Free Republic

In-N-Out Burger, the popular California-based burger chain, is reportedly barring employees in certain states from wearing face masks without explicit medical direction. Company leadership issued new employee policies last week barring workers in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Texas, and Utah from wearing face masks at work unless they have a doctor's note. The policy is meant to prioritize In-N-Out Burger's "exceptional customer service." "We are introducing new mask guidelines that emphasize the importance of customer service and the ability to show our Associates smiles and other facial features while considering the health and well-being of all individuals," the company told employees...

A San Francisco In-N-Out Burger was temporarily shut down after employees allegedly did not check for customers' vaccine documents, in violation of the city's vaccine requirement. In San Francisco, people have been required since August 20 to show proof that they have been vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to enter some indoor places like restaurants, gyms and bars. The fast-food restaurant located in Fisherman's Wharf was forced to shut down on October 14 but has since reopened with indoor dining remaining unavailable, the company said in a statement to Newsweek.

The late CEO, Rich Snyder, was an evangelical Christian and supporter of Republican candidates, and current president Lynsi Snyder is also devout. Like cult chain Chick-fil-A, In-N-Out doesn’t make its founders’ Christian values a secret, per se. Customers just might be so focused on their Animal Style burgers that they don’t notice the references to Bible quotes printed on the wrappers. However, it’s not clear that the company’s current leadership is nearly as aligned with the Republicans as that of Chick-fil-A, a company that has publicly come out against LGBT rights. According to campaign finance filings, In-N-Out Burger also donated...