Publix employee dies of COVID-19. Florida Supermarket chain forbade him from wearing a mask.

[HeySeuss]

Yeah, exactly. This isn't quite the simple slam dunk some people here seem to think it is.

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Yeah courts don't rely on emotional knee jerk reactions to make determinations like this. These threads are frustrating as there is good conversation to be had on the case but everyone wants to just react emotionally and make baseless assumptions.

Our close contact and mask wearing guidelines have changed substantially since April and we can probably point to our own workplaces and look back and shake our heads at what we did then versus now as we learned more about the virus.

 

[Deleted member 83122]

Do you mandate not wearing a mask and then look back on that decision like, "Oh boy, we really screwed that up," because I think it's pretty clear now that wearing a mask is one of the most productive ways to prevent the spread of the virus. If my boss told me to not wear a mask back in April I would have told him to go F himself. Who the hell does that? I think the misinformation/alternate facts coming from the government this year did more to harm people than keep them safe smdh.

 

[Friskykillface]

My cousin was told he couldn't wear a mask at the start of the pandemic and he quit after they said that, he got a job at another supermarket but what the fuck at chains forbidding masks in general, especially at the start of the pandemic

RIP and I hope that family sues the shit outta them

 

[pikablu]

Wow the publixes in sc and atlanta since atleast may or June have been super strict about the masks. Guess the real reason makes sense. smh.

 

[ThatMeanScene]

This is heartbreaking. Nothing will bring Gerardo back but I hope they get the most money possible out of Publix.

 

[Baji Boxer]

As a Publix manager we were never told to tell people they couldn't wear masks, gloves. It wasn't required until late April to wear masks. I do agree we waited to long for the mandate.

What I don't agree with is not enforcing customers to wear them even though we have signs saying you must wear one to enter.

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Lowes was similiar when I was there. While they never said don't wear masks, the lack of guidance basically let individual managers come up with their own policies on things, and I had heard of this sort of thing happening at some stores elsewhere. Some store managers are just unintelligent assholes who will do shit like this if you don't have them on a tight leash.

Corporate behaviour/communication didn't seem to start changing until after a few employees died. Even then, we were too lax on things. Store manager and corporate were loving our record sales during lockdown though.

 

[Huncho_Houdini]

I'm not sure if wearing a mask would have been effective way to protect him, as mask wearing mostly prevents ones droplets from being spread. However the company is absolutely responsible if they did not enforce mask mandates for their employees and all customers.

 

[Twister]

I had no idea some states took so long to do this. My state issued a mandatory mask mandate when in buisnesses or within 6 feet of others outside in very early April, right when the CDC started recommending them. This really sucks, especially because I don't understand why they would forbid him from doing so upon request.

 

[ChubbyHuggs]

If they made him sign papers to keep working would that make it harder to sue?

 

[Baji Boxer]

I'm not sure if wearing a mask would have been effective way to protect him, as mask wearing mostly prevents ones droplets from being spread. However the company is absolutely responsible if they did not enforce mask mandates for their employees and all customers.

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I was thinking this turned out to be not true, though I guess the type of mask is probably an important factor.

 

[Squarehard]

Hope these fuckers get taken through the wringer.

 

[panama chief]

Damn. i live in SFL and Publix has been my go-to for years. hope they get the pants sued off them for negligence.

I have a friend that works at Giant in PA and said they dont wear masks either.

 

[hateradio]

Worked for this company years ago. Absolutely evil corporation run by fringe conservatives.

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It always feels like the only way to fix things in the US is to get more liberals to own and run more shit.

 

[Dreams-Visions]

Oh wow, I didn't know there was a time where Publix was not allowing their employees to wear masks.

Publix is awesome, but is now on my list unless they pay a huge settlement AND issues a profuse apology to not just their employees but to their customers among whom their poor critical thinking may have also resulted in additional deaths that will forever go uncredited to the business.

 

[PeakPointMatrix]

Destroy them.

 

[Froli]

I hope they win

 

[FFNB]

I hope the family rakes them over the coals in court.

There's no excuse for corporations not enforcing employee safety as soon as even a sniff of potential danger to them and customers was known. Sure, I work in an office, but we didn't fuck around with this pandemic. We started our work from home policy in early March, and we won't be heading back into the office anytime soon either.

Having lost multiple family members to Covid 19 this year, I don't give a shit about what excuses these companies come up with as to why they failed to take the situation seriously and implement safety precautions as soon as possible. What's the worst that could have happened? They enforced some mask wearing for employees and customers, and if it turned out to be nothing, no big deal. As it stands, 260,000 people have died, and it took too long for the powers that be to act.

I really hope this family gets some justice.

 

[GeekyDad]

Wow, but why would they even forbid it? I mean, I can understand if it wasn't mandatory at the time, but why keep someone from exercising that extra precaution?

 

[Magic-Man]

Worked for this company years ago. Absolutely evil corporation run by fringe conservatives.

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I work for Publix currently, and I haven't seen anything personally to suggest that they're evil. Do you mind explaining a bit?

 

[raYne_07]

Considering they wouldn't even let them wear masks, I'm gonna go ahead and guess the cleaning/sanitizing procedures were not in place either. The fact that they're only suing for 30k is sad.

I'm not sure if wearing a mask would have been effective way to protect him, as mask wearing mostly prevents ones droplets from being spread. However the company is absolutely responsible if they did not enforce mask mandates for their employees and all customers.

