The Tippecanoe County Health Department is responding to a Facebook post from a local business stating it would not require employees to wear masks.
News 18's Marvin Bills spoke with the health department today about the ramifications a business could have in this situation.
Post from a local business stating it would not require employees to wear masks.
News 18's marvin bills spoke with the heal department today about the ramifications a business could have in this situation.
"i was just surprised that they would be so blunt."
It's a conversation that started over a facebook post.
"that was one of things that surprised me.
" fat bottom donuts in lafayette is receiving a lot of backlash from customers over a political post about masks.
Stating that it doesn't require employees or customers to wear masks and will not be.
Ashley sisson was a customer there a few times.
"because typically keep their beliefs out of the main stream.
Because that could alienate a lot of your customers by stating your beliefs on things.
Then people that don't believe that will not go to your business."
The post left many wondering if businesses had the authority to veto certain provisions during a pandemic.
Dr. jeremy adler with the tippecanoe county health department says no.
"the governor's executive order requires that employees of restaurants and in the food service industry wear a face covering."
He says there's a three step process if a business chooses not to follow certain executive orders.
The first being a written warning.
The second is a fine up to $200 and the third would revoking its permit.
"we've never had to go beyond that though to solve this sort of problem so i'm hopeful that's the case in this situation also."
While governor eric holcomb has given local health departments the authority to enforce certain provisions such as wearing a mask, dr. adler says it's the last thing the tippecanoe county health department wants to do.
"we are here to help community members.
We prefer for our role to primarily be education guidance, assistance, rather than an enforcement sort of agency."
In lafayette, marvin bills news 18.
News 18 reached out to fat bottom donuts and they did not respond.
Fat bottom donuts has since deleted its facebook page and taken down the post that sparked
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