i still wear my mask and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. i just don’t want to risk anything, even if i, along with my coworkers, are all vaccinated. i feel really uncomfortable without it on, plus there’s so many customers who come in massless and coughing and it makes me feel wary

i’d say hmm somewhere around 40-50% of our store is unmasked. i’m keeping mines on because 1. i don’t want people perceiving or looking at me like hello too vulnerable idk and 2. too many piercings and 3. i’m handling beverages/food so i just feel it’s more sanitary with the mask on

I have auditory issues so not having masks again have been really great for me and my acne is clearing up.

I still wear it I hate that we don’t have to because we are probably going to a huge rise in cases with the new omicron variant that has spiked in Europe, (I’m in America). The worse thing is is that if 1 partner gets it then anyone working that day basically has to get tested/ isolate. I really dislike it and think it’s really irresponsible

I've stopped because I'm autistic and the mask is a huge factor in me becoming overstimulated especially with it getting hotter. Plus, everyone at my store including myself is vaccinated and most of us are boosted on top of my store being in a very pro vaccine area with low local case numbers. I see it as an educated choice in which the benefits outweigh the risk in my personal circumstances. That being said, if those circumstances change the mask is going back on

I have sensory issues so I'm finally able to feel comfortable at work again. My stress is lower, and my migraines aren't nearly as bad.

I have two jobs. One I wear a mask, the other I don't. My main job, Starbucks, I do not. I'm vaccinated, and I know there's only about 3-4 people in my store that aren't, and since cases are going down a lot more, I'm comfortable without one. My other job, people literally call mask mandates "Nazi shit," so yeah, I'm keeping it on around those people. Double masked, actually, just to be sure.

I wear a mask because I don’t want people to see my face

I am literally one of the only baristas at work that still use a mask. I use it because when I think about making food or drinks, I am spitting into the air when I talk or whatever. Grosses me out that we are not made to use them period. But I also use it because customers don't deserve to see my face, and I like to talk smack under my mask as well :)

covid aside, i feel like wearing a mask is rlly practical?? i’ve seen so many people have mocha and frappe roast stains on their masks while working, imagine getting that in your mouth??

I still mask up. Everywhere. I have a mother in law with COPD and cancer survivor, immunocompromised parent and child, elderly family. I, myself, have severe asthma and it's just not worth it. I'm allowed to keep my mask on, so I am.

I personally have kept wearing them while customers are in but when doing the cleaning etc for close I've taken it off when it's just staff left

Okay I stopped wearing a mask because the numbers in my state have gone way down. It’s weird though I still am not sure if I’m doing the right thing.

I wear my mask until the hospital's don't require masks for entry and even then I still might. I am super uncomfortable that they took the plexiglass down. Some rude customer came up to the register and said, "Well, I can everyones faces, why can't I see yours?" I just repeated, "What can I get started for you?" And got done with him as fast as I could. He was so loud too. I have a few days left before I'm done. I realized today, it's not Starbucks I'm having trouble leaving, it's my coworkers.

You guys don't hear it but I do. The footsteps of ba2 creeping up on us from behind.

I still wear mine. My FT job is in healthcare.

It’s just a no brainer for me. Plus… it’s something that takes such minimal effort on my part.

As long as people come in asking for a medicine ball while coughing up their lungs I will continue to wear one. That and my kids can’t get vaccinated yet

I hate wearing masks and if the health department says I don't need to wear it, then I trust them. It kind of makes me laugh how in 2020 we were all saying "trust the experts" but now the experts are saying it's okay to go out and we don't have to wear masks and now all of a sudden we don't trust them.

