The Missouri Chamber has launched a COVID Stops Here campaign calling on employers across the state to talk to employees about the importance of being vaccinated.

Companies and other workplaces that reach a 70% vaccination rate are eligible to receive the COVID Stops Here designation. There are separate designations for companies that reach 80% and then 90% vaccination rates.

We are celebrating employers that are leading the fight against this virus — and encouraging more Blue Springs workplaces to join their ranks, by sharing their stories. If your business has reached 70% or higher vaccination status, let us know and we’ll be sure to celebrate you too!

With over 400 employees in their Blue Springs location, the health and safety of their employees is a top priority. As an essential business whose products and solutions protect people and assets for companies around the globe, Clarrissa Murray, Employee Relations Manager, says "the vaccines are the best layer of defense we have against COVID-19 to protect the health and safety of all of our employees and to ensure our ability to provide value to our customers. It also safeguards our employees’ ability to maintain consistent pay and control of their paid time off (PTO). Our goal is to protect our business so that we can reinvest our success back into the company for our people and our future."

To encourage employees to get vaccinated, Fike has had consistent communications via company-wide emails, memos, weekly virtual meetings, and monthly virtual town halls that discuss the risks of the pandemic, the latest versions of their policies and procedures, updates, and statistics. Murray explains, "We have always prided ourselves on being a very transparent organization in regards to our performance as a company and share in that success with everyone. The engagement in communications has been set for some time and we use this platform to promote the benefits of vaccination, the policies and procedures, as well as, support everyone’s rights in making the choice."

"In addition, we have centered on the focus of all of our employees’ health and safety by consistently making the vaccine available on site for our employees every three weeks." says Murray. "Many that have decided to get vaccinated have shared that the fact it is available on site is the reason they have taken the decision to get vaccinated. We also offer an extra day of PTO (paid time off) once an employee has received their second dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine or the single dose of the J&J vaccine to help with any potential side effects."

Fike is not mandating vaccines at this time as they believe the choice to get the vaccine is just that, a choice. "Unfortunately, my perception of science and logic does not overcome the negative rhetoric that exists in this country in regards to vaccines. We are all affected by what is portrayed in the news, the media, social media, the politicization of vaccines, etc. and as a result, we continue to struggle with this conversation. While we have achieved a vaccination rate above the state of Missouri and slightly higher than the national rate, we are not to the level that I believe we should be at this point to keep everyone safe." says Murray. "We simply will not quit the respectful conversation we are trying to have with all of our employees and our commitment to everyone’s health and safety."

To learn more about how to receive a COVID Stops Here designation for your business, or to find ways to help you achieve a 70% or higher vaccination rate, visit https://mochamber.com/covidstopshere/.