LANSING, Mich. — A former employee of Fast Eddie’s Car Wash Oil Change has come forward with allegations that he was fired for wearing a mask at work after the company changed its uniform policy. Tyler Clifford, who had been employed at the carwash for approximately a year, claims that his decision to wear a mask was initially accepted by his employer but later became an issue following a customer complaint.
Clifford explained that he began wearing a mask during the pandemic as a preventive measure to reduce the spread of illness. He continued this practice when he was hired at Fast Eddie’s, choosing to wear a mask while commuting to work and while on the job. However, according to Clifford, a customer at the car wash voiced concerns to management about “the mask-wearing employee,” prompting the company to alter its dress code.
“I had no issues with wearing it until the complaint was made,” Clifford told 6 News. “After that, they changed the policy to ban masks entirely, even though they had initially allowed it.”
Clifford also shared details of a confrontation with the customer who lodged the complaint. He said that the situation escalated into an argument, which ultimately led to the company’s decision to implement the new mask policy.
According to text messages provided to 6 News, the company’s new policy effectively prohibited employees from wearing masks while working. However, Clifford was told that he could obtain a doctor’s note to make an exception to the rule. At the time of his dismissal, Clifford said he was in the process of obtaining the necessary documentation but had not yet received it.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) weighed in on the matter, stating that businesses are within their rights to establish their own dress code policies. However, the ACLU noted that employers must accommodate employees who have legitimate medical reasons for wearing a mask, provided they can substantiate the need with a doctor’s note.
Clifford expressed confusion over the company’s actions. “It was fine until the complaint, and then after the complaint, it became an issue,” he said. “They gave me the option to get a doctor’s note, but they didn’t even give me the time to do that before I was let go. I just want to know why this happened. It feels so trivial and unnecessary.”
When 6 News attempted to reach Fast Eddie’s for comment, a manager at the car wash referred them to the corporate office. Despite attempts to contact the company, no response had been received at the time of publication.
In the meantime, health officials in Michigan continue to recommend wearing masks in certain settings to prevent the spread of disease, though mask mandates have been relaxed in many areas.
As of now, the circumstances surrounding Clifford’s dismissal remain unclear, and it remains to be seen whether Fast Eddie’s will provide a formal response to the situation. For Clifford, the issue is not just about a mask but about what he perceives as an unfair and unexplained firing.
6 News will provide an update if and when the company issues a statement on the matter.
