{"id":604,"date":"2020-09-24T17:15:00","date_gmt":"2020-09-24T21:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/caloshadefensereport.com\/?p=604"},"modified":"2026-03-15T22:52:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-15T22:52:06","slug":"cdc-guidance-for-retail-and-service-industries-on-workplace-violence-associated-with-covid-19-policies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.connmaciel.com\/calosha-defense-report\/cdc-guidance-for-retail-and-service-industries-on-workplace-violence-associated-with-covid-19-policies\/","title":{"rendered":"CDC Guidance for Retail and Service Industries on Workplace Violence Associated with COVID-19 Policies"},"content":{"rendered":"

By\u00a0Conn Maciel Carey\u2019s COVID-19 Task Force<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

In recent months, we have heard too many stories and seen too many viral videos about\u00a0retail clerks and restaurant employees facing violent attacks and threats from belligerent anti-mask customers<\/a>\u00a0who have been refused service or otherwise asked to adhere to the mask mandates issued by the Governors or Health Departments in their states.\u00a0 This includes the tragic tale of the store\u00a0security guard who was shot and killed in Michigan<\/a>\u00a0after telling a customer at a discount store to wear a state-mandated face mask.<\/p>\n

Responding to the surge in workplace violence faced by retailers and others in the service industries, on September 1, 2020, the CDC issued guidance on\u00a0Limiting Workplace Violence Associated with COVID-19 Prevention Policies in Retail and Services Businesses<\/a>.\u00a0 The new guidance covers how to manage the threat of violence from customers or others who are asked to comply with Governors\u2019 or Health Department mandates or the businesses\u2019 own infection control policies, such as requiring masks to be worn by customers, asking customers to follow social distancing rules, and setting limits on the number of customers allowed inside at one time.\u00a0 Specifically, the guidance discourages retailers from becoming the\u00a0enforcer<\/em>\u00a0in these situations, and includes recommendations like calling 911 and not arguing with a customer who refuses to comply with the rules.\u00a0\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

This guidance is vital as we have seen the opposite instruction from such governmental agencies as Michigan OSHA (\u201cMIOSHA\u201d), Oregon OSHA (\u201cOR OSHA\u201d), and the New Mexico Occupational Health and Safety Bureau (\u201cNMOHSB\u201d).\u00a0 Indeed, those state OSH Programs have been\u00a0issuing citations<\/a>\u00a0and shutdown orders for retailers and restaurants who do not refuse service to customers unwilling to wear a face covering onsite.\u00a0 CDC\u2019s guidance will hopefully force these agencies to be sensible about the terrible dilemma they are forcing on businesses and their front line employees who feel the brunt of these enforcement policies that would turn them into law enforcement.<\/span><\/p>\n

CDC\u2019s guidance starts by defining workplace violence as \u201cviolent acts, including physical assaults and threats of assault, directed toward persons at work or on duty.\u201d\u00a0 Specifically, CDC informs thatworkplace violence includes:<\/p>\n