Restaurant workers receiving backlash for enforcing county mask mandate 

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – For those in the restaurant industry, it’s been a challenging two years amid the pandemic. Between shutdowns and staff shortages, they have been through it all. But now, on top of that, some workers are seeing backlash over the county mask mandate.

Justin Jordan does a little bit of everything at Koen Japanese BBQ & Sushi, near 27th and Yankee Hill. For the last three years, he’s loved serving customers but lately, it’s become a challenge.

The staff asks patrons to wear a mask in the restaurant and lobby area while waiting to be seated because of the Lancaster County mask mandate, but the staff is taking some backlash for it.

“The majority of people that come through our doors and other restaurants that we have seen, they keep them on, put them on. But for every 20 people that put them on, there are a couple of people that walk through the door that are kind of fighting back and not wanting to do it,” Jordan said.

On Friday, Jordan’s coworker received a ticket – no tip and a note at the bottom saying “No masks hassle” – something the staff, unfortunately, has seen before.

“I wouldn’t say a slap in the face but kind of knocks you down a little bit, because we never hassle you about it. We just ask you kindly to please put it on when you step through our door, please respect our wishes,” Jordan said.

Jordan says the staff understands masks can be annoying and they’re tired of them too, but when you don’t tip a server who has no say on the matter, it’s unfair.

“That’s been the toughest situation is getting that blowback from people about the mandate. We didn’t implement it, no restaurants around here implemented it. It was a mandate through a higher power and what we try to do is just beg someone, please it’s not us, we’re just following the rules,” Jordan said.

This scenario is playing out in many restaurants across Nebraska and it’s become much worse than just no tip. The Nebraska Hospitality Association says some customers are becoming verbally abusive.

“Many restaurants have a host to seat you and to take your table and many times that’s a younger person. Maybe somebody 16,17, 18-years-old. And they’re being threatened when they’re asking the guests to put on a mask to come into the restaurant or to go to their table, they’re being actually physically threatened,” Zoe Olson, the Executive Director of the Nebraska Hospitality Association said.

Jordan wants to use this as an example to be kind and considerate to your servers and other restaurant staff.