Publix Doubled Down On Its Uniform Policy After An Employee Was Told He Could Not Wear A BLM Mask
Publix Supermarkets will not allow employees to wear apparel with messaging supporting the Black Lives Matter movement, referencing its uniform policy that prohibits clothing with messaging not associated with the chain, according to NBC News.
This statement came after Quinton Desamours came to work at a Florida Publix in a mask with "BLM" written on it. The 18-year-old told NBC-2 that the assistant manager told him he couldn't wear it because "[he was] endangering [himself] and everyone who worked there."
He tweeted about the incident, saying that he will no longer be working at the store.
Today @Publix sent me, a publix employee home for having “BLM” written on my mask. The assistant store manager told me he doesn’t know if the company is “Pro or Con”. I will no longer be working for publix. Stand for something or you’ll fall for anything! #blacklivesmatterFL ✊🏾
— Q Desamours (@QDesamours) June 6, 2020
A Publix Twitter account responded to his tweets, saying that their "uniform policy does not permit non-Publix messaging." Desamours told NBC-2 that he's seen other employees wearing masks with prints on them that are not related to Publix.
Given the impact demand has had on availability, we have allowed associates to wear medical/surgical masks, dust masks and cloth face coverings until their uniform face coverings arrive in the coming days. Our uniform policy does not permit non-Publix messaging.
— PublixHelps (@PublixHelps) June 6, 2020
Publix spokeswoman Maria Brous issued a similar statement to NBC News on the matter. Delish did not immediately hear back from Publix after a request for comment.
"At Publix, we reject racism and believe diversity makes our company—and our community—better," Brous told the outlet: "Our focus remains on ensuring a welcoming work and shopping environment for all associates and customers. Our uniform policy does not permit non-Publix messaging on clothing or accessories."
When the Publix Twitter account tweeted the recent statement by CEO Todd Jones in which he said they "reject racism and discrimination of any kind" at him in a reply, Desamours said "so you reject racism, discrimination, and inequality until I stand up for something wearing your uniform basically?"
"We have to make people uncomfortable to get change,” he told The News-Press.
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