Carhartt, an outdoor, workwear apparel company, continues to face backlash after CEO Mark Valade stood by the company’s mandatory vaccination mandate, even after the Supreme Court struck down the Biden administration’s vaccine rules for large workforces.
Valade stated as his reasoning that “an unvaccinated workforce is both a people and business risk that our company is unwilling to take.” This company decision left workers, customers, and Americans divided between personal freedoms and safety precautions.
As CEO of a continuously successful company, Valade can make whatever decisions he feels necessary because at the end of the day it’s his company, whether we like it or not.
If Valade feels vaccinating his employees will overall benefit his company health wise, then he should be free to do so without fear of repercussions. For people who choose to boycott Carhartt, nobody’s stopping you, but as for myself and others, we will continue to support those who support the safety of their employees.
Although many have voiced their opposition to the mandate, others have shown support for the mandate, saying how they will start or continue to purchase Carhartt items simply for the fact that the company cares to protect its workers.
Valade understood he and his company would face backlash and although he respects the varying opinions over vaccines, he still chose to stand behind the decision because they “believe vaccines are necessary to protect their workforce.”
It’s all an opportunity cost.
It’s an opportunity to protect health and a cost to ruin his company image and lose his target audience.
But whatever the cost, good for you Valade. It’s your company, it’s your choice, and I stand behind you.