Fact check: Kroger employee uniform policy doesn't permit any political messaging
The claim: Kroger banned flag masks while allowing employees to wear BLM masks.
Kroger, an Ohio-based company that owns thousands of grocery stores nationwide, has caused a stir on social media based on its alleged face mask policies.
A Facebook post calling for a boycott of the grocery store giant started circulating in September, claiming Kroger banned its employees from wearing American flag masks while allowing them to wear BLM apparel.
“Goodbye Kroger,” the post read in all capital letters. “Boycott. Boycott. Boycott.”
The post contained no links to substantiate the claim, but that didn’t stop it from being shared more than 50,000 times.
The author did not respond to a request for comment on where she got the information, but here’s what the Paste BN found.
More: Fact check: Kroger is not charging customers a Black Lives Matter tax
Kroger’s policy on apparel
The company, which owns a multitude of grocery store chains including Fred Meyers, Harris Teeter, Ralphs and Food 4 Less, does not allow its employees to wear any clothing or face masks with visible pictures or logos. That means no T-shirts or face masks in support of Black Lives Matter.
The issue came to a head at a Kroger in metro Detroit recently, where employees were handed aprons and told to cover up their BLM shirts, according to FOX 2 Detroit. The employees told the television station they were confused because Kroger openly supports breast cancer awareness month and other charitable causes.
But Kroger said in a statement that its dress code wasn’t up for debate.
"Our uniform policy must be clean, professional, and without visible pictures, logos, words or abbreviations including masks (ONLY exception is Local UFCW 876 mask or company provided mask). All associates must wear aprons to show that we are here to serve our customers, communities and each other," said Kristal Howard, a Kroger spokeswoman.
She confirmed that statement to Paste BN.
The Cincinnati-based grocery giant went on to note it worked with a Black-owned supplier in July to create wristbands for employees who wanted to show their “commitment to standing together with our Black associates, customers and communities against racism in all forms.”
Kroger's response to a request for comment didn't include specific clarification on how it handles flags.Howard referred Paste BN back to her statement on the company's uniform policy.
Our rating: False
Kroger’s uniform policy does not allow its employees to wear clothing with any kind of logo, including face masks that show support for Black Lives Matter. We rate this claim as FALSE
Our fact-check sources:
- Fox2, Aug. 31, Bloomfield Kroger employees say they were not allowed to wear Black Lives Matter shirts, masks
- WCTI-Channel 12, Sept. 2, Air Force veteran quits job at Food Lion over American flag controversy
- Food Lion, Sept. 5, tweet
- Email with Kristal Howard, Kroger spokesperson
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