--- title: Should You Require Face Masks in Your Workplace? description: When it comes to reopening non-essential businesses, many employers are requiring face masks. 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4:00 # Should You Require Face Masks in Your Workplace? By [Sherri Bennett, SPHR & SHRM-CP](https://blog.axcethr.com/author/sherri-bennett) on [Jun 25, 2020](https://blog.axcethr.com/should-you-require-facemasks-in-your-workplace) 3 min read [2 Comments](https://blog.axcethr.com/should-you-require-facemasks-in-your-workplace#comments-listing) Share this: - - - - [whatsapp://send?text=https://blog.axcethr.com/should-you-require-facemasks-in-your-workplace](whatsapp://send?text=https://blog.axcethr.com/should-you-require-facemasks-in-your-workplace) - [mailto:?subject=Should%20You%20Require%20Face%20Masks%20in%20Your%20Workplace?&body=https://blog.axcethr.com/should-you-require-facemasks-in-your-workplace](mailto:?subject=Should%20You%20Require%20Face%20Masks%20in%20Your%20Workplace?&body=https://blog.axcethr.com/should-you-require-facemasks-in-your-workplace) ![Requiring Employees to Wear Face Masks](https://blog.axcethr.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Requiring%20Employees%20to%20Wear%20Face%20Masks.webp?width=840&name=Requiring%20Employees%20to%20Wear%20Face%20Masks.webp) While the economy starts to re-open after coronavirus lockdown, non-essential businesses are faced with restarting business operations during an ongoing pandemic. Essential businesses that have remained open have had to deal with how to manage workforce challenges such as employee shortages due to illness and caretaking responsibilities, additional cleaning and sanitizing responsibilities, and arranging physical distancing and minimizing high touch surface contact to reduce exposure and transmission of coronavirus.  With new information being learned almost weekly about the virus, it can be difficult to determine the best way to keep your workforce, customers and business contacts safe. For businesses not in the healthcare industry, wearing face masks is becoming a safeguard practice.  **CDC and WHO Recommendations** While there are differing recommendations and requirements regarding face masks being communicated by states and cities, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) both have recommendations about face masks.  The CDC recommends wearing a face mask to help slow the spread of the coronavirus, especially in social settings where physical distancing is difficult, such as stores. Cloth face coverings have been shown to stop respiratory droplets from spreading, although not as completely as surgical masks or N-95 respirators. For work environments interacting with the public, such as restaurants and retail stores, face masks for employees are most likely required for legal business operations. Knowing these requirements will guide employer decisions to require employees to wear face masks. [![EEOC says employers can measure employees' body temperatures due to covid-19](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2652187/3e7d46dd-c1a9-405a-8eea-5fda6d5b6a65.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2652187/3e7d46dd-c1a9-405a-8eea-5fda6d5b6a65) [WHO recommends](https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/when-and-how-to-use-masks/) that healthy people wear a mask only if taking care of someone suspected or infected with coronavirus, and advises it should be done with frequent hand washing, completely cover nose and mouth, and be changed often. WHO says to wash hands thoroughly before putting on a mask, avoid touching the mask once it’s in place and cleaning hands with either sanitizer or soap and water if the mask is touched, and not re-use single use masks. Some of these recommendations may not be possible in all work environments.  **Are Face Masks PPE?** While OSHA requires employers to provide or pay for personal protective equipment (PPE) that employees need for protection from workplace hazards, [cloth face coverings](https://www.osha.gov/memos/2020-04-03/enforcement-guidance-use-respiratory-protection-equipment-certified-under) that are ordered for all to wear in public settings fall outside of that description. That lessens the employer’s responsibility to provide masks and training on how to use them, but doesn’t prevent it. Employers can choose to provide masks and instruction on how to use them at work, or require employees wear masks at work if it is mandated by state and local municipal authorities.  **Employee Refusal to Wear a Mask** The Society for Human Resource Management [(SHRM) explains](https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/legal-and-compliance/state-and-local-updates/pages/do-your-employees-need-to-wear-face-masks-during-coronavirus-pandemic.aspx) that legal sources say that employers can require employees to wear masks barring union agreements against it or verified disability. Employers should explain state or local requirements for mask-wearing and be careful to have specific conversations with employees who claim any disability that prevents wearing a mask. Refusal without a verified disability may enable employers to use disciplinary measures such as sending employees home or suspending them from work. Other considerations for employee refusal to wear a mask are union environments and agreements.  The general consensus is that face masks prevent the spread of droplets, protecting others from the wearer’s exhalations. They are not 100% effective at preventing spread and do not protect the wearer totally, but they do provide a measure of prevention. Employers should consider all current information and governing body requirements when deciding whether or not to require facemasks in their workplaces.  [![New call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2652187/edff285e-9e27-4e01-9e95-ff874c93567b.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2652187/edff285e-9e27-4e01-9e95-ff874c93567b) [![Sherri Bennett, SPHR & SHRM-CP](https://blog.axcethr.