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You don't know who he got it from. Could've been a fellow associate.

Wow, but why would they even forbid it? I mean, I can understand if it wasn't mandatory at the time, but why keep someone from exercising that extra precaution?

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Employees told the Times and the federal safety and health administration that Publix supervisors said mask use would cause shoppers to panic.

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^This bullshit right here is why. He literally feared for his own safety, but oh noes.. the customers might panic. If you check the link, it also says they finally "caved" to let some workers wear masks, but the deli team (where he worked) was still not allowed to do so. They didn't do shit till March 31st and he was already exposed then considering they sent him home on April 2nd and he had symptoms on April 6th. ie he was already exposed mid March.

Sue. Them. Into. The Ground.

 

[Valkyr Junkie]

Back in March/April a Publix employee in Jax called into NPR stating he was forbidden from wearing a mask at work as well.

 

[killerrin]

Companies are always so full of themselves when it comes to their stupid little dress codes... As if their employees are fucking dolls to dress as they please.

I hope they get sued into oblivion.

 

[III-V]

I had no idea this was a thing because all the Publix I have been have everyone wears masks. I hope his family wins the case and sues the living fuck out of them.

 

[Euler007]

Not requiring masks for all employess is shameful. Preventing them from wearing one is straight up criminal. Manslaughter.

 

[Navidson REC]

RIP.

Forbidding masks is just plain evil. What the fuck man. "I'm sorry but we can't allow you to protect others."

 

[Ouroboros]

That's very sad news. I hope his family find peace after the lawsuit. Though no amount of money can fill that kind of loss.

 

[WhySoDevious]

And this is one of the reasons why Dems in Congress don't want to give in to the Reps demands regarding a new stimulus... Publix would not be liable for his death.

 

[RecRoulette]

That company is straight up evil, fuck that. Do they allow people to work with the flu as well. Hope the family drags Publix for this

And this is one of the reasons why Dems in Congress don't want to give in to the Reps demands regarding a new stimulus... Publix would not be liable for his death.

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^

As much gets thrown around about "Wanting less money" this is the main thing the GOP is after.

 

[StrangeRoboMemory]

Publix is generally known as a good company to work for - it was my first job in high school - I'm surprised they didn't err on the side of making sure their employees were safe. Extremely disappointing and tragic.

 

[rsfour]

Why wouldn't deli workers be able to wear a mask? Why wouldn't deli workers always wear a mask?

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During SARS, my workplace said something along the lines of wearing a mask will scare customers into thinking the place isn't safe.

 

[Deleted member 83122]

And this is one of the reasons why Dems in Congress don't want to give in to the Reps demands regarding a new stimulus... Publix would not be liable for his death.

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Bingo! Great point, and I am saddened that Dems have to put their foot down to protect the people because Reps want to protect corporations. GA Senate runoff becomes more important every day.

 

[Deleted member 24149]

Yeah courts don't rely on emotional knee jerk reactions to make determinations like this. These threads are frustrating as there is good conversation to be had on the case but everyone wants to just react emotionally and make baseless assumptions.

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Come again?

At Harvey Weinstein trial, prosecutors try to overcome image of a 'harmless old man' in court

Each day in court, Harvey Weinstein enters slowly with a walker. Prosecutors have repeatedly tried to portray the mogul as a once-hulking figure.

www.latimes.com

 

[Imperfected]

During SARS, my workplace said something along the lines of wearing a mask will scare customers into thinking the place isn't safe.

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That's so ridiculous. Like, who wears masks? Doctors, people working in lab/fab clean rooms, etc. Masks to me imply the maximum intent for maintaining safety.

Like I can't even with this idea they've got in their head that people want some hairy-armed dude coughing into his sleeve while hacking at meat rather than someone in a clean apron and medical mask.

 

[VariantX]

And this is one of the reasons why Dems in Congress don't want to give in to the Reps demands regarding a new stimulus... Publix would not be liable for his death.

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This opens up the door to alot more potential abuse from big business too. 1200 stimulus ain't going to be worth that if a company is able to put you in a situation that gets you gravely Ill and gets to walk off leaving you to struggle alone

 

[HeySeuss]

Come again?

At Harvey Weinstein trial, prosecutors try to overcome image of a 'harmless old man' in court

Each day in court, Harvey Weinstein enters slowly with a walker. Prosecutors have repeatedly tried to portray the mogul as a once-hulking figure.

www.latimes.com

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That's for benefit of the jury. This case wouldn't have a jury it would just be the judge. Big difference.

 

[Holmes]

Add it to the long list of why Florida sucks.

 

[bonch00ski]

I live in Jax and every Publix here does absolutely nothing to the many that come in maskless. It's infuriating.

 

[VariantX]

I live in Jax and every Publix here does absolutely nothing to the many that come in maskless. It's infuriating.

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The only reason we have people wearing masks here because theres an ordinance within city limits that will fine you if you don't wear them. The stores in other towns don't and the difference is staggering. We get way more traffic at our store because of it. I've heard this from the mouths of may other customers that would drive 20-30+ miles to the capital city to do grocery shopping because people are forced to wear masks in this city.

 

[Jag]

DeSantis just renewed his order that prohibits local governments from enforcing mask mandates. He is a stupid, cruel and evil piece of shit.