I don’t wear mine anymore. I was a partner before the pandemic and wearing a mask kind of hinders my ability to interact with people. I’ve noticed majority of my store has decided to stop wearing them and some wear it only when they are in a customer facing position. It’s helped me interact with my coworkers better and I can read lips instead of asking what a million times. I’m pretty sure my store was starting to catch on that I’m hard of hearing in one ear. I really missed smiling at customers too. I’m sure they missed their morning coffee with a smile. My acne has also cleared up pretty quick, which I never had until masks (I also highly recommend checking out curology for those of you who want to clear up acne and still wear a mask!) Always do what makes you feel comfortable in terms of health!

I'm pretty happy that the mandate has been lifted.

It makes it so much easier to breathe, which is especially helpful when things are busy. I would hyperventilate and get lightheaded from the mask before.

My acne isn't so bad anymore, and I'm not worrying so much about other health issues that can be caused by wearing masks extensively.

I'm also enjoying being able to read other partners' faces and lips more, which is helpful for me because my hearing has some issues.

Honestly I'm also enjoying not being forced into wearing a mask and instead having a choice.

Idk, tbh I'm iffy on it. I wear it for peak and other busy times, but when in the back or when it's slow I've been taking it off. Specifically to tell people off about it.im comfortable with my partners that they are vaccinated etc and safe, but these customers suck.

i’m pretty sure most partners at my store are vaccinated. i only know of one who isn’t wearing their mask anymore. my manager and asm have came in without a mask some days and other days they’ll wear it. i see hundreds of costumers a day so i think i’ll keep my mask on for a little longer

personally i doing because i have sensory issues but everyone i work with is vaccinated and so am i so i’m more comfortable. i also got it about a year ago so i have antibodies but i definitely support you and your decision, glad you’re doing what makes you feel safe <3

I still do keep mine on. It’s not me that being the only one left in store who wear mask, but I often work in a shift that no one wear it anymore but me. I don’t care. It’s your choice to wear it or not and my option is to keep wearing it. My family still wear it as well. Besides, I’ll fly back to Vietnam (my hometown) after almost 3 years delay due to the most insane pandemic, so surely I don’t want anything to get in my way getting back home, and it’s my first time seeing my girlfriend after 2 years long distance relationship. I get a lot to take care of, not just myself. So I wear a mask and Idgaf about people/ customer try telling me to take it off :)

i’m one of maybe 3 partners who still wear theirs and it honestly sucks. so many customers have asked me invasive questions/overall been really rude about it. it makes me want to take it off just so i don’t stick out :/ but i know better than to let shitty people dictate my decisions lol

masked and upgraded to kn95 masks to protect myself from the increase of fellow partners who’ve decided not to

Honestly, I hope this part of US culture sticks around. It's been a norm in Asia for a long time for when you have the sniffles. It's a courtesy.

most of the partners I work with don’t seem to mind. I don’t wear it often anymore it gives the work place a sense of normalcy. I only put on one during peak

I don’t wear one. I would only wear a mask at work. I never did wear a mask outside of work. My doctors all told me to not wear them because my body needs to learn how to fight things on it own. I have autoimmune issues and other health problems. I had Covid one time and that is only because some came into work and worked four hours before telling anyone.

If wearing a mask protected me, then I would wear it but since it's about others and most of my other coworkers don't wear one, I don't see the need.

i haven’t been wearing mine because i feel weird around my coworkers, all but 1 to my knowledge stopped wearing theirs. I feel awkward and dont want the customer conversations about it, so ive decided im comfortable without it for the time being but if cases start to rise, im def putting it back on and not risking it

honestly i spit so much when i talk i don’t ever wanna make drinks without a mask on

If you’re wearing a KN95 or better then you shouldn’t worry about it.

