Stand up for the facts!
Our only agenda is to publish the truth so you can be an informed participant in democracy.
We need your help.
I would like to contribute
No flag ban at Weis Markets, company says
If Your Time is short
- Employees of the Northeast chain Weis Markets must follow the company’s dress code, which means not decorating their uniforms with anything, including the American flag.
- This is not a new policy.
- The company says there is no flag ban.
When the first grocery store in the Weis Markets chain opened in Pennsylvania in 1912, it was known as Weis Pure Foods. Now the company employs workers at stores in six other states including New York, New Jersey and West Virginia. Misinformation being shared on social media wrongly claims those employees are banned from wearing anything with the American flag.
"Weis Food stores will no longer sell anything with the American flag and their employees can no longer wear anything with the flag. Other than for the July 4th holiday," one post says. "Called the store and manager verified this because ‘Weis is staying neutral. They serve different groups of people in this country’ thought we were all Americans. So therefore I will no longer shop there!" Please spread the word! This is America we have a flag of red white and blue. Don’t like it get the f out."
The post was flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Facebook.)
The Standard Speaker, a newspaper in Hazleton, Pa., reported on July 3, that a longtime Weis Markets dress code prohibits employees from displaying pins, logos and other designs, including the American flag, on their uniforms.
Featured Fact-check
"The policy has been in effect for years, but came to attention during the COVID-19 pandemic when employees were told not to wear masks with the flag or other symbols," the story says. "Weis denies a ban of the flag."
Dennis Curtin, a spokesman for the company, told fact-checkers at Snopes and the Daily Caller’s Check Your Fact that the store hasn’t stopped selling products with the American flag on them.
We rate this Facebook post False.
Our Sources
Facebook post, July 3, 2020
Weis, History, visited July 14, 2020
Standard Speaker, Weis Markets reiterate dress code restrictions, July 3, 2020
ConnectingVets.com, From the store to your home Weis Markets supports the veteran community, March 4, 2020
Snopes, Were Weis Markets employees banned from displaying the American flag, July 8, 2020
Check Your Fact, Fact check: Did Weis Markets ban images of the American flag from its stores? July 13, 2020
Browse the Truth-O-Meter
More by Ciara O'Rourke
No flag ban at Weis Markets, company says
Support independent fact-checking.
Become a member!
In a world of wild talk and fake news, help us stand up for the facts.