Whole Foods Market Sued Over 'Black Lives Matter' Mask Use

AUSTIN, TX — Austin-based Whole Foods Market Inc. has been sued amid accusations of a ban against employees' facial face coverings emblazoned with the words "Black Lives Matter," according to a published report.

Bloomberg reported on the class-action lawsuit filed in Massachusetts federal court centered on employees losing their jobs for donning masks bearing the slogan amid the coronavirus pandemic. But a Whole Foods spokesperson told Patch via email allegations from the plaintiff are unfounded.

"While we cannot comment on pending litigation, it is critical to clarify that no team members have been terminated for wearing Black Lives Matter face masks or apparel," a company spokesperson told Patch. "Savannah Kinzer was separated from the company for repeatedly violating our Time & Attendance policy by not working her assigned shifts, reporting late for work multiple times in the past nine days and choosing to leave during her scheduled shifts. It is simply untrue that she was separated from the company for wearing a Black Lives Matter face mask."

According to the Bloomberg report, Whole Foods workers also are asking the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts for an emergency motion to stop the company from enforcing the policy that forbids workers from wearing these masks or related apparel. A class action lawsuit concurrently filed with a motion for preliminary injunction says that the company policy discriminates on the basis of race, according to the report.

The Whole Foods spokesperson said the disagreement is centered on a dress code in general rather than a mask in particular. "As an employer, we must uphold our policies in an equitable and consistent manner," the spokesperson wrote. es to comply," the spokesperson wrote in the email.