Employees at MOM’s Organic Market locations across the state are demanding answers after the Rockville-based grocery chain instituted a new policy prohibiting employees from wearing medical face masks on the job.

According to an internal document reviewed by The Banner, the policy, which went into effect Aug. 10, is related to customer service.

“In our continued commitment to delivering the best possible customer experience and ensuring open, welcoming interactions between our employees and the customers we serve, employees are not permitted to wear masks, face coverings, or face obstructions while clocked in,” the document, which was distributed to managers at MOM’s stores, says.

Employees with disabilities and health conditions that require them to wear a mask are exempt from the ban, under the Americans with Disabilities Act, if they provide a doctor’s note.

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One Hampden location manager who spoke to The Banner on the condition of anonymity said they plan to resign from their job due to the new policy.

“I was completely blindsided. I mask full time at work for my safety,” they said.

The employee said that the policy was “squeezed in” a larger document sent to managers about new store guidelines.

“They just wanted to slide it in under the radar, I think, to avoid making people mad,” they said.

That employee was able to get a doctor’s note which exempts them from the ban. However, they still plan to quit “on principle,” they said. They noted that employees have limited sick time and that masks can help prevent illnesses that may cause an employee to need to call out of work.

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“It’s just morally wrong. I cannot work for a company that does shit like this to people,” they said.

Representatives for MOM’s did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Banner on Saturday.

MOM’s employees unionized in 2022 and are represented by local chapters of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union. Most Maryland MOM’s employees are part of UCFW Local 400. The union did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Banner on Saturday.

A group of former employees of the MOM’s Organic Market Hampden location have organized to support current employees through a campaign called “Support Mom’s Workers.” The group created an email template for union supporters to send to MOM’s corporate leaders.

“If masks help people, why would you ban them?” the email says in part. “Why would you want your employees to get sick at work, get their families sick, and get co-workers and customers sick?”

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An employee at the MOM’s Organic Market location in Silver Spring told The Banner on Saturday morning that this was the first she had heard of a mask ban. She said that in the past, her managers have given out masks to employees to wear while serving customers at counters.

“I’m really confused,” she said.

A 60-year-woman at the Silver Spring location, who chooses to wear a mask while shopping due to a medical condition, told The Banner on the condition of anonymity that she feels the new policy is “discriminatory.”

“I think everyone should have the right to wear a mask if they so choose,” she said.

Ciara Wells contributed reporting to this story.