Target, Kroger Among Franklin Businesses With New Mask Policy

FRANKLIN, WI — Target will again require employees to wear face masks, the Minneapolis-based retail giant announced Monday. The new policy will go into effect Tuesday. Kroger, the parent company of Pick 'N Save, also announced new guidance.

Customers at stores will not be required to wear masks. However, Target will "strongly recommend" masks for all customers — regardless of vaccination status — in areas with a "substantial" or "high risk" of transmission, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control.
Target will continue to recommend that customers who aren't fully vaccinated wear a mask.

Kroger announced in a statement this week that it will encourage all people, vaccinated or not, to wear masks.

"In light of the Delta variant and updated CDC recommendations, we strongly encourage all individuals, including those who are vaccinated, to wear a mask when in our stores and facilities," Kroger said in a statement. "We will continue to abide by all state and local mandates and encourage all Americans to get vaccinated, including our associates."

Kroger went one step further and is now offering an incentive for unvaccinated employees to get the shot — a $100 bonus could await newly vaccinated employees, according to Kroger's statement.

Since May, Target has not required customers and employees who are fully vaccinated to wear masks in stores unless it's required through local regulations.

Monday's announcement comes as the highly-infectious delta variant of the coronavirus is causing a surge in new cases and hospitalizations across the United States. On Saturday, Florida reported its highest number of new coronavirus cases in a single day since the pandemic started, according to the CDC

"We'll follow all local mandates, as we have throughout the pandemic, and continue to monitor guidance from the CDC closely," Target said in a news release.

"We will also maintain all of our health and safety protocols that include increased cleaning measures and social distancing. We encourage our team members and guests to get the COVID-19 vaccine by offering vaccine appointments at nearly all CVS at Target locations and providing paid time and free Lyft rides to team members when they get their vaccines."

In Franklin, Target is located at 7800 Lovers Lane Road.

The two Pick 'N Save locations in Franklin are located at: 7780 Lovers Lane Road and 7201 76th Street.

William Bornhoft, Patch Staff, contributed to this story.