Costco Employee Kicks Out Customer For Refusing To Comply With Coronavirus Measures

A customer has been left outraged after an employee at a Costco store he was shopping in kicked him out for refusing to wear a face mask.

As per the company's policy, staff and customers must wear face masks and practice social distancing while in store, but one shopper didn't agree with the rules, and filmed his run-in with the employee.

The Costco employee, named Tison, asked the man to put on a face mask but he refused to comply, saying he woke up in a 'free country'.

The customer, who was filming all along, then told the employee he was 'not a f***ing sheep'.

Walking calmly away with the irate customer's trolley, the employee simply responded: "Have a nice day."

Costco has put the face mask measures in place as part of an international effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

A statement released on the company's website reads: "To help protect our employees and members, effective May 4, 2020, all Costco members and guests must wear a face covering that covers the mouth and nose, at all times while at Costco.

"This requirement does not apply to children under the age of 2 or to individuals who are unable to wear a face covering due to a medical condition.

"Costco employees are required to wear face coverings, and now we are asking that Costco members do so too. We know some members may find this inconvenient or objectionable, but under the circumstances we believe the added safety is worth any inconvenience.

"This is not simply a matter of personal choice; a face covering protects not just the wearer, but others too. In short, we believe this is the right thing to do under the current circumstances.

"Although some may disagree with this policy or question its effectiveness, we're choosing to err on the side of safety in our shopping environments. Costco has continued to operate during this crisis as an essential business in all of our communities, and our employees are on the front lines.

"As part of a community, we believe this simple act of safety and courtesy is one that Costco members and employees can undertake together."

LADbible has contacted Costco for comment.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: US News

Amelia Ward

Amelia is a journalist at LADbible. After studying journalism at Liverpool John Moores and Salford Uni (don't ask), she went into PR and then the world of music. After a few years working on festivals and events, she went back to her roots. In her spare time, Amelia likes music, Liverpool FC, and spending good, quality time with her cat, Paul. You can contact Amelia at [email protected].

@ameliasward