Local funeral home buys special pins to indicate fully vaccinated employees
Many local businesses are taking further steps to ensure customers feel safer in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, by announcing that their staff members are either partially or fully vaccinated.
Joe O’Neil, funeral director of O’Neil Funeral Home, purchased a dozen red pins for his employees to wear.
"It says COVID-19 vaccinated, got a dozen off the internet, gave one out to the staff. As soon as I laid them down on the desk they descended on them faster than they descended on the doughnuts.”
Members at O’Neil’s funeral home are fully vaccinated and wearing it on their sleeves.
O’Neil says it’s important to do, as he is often working face-to-face with the virus -- transferring the deceased from hospitals many of whom perished from COVID-19.
“COVID-19 is one of the most terrifying diseases any of us have ever seen in our life. Maybe people don’t see it the way we do, but it scares us.”
O’Neil and his workers are tending to bereaved families when hosting their funeral services. Sometimes up to 40 people at once congregate, if physical distancing measures allow.
He says the severity of the COVID-19 virus makes it that much more important to announce the staff’s double-dose status to people walking through their doors.
"Especially here I am finding it’s extremely important…people coming in and they are very happy. I get asked all the time, where did I get this?” he says, as he points to his pin.
Over at Flooring Liquidators, Tony Stone is a sales associate working face-to-ace with customers on a daily basis.
Tony Stone, left, a sales associate stands next to Flooring Liquidators Owner Moe Rida in London, Ont., Wednesday, July 28, 2021. (Jordyn Read / CTV News)
Tony Stone, left, a sales associate stands next to Flooring Liquidators Owner Moe Rida in London, Ont., Wednesday, July 28, 2021. (Jordyn Read / CTV News)
Stone and his two coworkers are all partially vaccinated with second doses scheduled for next week.
“It’s excitement in a sense but more of a duty to do our part for the community.”
Stone says it makes all the difference for customers.
“People do come in, they ask us, ‘Are you vaccinated?’ because it gives them a sense of relief...people are like, 'Yeah he is vaccinated, this is the guy I want to deal with, this is the lady I want to deal with.'"
While both establishments have staff that are either fully or partially vaccinated, they are not asking for the same requirements from customers.
“We do believe that everyone still has the right to choose when it comes to vaccinations,” says Stone.
Back over at the funeral home, O’Neil sings a stronger tune.
"It’s in bad taste but it's the truth. Why would we keep people away that haven’t been vaccinated? It’s tomorrow’s business walking through the door.”
The Ontario government has not made COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory and has left it up to businesses to decide whether or not to make it mandatory for their employees and patrons.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Pro-plastic lobbyist presence at UN talks is 'troubling,' say advocates
Environmentalist groups are sounding the alarm about a steep increase in the number of pro-plastic lobbyists at the UN pollution talks taking place this week.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Courteney Cox says her partner Johnny McDaid once broke up with her in therapy
Courteney Cox's longtime partner Johnny McDaid once broke up with her in a therapy session.
Are Canadians getting sick from expired food?
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.