The next time you go to a fast-food restaurant in Louisiana, be on your best behavior towards the employees, or else. Governor Landry signed the Behind The Counter Protection Act, which toughens penalties for those convicted of assaulting retail and service employees. Landry signed the bill in a ceremony at a Baton Rouge McDonald’s.
“It seems like everybody lost their mind during the COVID-19 pandemic and just lost their civility,” Landry said.
The bill was authored by Baton Rouge Representative Dixon McMakin, who noted that while there have been no notable incidents in Louisiana, employees should not have to deal with out-of-control customers.
“This will provide our police with extra resources to say, ‘Not anymore, in Baton Rouge or Louisiana, are you going to mess with our hardworking people that are behind the counters,'” McMakin said.
John Valluzzo, whose family operates McDonald’s locations in Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi, says this law is needed to protect his employees.
“Common decorum, in public arenas, is very different today. And I think we’ve all got to be reminded that everybody needs to be treated respectfully,” Valluzzo said.
The law goes into effect August 1st.
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