Its interesting. A lot of my fellow baristas (morning partners) and me still mask up. Even if its not medical graded. But I have noticed a few of our shifts wont wear it. I wear mine because I have underlying health conditions along with being immunocompromised. My state has low rate of cases, but idk I just dont feel emotionally ready to take my mask off. I know a lot of fellow baristas who feel the same!
Customers dont wear a mask and havent for a minute lol

I would love to keep wearing my mask but i’ve found that not having it on is more beneficial to me & customers since i’m not very loud & my voice is pretty soft the mask makes everything i say sound mumbled & not having one on has let others understand what im saying especially when the grinder or frappuccino machines are on while i take orders in café

I've got a line of acne on my neck right where the mask lands. I know it's a kinda simple reason, but I want it gone, and I'm vaccinated and getting the booster soon

Its still required where I am in Canada for partners until April 11th. I will definitely be keeping it on after that date because we interact with so many people on any given day, that preventing any kind of illness is worth it for me. I also just ordered some n95 masks that will fit my face so that makes me feel better.

i don’t wear a mask only when i’m on window because i don’t want customers to be uncomfy and also i don’t want them seeing my whole face

but i’m fully vaccinated and i hate the masks … so yeah

i know that 3-4 people who are regularly on my shifts are unvaccinated so i keep mine on and when i can i ask to go take orders outside. i’m one of about 4 partners still masking. i live in a small town in the south :(

Today went in and only me and 1 other person were wearing a mask. I'll continue to wear it until at least summer, bc I really don't think the lift on the masks will last all that long. It's only been in effect for what, a week? And already ppl are calling in sick and 2 coworkers plus the SM were coughing up a storm. No thanks 😷

I keep mine on usually because I like the anonymity and just to be safe because I’m in a red state with many unvaccinated people but my store can also get unusually hot, today I had to take mine off b/c I felt like I was getting a heat stroke.

About 80% of our store is unmasked, I still wear one for now and probably forever if I can as my entire family is high risk, and my immune system is worst then most, also piercings and I don't wanna show my face as I can't control the faces I make most the time

If you’re high risk or worried about getting sick, keep the mask on!!! Even when Covid was at its worst, before we had variants and vaccines, I never got sick with ANYTHING because I wore a quality mask religiously (I got a fabric mask with a sleeve and filter that you could replace every month). I also washed my mask EVERY day, never rewore it after a shift. Also hand washing. You should be washing your hands every 30 minutes anyway, but being super diligent about it will help keep you from getting sick. Just try not to touch your face without thoroughly washing your hands first, and eat lunch on the patio if you can. You can’t stop everyone else from choosing what to do with their bodies, but you can certainly still take every precaution for yourself!

I don't wear a mask anymore.

1.) I have rosacea and the mask would rub and rub on my checks that it basically left scars on my face

2.) When the pandemic started I was in Palo Alto, California. One of the places that took it the most seriously in the nation. Everyone wore a mask, no one interacted with each other for a good 3-4 months. I didn't go to work, and just stayed at home with my boyfriend in a tiny apartment.



This was March 2020 when the lock down happened, the last thing I celebrated normally was my birthday on the 12tg, by the 17th we had to have a shelter in place.

It is now March 2022. I miss seeing people's faces, the interaction is much different. If you want to wear you mask for certain reasons than do that. I just can't do it anymore. If we have to wear masks I'll wear it but given the option I don't.

Lifted the mask mandate and a week later half the store is out bc one of our baristas caught COVID and we were all exposed.

Enjoyed my 5 day paid vacay, gonna keep wearing my mask.

i don’t think it’s fair to dislike or look differently at ppl because they don’t wear a mask. since im getting over a respiratory infection (just a small cough and congestion, im almost fully recovered now) i’ve been wearing my mask to work since i stayed at home for a few days. i didn’t wear my mask for a few shifts before i got sick. i just can’t take the masks anymore. it felt so nice and refreshing to not feel like im suffocating, cuz it does get hot in my store since we still have heaters turned on, and it’s especially hot when you’re on warming. a lot of ppl at my store still wear them tho. but nobody is catching covid or getting sick (besides me but i didn’t catch it from work) so i see no issues as long as everyone is healthy. when im fully recovered im gonna take it off but my store has boxes of masks so if I need one, I have one.

