“We drew a hard line in the sand. We want to be one of the safest places to work and live,” Society President and CEO Nate Schema said. That was when the company, with facilities in 22 states, decided it was not turning back, but moving forward with a staff vaccination mandate.
“Having a tool like the vaccine was our way out, our way forward,” Schema said, adding that he saw a 96% reduction in coronavirus cases in its buildings after announcing the mandate. “It has been an absolute game-changer.”
With workforce challenges prior to the pandemic, Schema said he considers vaccine mandates and workforce shortages two separate issues.
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