It’s not the vaccine — it’s what it enables.
What would you do to keep doing the things you most love to do?
I know people who drive past all the nearby BBQ joints to get to the one that gets the sauce just right. Or who pay more for products that don’t exploit workers or harm animals. Or who quit a lucrative job to make less money working on what they love.
When you are passionate about something, you are willing to take on certain inconveniences and even hardships to get there. Last summer, I knew I would do almost anything to be able to return, safely, to the work I love in the industry I love. I missed the energy I get being with thousands of like-minded people at a conference or trade show. When the vaccine became available, there was no question for me. It felt like the golden ticket that would get us all back to work. I assumed everyone would rush to get one as soon as they were eligible.
I was wrong. I won’t pretend I understand all of the reasons, but I understand that it’s a choice.
Recently the Consumer Technology Association announced that they will require proof of vaccination to attend CES 2022 in Las Vegas. They will also create a parallel digital event for everyone else. This makes sense to me. It’s a responsible way to let people enjoy in-person events while doing what we can to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Freeman is rightly seen as a leader in our industry. We helped organize the #GoLIVETogether movement within weeks of the first pandemic shutdowns. We have taken concrete action to protect our industry, our people, and our partners. That’s why we are now encouraging everyone to join us in a safe return to live events by becoming vaccinated. The fact that our industry makes a huge difference in the global economy — and that our customers, like CES, lead innovation on so many fronts — adds to our sense of urgency.
Freeman recently announced several new policies designed to get us all back to the work we love. This includes requiring our people to submit proof of a vaccine or continuous proof of a negative COVID-19 test result. You can read the exact policy here.
We know that the vaccines are the number one thing we can all do to prevent infection, stop the spread of this disease, and get back to the work we do so well. And I’m encouraged by clients who let us know they applaud our policy. We hope our action will cause others to join us. It’s a choice. But it’s a choice that will hasten the return to face-to-face events. To me, that’s what matters most. Let’s work on what we love.