I typically open and I have so much anxiety about not wearing a mask due to having a pandemic baby. So I wear my mask during peak but to get myself comfortable with the idea of going back to the “norm” I haven’t been wearing one until peak starts

I have 5 facial piercings, so there’s no way I’m taking my mask off any time soon. Plus I don’t trust our customers to keep their distance from me.

It’s not comfortable for me

I still wear mine because it feels so unsanitary to work in food service and have my saliva fly through drinks and food.

My coworker, like the prettiest girl at our store, said she gets more tips if she doesn't wear mask. I guess that is why she stopped wearing hers.

i'm still wearing mine, i just feel better with it on especially bc my mom has a lot of health issues and we live together. also i like not having to show customers my whole face

Vaxxed and boosted, I miss people being able to see my face and not just dead eyes. I haven’t gotten covid even with a huge outbreak in my store

I too, am the only person in my store still wearing a mask

Im triple vaxxed so im loose with my mask off the floor but if im coming within 6 feet of people, mask goes on.

Happy to say that only 3 people at my store are going unmasked ! Glad most of us are on the same page about the mask wearing especially with us being in a tourist area in the south! We get a lot of foot traffic, a lot of unmasked/unvaccinated, and a lot of opinionated conservatives who have something to say about us still wearing masks. :)))

I don't wear a mask because it causes my breathing pattern to change. I've got asthma that pops up at random times so it's nice to take full breaths.

Otherwise, my whole family is vaccinated so I'm not worried about bringing it home and killing someone.

Before anyone criticize me , I am not opposed to wearing masks I understand why we need them and if they work it’s not us to decide that but I was born with Sinus problems the type that when I sleep I need to make sure I sleep with two pillows because It becomes difficult to breath laying down ., during Covid It became hard for me to breathe especially during peak hour, I would run to the back and take a “breathing break” because it would just feel suffocating.

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I can't wait until it's lifted here. I hate the mask so much and feel so free without it.

I'm happy to see people's faces again. I didn't realize how much I missed not having masks until I was able to not wear one while in a building.

Hand washing and sanitizing will also be top priority for me while leading. If I see someone slacking they will be told. We do not need anyone laxing up

i only wear mine when working and if i remember one of im public. no one else at my starbs wears ones except for the teenagers.

I don't wear mine anymore for a few reasons.
1) I'm fully vaccinated and have had covid (omicron) already so even if I'm somehow exposed again the odds of me passing it on are minuscule
2) Most of my coworkers don't wear it anymore either so me wearing mine wouldn't do much anyway
3) Covid cases are low enough in my area that I literally never hear about it anymore. I don't wear a mask anywhere unless specifically asked to (doctor's appointments, shows, etc) so to wear it at work would be pointless for that reason too
4) I overheat really easily, especially at work, and I wear glasses, so a mask is overall a huge sensory nightmare for me. Plus I'm already noticing a difference in my skin which has been a massive insecurity of mine my whole life.
I've worked in food service for the entirety of the pandemic, plus my brother is immunocompromised and I'm a theatre major, so I've had a lot of stake in covid regulations and was always the one to ask people to pull theirs over their nose, etc to keep everyone as safe as possible. So honestly, maybe selfishly, I think I've earned not wearing it now that I've done my part by vaccinating, completing quarantine after getting covid myself, and being an essential worker this whole time, especially now that regulations are being lifted anyways. Masks protect other people from you and I don't pose a threat. If someone asked me to wear one I'd do it no questions asked. But I'm over it otherwise.

