Friday, brick-and-mortar video game retailer GameStop announced it would be joining other retailers like Walmart in requiring customers to wear a mask. But rules and mandates are only effective when and if enforced, with GameStop employees reportedly still unable to refuse service to customers who enter without one.
As many know, several states are seeing resurgences in the virus, leading many states to enforce mask mandates. Several retailers have taken it upon themselves to do the same, including GameStop. Considering how many were not happy with its initial response to the virus, with the company initially arguing that it was a essential business, it seemed like a bit of a course correction. However, perhaps due to no fault of its own, that may not be the case.
Shortly after the mandate was made public, a GameStop memo was circulated to employees (obtained by Kotaku) revealed they could not refuse service or ask the customer to leave the store. The memo outlines a few steps employees should take instead, such as offering the customer a mask or suggesting they shop online. Bottom line, no one entering the store can be asked to leave or be required to actually put on the mask, putting these workers at risk of contracting the coronavirus still.
GameStop did offer an explanation for this memo, in which it seems these internal guidelines are geared toward de-escalating any possible life-threatening situation. These guidelines come after incidents in which retailer works were attacked, and in some cases, killed for asking a customer to put on a face mask, such is the case of Calvin Munerlyn. He was a security guard who was killed after refusing a customer without a face mask entry into a Family Dollar.
In this context, the guidelines do make some sense as the idea is to get them in and out as quickly as possible without escalating a potential situation and protecting GameStop employees. At the same time, it's wild that rules are established but cannot be enforced by those it protects most, simply because of the on-going politics and narrative around the coronavirus. This could just be a simple scapegoat explanation by GameStop, but it's one that hits too close to reality to be absolutely dismissed.