Aug.

18, 2021

Paycom founder and CEO, Chad Richison, statement:

Yesterday’s COVID-19 update from Oklahoma hospitals and health care leaders provided a concerning
and grim outlook for our community if simple, yet significant precautions are not taken. Unfortunately,
COVID’s comeback threatens to disrupt our children’s education, community health organizations and
local services.

We must come together to slow the rate of hospitalizations and relieve our health care systems. Not
only do our health care professionals need our help, but so too do schools and organizations. We could
be taking preventative steps to save lives. When people wear masks, it buys time for others to get
vaccinated. So far this month, over 100,000 Oklahomans received vaccinations.

Unfortunately, a state law signed by Gov. Stitt last year, Senate Bill 658, took authority away from
educational leaders to enact common-sense policies like requiring masks be worn. It is my hope that our
state leadership will reverse this position and allow them to make decisions based on safety, science and
organizational continuity. Our state leader has a duty to care and a duty to act in a way that protects
Oklahomans, health care workers and institutions by allowing mask requirements in areas where they
are necessary to slow the spread.

We all want the pandemic to end. Allowing universities, schools and community leaders to enact
reasonable prevention methods is necessary, especially when infection rates require our attention, as
they do now.

Chad Richison

7501 West Memorial Road | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73142 | 800-580-4505