I don’t wear a mask. Sadly Covid is here to stay whether I wear a mask or not. We carry germs in our hair, clothes, and skin. A lot of people wear cloth masks, which do nothing for exposure. I wear a mask 4/5 days out of the week as a dental assistant. Honestly I love being able to smile without the mask.. I’ve noticed I’ve gotten more tips as I’ve been able to smile and engage with customers without a mask.

i personally choose not to wear them when i’m out and about but i’ll keep it on while working
i’m fully vaccinated and i’m young and healthy with no high risk family members so i don’t worry too much
i will wear it while working tho because i’m working with food and drinks
it’s less for my safety and more to bring some sort of mental comfort to my customers
all of my coworkers are doing the same

Personally I still mask whenever I'm customer facing or whenever a majority of the partners I'm working with have a mask on since I know that they're more comfortable with everyone else wearing a mask as well. I do take my mask off when I am on customer support or other support role that doesn't involve me being face to face with customers and of course in our break room. But everywhere else I still wear a mask like to the store to the doctor's office etc etc.

My house is also fully vacced and boosted where possible. And most of our partners are as well.

My manager and 1 barista don't wear it. I still wear it because I don't want to smile at people coming in. Another reason is I like to hide myself from the customers because I don't want them to kno my face. And it is more sanitary overall :o

i alternate wearing mine, some days i will some days i wont. if were busy then yes, if not ill chill without it. if im on with unvaxd partners tho then yeah mask on. its also an overstimulation thing for me

I keep mine on! Personally, I don’t care if I’m the only one :)

i wear my mask because last time they revoked the lift like a month later lol. also i want to make sure cases stay down because i live in florida and i don’t trust anyone here lol. i have gotten asked why i still wear it in a shift of 6 other people who didn’t wear a mask. it was weird.

I keep mine on because, other than for safety issues, I hate people I don't know in my face. I also like not showing my face to them as well.

Our mask mandate is still in effect for partners for a few more weeks and I'm truly worried that most of our partners will drop it. I'm high risk, so is my husband so Mines going to stay on. We just had a partner test positive and I worked with her for two 6 hour shifts so I'm truly good not getting sick

A lot of my store is fully vaxed and a lot of baristas stopped wearing masks when the requirement dropped. I went to work for a 1 hour meeting on Tuesday, opened Wednesday-Saturday. Had to wait for someone to finish my shift for me (I'm a SSV) on Saturday because I didn't pass the Covid Coach. Went home and took a rapid antigen test and tested positive, went to the doctor Sunday morning and got a full test and tested positive.

I literally do not go anywhere besides work and home, and do not see anyone in person besides at work. So yeah lesson of the story: stop wearing your mask= get covid from work

It depends on my mood for me. I still wear mine some days and some days I don't. I just gotta get used to not making faces or mumbling without a mask now 😅 but I am pretty nuteral with the masks

I feel like this pales in comparison so some other partner’s reasoning, but wearing glasses and a mask is simply the worst. I’m vaxed, boosted, and case numbers are down so I’m happy to not have to wear a mask anymore

I still mask up because my loved ones are immunocompromised AND because it’s helped reduce the amount of pneumonia & allergy issues I was having before.

Plus also with my other job I technically could unmask since it’s usually just me at my station. But I operate an industrial heat press and the mask has helped me not get overstimulated from all the smells of hot vinyl.

Edit to add that I help out a LOT with my nibling, and their mom is pregnant with another kid. RSV is a serious issue in infants and I want to make sure I’m doing my part to lower the risk once she has her kid this fall.

I don’t wear my mask anymore because we’re in a fully vaccinated office building and wearing it makes me hot and anxious

the only reason i go through a shift without wearing a mask is bc i can’t find where they hid the damn things in my store

People not wearing a mask is just as much of a choice as not wearing one. I’m sure if people are sick they will take it more serious now, but we can’t judge people who don’t wanna wear one we have already been divided enough over covid

I hate it. The job requires close contact, it’s ridiculous to not require masks from partner and customer.

My entire store still wears a mask even with the mandate lifted and it being optional for partners. We’re careful with ourselves and our customers even though we’re all vaccinated and boosted. Plus I prefer customers not see my face as I judge their crazy ass modified drink.

i actually went out today and bought a ton of washable masks so i could continue wearing mine! if im in the back room chilling ill lower it but i have a couple baristas whom i work with that have diabetes or high risk so i wear mine for them just to be mindful :) i also like that no one really knows what i look like 24/7 and i can only partially be percieved

Same at my store, I continue to wear one cause I had cancer and my dads a doctor who highly recommends you still wear one.