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Sherri-Bennett.jpg?width=80&height=80&name=Sherri-Bennett.jpg)](https://blog.axcethr.com/author/sherri-bennett) Written by #### [Sherri Bennett, SPHR & SHRM-CP](https://blog.axcethr.com/author/sherri-bennett) Senior Human Resources Consultant Read more [View all posts →](https://blog.axcethr.com/author/sherri-bennett) ### Get HR Updates ### Table of Contents #### [Fourth of July 2020: Where to View Fireworks Displays in the Kansas City Metro ![Fourth of July 2020: Where to View Fireworks Displays in the Kansas City Metro](https://blog.axcethr.com/hubfs/fourth%20of%20july%20blog%20post.png)](https://blog.axcethr.com/fourth-of-july-2020-where-to-view-fireworks-displays-in-the-kansas-city-metro) #### [![11 Things to Know About Wage Garnishment and Child Support](https://blog.axcethr.com/hubfs/Wage%20Garnishment%20and%20Child%20Support.png) 11 Things to Know About Wage Garnishment and Child Support](https://blog.axcethr.com/11-things-to-know-about-wage-garnishment-and-child-support) ## Let us know what you think... ![AxcetHR Blog](https://blog.axcethr.com/hubfs/AxcetHR2021%20Blog/axcethr_logo_white%20(1).png) - [Why Axcet](https://www.axcethr.com/why-axcet/) - [What We Stand For](https://www.axcethr.com/about-us/what-we-stand-for/) - [Expertise](https://www.axcethr.com/expertise/) - [Employee Benefits](https://www.axcethr.com/services/employee-benefits/) - [Human Resources](https://www.axcethr.com/services/human-resources/) - [Payroll Services](https://www.axcethr.com/services/payroll-and-tax-administration-services/) - [Risk Management](https://www.axcethr.com/services/workers-comp-and-employee-safety-risk-management/) - [Meet the Team](https://www.axcethr.com/about-us/meet-the-team/) - [Subscribe to Latest Resources](https://www.axcethr.com/subscribe-to-the-latest-resources/) - [Resource Library](https://www.axcethr.com/expertise/resource-library/) - [\[ Client Portal \]](https://www.axcethr.com/client-services/) - - - - - Search for: Copyright © 2023 Axcet HR Solutions – Kansas City's PEO Since 1988 | [Privacy Policy](https://www.axcethr.com/privacy-policy/) | [Terms and Conditions](https://www.axcethr.com/terms-conditions/) | [**Join our Team – Careers »**](https://axcethrsolutions.prismhr-hire.com/) 10975 Grandview Drive Suite 200, Corporate Woods Building 27, Overland Park, KS 66210 | Call us: 913-383-2999 *The IRS does not endorse any particular For more information on [certified professional employer organizations](https://www.axcethr.com/why-axcet/certified-peo/), go to [www.irs.gov](https://www.irs.gov).* Remove cookies ![](https://dc.ads.linkedin.com/collect/?pid=43031&fmt=gif) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Sherri Bennett, SPHR & SHRM-CP", "url" : "https://blog.axcethr.com/author/sherri-bennett" }, "dateModified" : "2024-07-19T19:26:17.044Z", "datePublished" : "2020-06-25T14:30:00.000Z", "headline" : "Should You Require Face Masks in Your Workplace?", "image" : [ "https://blog.axcethr.com/hubfs/Requiring%20Employees%20to%20Wear%20Face%20Masks.webp" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.axcethr.com/should-you-require-facemasks-in-your-workplace", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.axcethr.com/hubfs/_logo_axcethr_primary.png" }, "name" : "Axcet HR Solutions" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://www.axcethr.com/#organization", "@type" : "Organization", "address" : { "@type" : "PostalAddress", "addressCountry" : "US", "addressLocality" : "Kansas City", "addressRegion" : "MO" }, "aggregateRating" : { "@type" : "AggregateRating", "bestRating" : "5", "ratingValue" : "5", "reviewCount" : "100" }, "areaServed" : { "@type" : "Country", "name" : "United States" }, "award" : [ "IRS Certified Professional Employer Organization (CPEO)", "Award-Winning HR Solutions Provider", "SHRM Certified HR Professionals", "HRCI Certified HR Professionals" ], "contactPoint" : { "@type" : "ContactPoint", "areaServed" : "US", "availableLanguage" : "English", "contactType" : "Customer Service" }, "description" : "Award-winning Professional Employer Organization (PEO) providing comprehensive HR solutions, payroll services, employee benefits, and risk management to small and mid-sized businesses. 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The CDC recommends wearing a face mask to help slow the spread of the coronavirus, especially in social settings where physical distancing is difficult, such as stores. Cloth face coverings have been shown to stop respiratory droplets from spreading, although not as completely as surgical masks or N-95 respirators. For work environments interacting with the public, such as restaurants and retail stores, face masks for employees are most likely required for legal business operations. Knowing these requirements will guide employer decisions to require employees to wear face masks. WHO recommends that healthy people wear a mask only if taking care of someone suspected or infected with coronavirus, and advises it should be done with frequent hand washing, completely cover nose and mouth, and be changed often. WHO says to wash hands thoroughly before putting on a mask, avoid touching the mask once it’s in place and cleaning hands with either sanitizer or soap and water if the mask is touched, and not re-use single use masks. Some of these recommendations may not be possible in all work environments. Are Face Masks PPE? While OSHA requires employers to provide or pay for personal protective equipment (PPE) that employees need for protection from workplace hazards, cloth face coverings that are ordered for all to wear in public settings fall outside of that description. That lessens the employer’s responsibility to provide masks and training on how to use them, but doesn’t prevent it. Employers can choose to provide masks and instruction on how to use them at work, or require employees wear masks at work if it is mandated by state and local municipal authorities. Employee Refusal to Wear a Mask The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) explains that legal sources say that employers can require employees to wear masks barring union agreements against it or verified disability. Employers should explain state or local requirements for mask-wearing and be careful to have specific conversations with employees who claim any disability that prevents wearing a mask. Refusal without a verified disability may enable employers to use disciplinary measures such as sending employees home or suspending them from work. Other considerations for employee refusal to wear a mask are union environments and agreements. The general consensus is that face masks prevent the spread of droplets, protecting others from the wearer’s exhalations. They are not 100% effective at preventing spread and do not protect the wearer totally, but they do provide a measure of prevention. 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