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My employer (a private college in the US state of Maine) has a new rule mandating face coverings for employees, including in outdoor settings on their campus. The campus is open to the public to enjoy the grounds, and there is not a rule that the public must wear face coverings while on the grounds.

If I visit their grounds in my time off, am I breaking the rule if I do not wear a face covering?

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  • FYI, I've glossed over a few details in the policy for the sake of a clear question. – Interested Party Jun 16 '20 at 15:25
  • Does the local governor's emergency orders recommend outdoor masks? Generally those EOs permit authorities and companies to set a higher standard for their employees if they choose to. – Harper - Reinstate Monica Jun 16 '20 at 17:22
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    House right might also be a relevant factor here. When the campus is private property of the college which they offer for public use out of their good will, then they have the right to set rules for its use by the public. The question is if they can create selective rules for using their campus which only apply to people who happen to be their employees. – Philipp Jun 16 '20 at 18:03
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    Maine is an at-will employment state; unless you have a contract that says otherwise, you can be fired at any time for any reason or no reason (with the exception of certain specific reasons like racial discrimination, etc). This can certainly include firing for reasons having to do with your actions outside work hours, whether or not there is an explicit written rule about it. – Nate Eldredge Jun 16 '20 at 18:12
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    So I think that what the law says may not be particularly relevant. Practically speaking, what you really want to know is whether your employer intends for this rule to apply to you when you are not working. And the only way to know that is to ask them. – Nate Eldredge Jun 16 '20 at 18:14

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