Dear Littler: How Do We Handle "mask Shaming" When We Return To Work?

Dear Littler: I am the VP of Culture, Inclusion & Belonging at a mid-size firm in the financial sector. With a pending Return to Office (RTO) date for most of our workforce just a few weeks away, I want to get ahead of an issue that I have seen developing among members of both our employee and client populations during some in-person interactions that we have had over the past few months: "mask shaming." I wince anytime I hear an employee tell a masked colleague "You must not be vaccinated!" or a client who challenges an employee to take off their mask because they sound "too muffled," or complains that they "can't see [their] smile." I am also seeing certain (unmasked) employees on our team who don't seem to be as collegial with those who are continuing to wear masks.