I still wear mine because it just feels weird not wearing one LOL but my store still wears their masks except one co-worker

I’ve stopped wearing it because I tend to feel extremely claustrophobic after a few hours of wearing it. Along with this I feel I have done my part by getting vaccinated and boosted, and
90%+ of people who will actually be at risk of severe cases and hospitalization are the unvaccinated, and I honestly feel they have what’s coming to them at this point. They’ve had the chance to protect themselves, and it’s time for us to all move on.

Although I might still wear it in the drive window to hide some of the facial expressions I tend to make lol.

I still wear mine even tho a majority of my coworkers dont.

I myself still keep my mask on along with 3 others at my store. After having to wear a mask for over 2 years now in public, school etc and now taking off masks just makes things feel so weird. It was such a huge deal and now it’s basically nothing and no one wears them. I want to take it off but it feels so wrong idk why.

I started off at the store almost a year ago (ofc when masks were still mandated) and I live in a heavy republican and very anti vax/anti mask county. Personally I don’t feel comfortable yet not wearing a mask at all and don’t trust my customers or co workers enough to just not mask (and I’m vaccinated btw!) so I keep wearing my mask and a few of my co workers do too. Personally since they started mandating a medical mask not long ago and now no mask at all? I’m still sus of it.

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I wear mine most of the day and take it off seldomly. The other day my ears were hurting from it so I took it off for a second but otherwise i wear it.

Lately i haven’t worn it. The number one reason is I already had covid in December so I’m not currently worried about transmission. Cases are fairly low in my area as well. I’m keeping an eye on the number of cases and new variants, and may also mask back up when pollen gets worse in case I start sneezing.

For some reason wearing my mask causes my stutter to be really bad, not exactly sure why. I do know that with my stutter I talk really softly to customers so they can’t hear me and they can’t see my mouth move with my mask so it’s one of the better options for me to not wear the mask. However when my allergies are really bad I do wear the mask.

I try to wear it when the store is very busy and when we are fully staffed, but I've had days where my face gets sooo sweaty underneath from running around and working on warming so it is nice to be able to take it down. When closing I'm flexible since we get about 3 customers an hour and there's about 2 other partners excluding myself. I also have glasses and sensory issues which makes masks a not so enjoyable experience. I just wish those who aren't vaccinated would wear theirs at all times

mostly everyone at my store is still masked. i think we have a total of 3 people who have ditched the mask & they’re all fully vaccinated + boosted. it makes me less uncomfortable since they got the vaccine 🤷‍♀️ but i’m staying masked because my grandparents are too high risk, even a regular cold will hospitalize them.

however we had to close early today bc all three of those partners tested positive and nobody was willing to come in 🥰 it was me, my shift, and my SM for 4 hours lol

all but two of the partners at my store are vaccinated, the two unvaccinated people are still double masking

I don’t wear one now. I’m vaxxed and boosted. And iv had it. Very few people at my store are unvaccinated. I’m not against anyone wearing one who feels the need to. I’m more upset at the partners who are completely unvaccinated not wearing them since they are more likely to pass and get covid.

I wear a mask because I don’t wanna take my nose piercings out lmao and cause covid hasn’t left yet people are way to comfortable

I don't wear a mask anymore because all of it was nothing but fear mongering. People get sick, viruses happen and people die. There is no more death now than there was before covid 19

I don’t wear my mask , I don’t feel or want too . I felt pressured to wear one which is super uncomfy .

I keep up with vaccinations and I wear a mask around unvaxxed partners.

I don't and neither do any of my coworkers. Thank God.

I don’t wear my mask. Barely did.I’ll take the downvotes come at me