On Friday, Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, said that it will allow fully vaccinated shoppers or workers to enter stores without a mask unless state or local laws say otherwise, according to ABC News.
Walmart said fully vaccinated shoppers can go maskless immediately and vaccinated workers can stop wearing a mask on Tuesday. In addition to that, the company said it is offering workers $75 if they prove they have been vaccinated.
Shoppers will not be asked whether they have been vaccinated, rather they will be held to an “honor system” regarding their vaccination status, Walmart said.
However, workers will have to answer “yes” to a vaccination question in their health assessment so they can go maskless.
Walmart said in a memo posted on its website, “Integrity is one of our core values, and we trust that associates will respect that principle when answering.”
To get the incentive, workers will have to show their original vaccination certificate.
The company also said that it is offering vaccines at its more than 5,100 Walmart and Sam’s Club pharmacies.
Walmart is one of the nation’s largest employers with nearly 1.5 million workers in the U.S., including those at Sam’s Club, distribution centers and in corporate and managerial jobs, according to ABC News.
Earlier this week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) eased some guidance on wearing a mask for fully vaccinated people, allowing them to go outdoors in crowds and most indoor settings without a mask.
Walmart’s move to allow vaccinated shoppers and workers to go maskless could encourage other retailers to follow suit. The article was published on ABC News.
