed his sentiment on the matter, saying they just wanted to let people know they are not safe. “It’s not safe for anyone. We should at least been given a choice,” the Hillstone employee, who declined to have his name published, stated.

Hillstone Restaurant Group’s four Dallas-area locations ceased operations after restrictions on eating and drinking at restaurants and bars were imposed by the state on March 19. They reopened recently and, like many other restaurants in Texas, started serving at 25% capacity for dine-in customers.

A Later Date

HuffPost tried to get Hillstone's side but it has not responded to the news outlet’s request for a comment on the claims of its employees. A statement on the company’s website, however, read: “current orders do not require our staff or guests to wear face masks.” It also advised customers that, if they are concerned about their safety, they can visit the restaurant at a later date. Currently, only parties of two are allowed to sit and dine inside the restaurant.

A Facebook post, Tuesday, advertising the Cinco de Mayo specials of the restaurants elicited several angry comments from users. One person wrote that his favorite holidays involve not getting infected by COVID-19 or spreading it. “Everyone is probably coughing all over your food. The place is taking short cuts just to make money," another comment read.

Curbing The Spread

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, in March, imposed measures in an attempt to curb the spread of coronavirus. While he did prohibit residents from dining out or drinking in bars or restaurants, takeout and delivery are still allowed.

On March 31, Texas imposed a statewide stay-at-home measure for all residents, which ended on April 30. Although the governor encourages the use of masks among Texans, he does not think a mandate is necessary.