Hi everyone!

Thank you so much for your support and efforts around this cause. Some of you may be dealing with similar issues in your own workplace, have friends or family dealing with these issues in their workplace, or you may be a supporter of the cause and want companies to be held accountable for their actions. I just want to say thank you to each and every one of you. This would not be as successful if it want for all of you.  To continue on this path we all need you to continue to talk about these issues, share this petition, and reach out to Best Buy or government representative and legislators. We need this message to reach as many people as possible for us to be taken seriously; there is strength in numbers. As always, thank you so much and I wish you are staying healthy and safe!

In addition I have a few updates!

I had a lengthy conversation with my stores general manager that was relatively successful. I was able to reiterate all of my concerns, they were receptive to many but still maintained the corporate stance of hands off policing of customer and employee safety.

In regards to customers refusing to wear face masks we have changed our policy! If a customer is unwilling or unable to wear a face mask, they will be asked to wear a face shield. If they also refuse to wear a face shield they will be asked to leave, and utilize our online store to have their products delivered to their home or opt for curbside pickup. 

In regards to the employees elective travel, they are approaching this in a hands-off manor. If an employee travels, in any capacity, there are no Best Buy policies in affect that will protect that employees coworkers or the customers they interact with. They are deciding to rely only on the CDC's guidance. The CDC has instituted a policy requiring all US bound international passengers to require a COVID-19 test a maximum of 3 days prior to their US bound flight. The CDC Director Robert Redfield, MD has said, "Testing does not eliminate all risk". Most COVID-19 test will not return a positive test if you are asymptotic and recently infected. This still means that the spread of COVID-19 to their coworkers and customers is possible. Best Buy's inaction on providing proper guidance in regard to employee travel is inherently harmful and will result in the further spread of COVID-19. I call on Best Buy to require all employees who choose to travel shall be required to quarantine for a minimum of 10 days without pay.

My final major concern is with the enforcement of employees properly social distancing and mask wearing. This is an issue with employees actions, leadership teams enforcement of the policies, and lack of repercussions. Employees continue to be oblivious to the infectiousness of COVID-19 and the risk they impose on others when they improperly wear a mask or social distance. Leadership team is rarely enforcing this policy or abiding by it as well. Lastly, there have been no clear repercussions for those that are clearly violating these policies, and for some repeatedly violating them.

I reached out to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and received a well worded response that may assist some. The email I received from him cited his Executive Order 20-54. From this Executive Order, employees who feel in good faith that their job presents imminent danger to their health, including the danger of contracting COVID-19, may refuse to work without retaliation of any kind from their employer; if the employee has asked the employer to correct the concerns and has not. As well as, if the employee chooses to quit or is terminated for executing their rights as outlined in Executive Order 20-54, will maintain eligibility to unemployment benefits. Executive Order 20-54 can be found here https://www.leg.mn.gov/archive/execorders/20-54.pdf 

Please continue to spread the word and hold these companies accountable for their actions.

Thank you everyone so much!