Our Chamber has been active with many special events. We learned of our history at the Route 66 Cucamonga Service Station, saw WE’RE Real Estate expand into Rancho Cucamonga and open a new office, and learned about Evolution Fresh’s sophisticated manufacturing of healthy juices in our city. We have two new businesses joining our city: Studio Figura Body Shaping – a one-of-kind fitness, wellness, and cosmetology studio, and KANA Financial – a credit repair and assistance company. It is great to have such a diverse group of companies in our Chamber that help us with our history, real estate, manufacturing, health, wellness, and finances. Please #ShopRC and support these amazing businesses.
Our Chamber’s marquee event of the year, Vintner’s Celebration, is happening on November 5, 2021, at the Ontario Convention Center. This will be an amazing event showcasing our region’s best restaurants, caterers, breweries, and wineries. Buy your ticket today before it sells out!
In today’s economy, employers are being asked to do more than ever, such as mandating vaccines for employees and requiring their customers be vaccinated. While vaccines are safe and effective, this is not a debate employers, employees, and customers should be having with each other. We should be very careful before we ask employers to intervene in their employees or customers’ medical decisions. We certainly do not allow that in any other context.
The reality, right or wrong, is that not everyone trusts the government, pharmaceutical companies, or their own employer. It should be noted that government and pharmaceutical companies do not even trust each other. Pharmaceutical companies demanded and received immunity from liability for any Covid vaccine injury. Federal and state governments have been suing pharmaceutical companies, criminal and civil, for the past ten years for the Opioid crisis in America. The business community should not be thrusted into a debate it cannot win. It will only result in anger, lost workers and customers.
For those who think that businesses can simply replace those employees who oppose the mandate, think again. People are not commodities and do not instantly perfect their craft. Many workers bring years of experience, judgment, skill, maturity, technique, quality, leadership, and coaching. Think of how good you are at your job now as compared to when you first started. Eliminating ten percent or more of the workforce will only mean more errors, more injuries, and higher costs. Competence matters and there are not enough replacement workers ready to fill this void.
Firing qualified, experienced workers is short-sighted. Don’t think for a moment that you can easily replace construction workers, commercial drivers, medical professionals, etc. and not have consequences. Have you ever thought about the skill level of the rebar installer in the building you’re currently in? I hope he got it right. How about the driver of the semi-truck behind you on the freeway? I hope he remembered his pre-trip inspection. How about the pharmacist filling your prescription? I hope she got your dosage right. Experience matters and if you lose that, accidents happen, and people get hurt.
For the business community to flourish, we need certainty, clarity, and freedom. Unfortunately, we have endured closures, confusion, and mandates. None of which are productive. We have been given repeated promises as to what is needed to return to normal. But those promises keep moving and the return to normalcy has proven elusive the past eighteen months. We have gone from two-weeks to slow the spread, distinctions between essential businesses and nonessential, to vaccinate or be fired. We have been told this is for the greater good, but that ignores what is good. Liberty is good. Working fulfills a purpose and provides meaning. Being deprived of that liberty for the sake of a paycheck misses the entire point of why we work. Yes, a paycheck is a necessity, but dignity is more important. What good is a paycheck if we are deprived of personal autonomy, individual liberty, and personal choice? If you take away dignity, then there is no desire to work, and the American Dream dies.
The solution here is simple. Keep businesses out of the vaccine dispute. Replace coercion with education regarding vaccines. Allow employers, employees, and customers to govern themselves. It’s worked for 234 years and will continue to do so if we have a little faith in ourselves and each other.
I encourage all businesses to join the Chamber and let their voice be heard. If the Chamber can be of any assistance, please contact me at Chairman@ranchochamber.org.
