Thank you.

On Friday, Nationwide successfully completed its transition to 100% (27,000 associates) Work From Home (WFH), except for approximately 1,000 associates who are in mission critical roles and need to be in the office. Our associates have partnered with us as we made this transition over the last two weeks, despite the news and their own natural concerns and fears about the virus. They have done what Nationwiders do, and they have continued to deliver on our promise to our members and provide them with the support they need. Nationwiders are simply awesome and we thank them. A special thanks to the technology team for the speed in which they ramped up to move to 100% WFH, the Human Resources team, and the medical team for their amazing support of our people.

We know that these are historic and unprecedented times and each of us has seen our daily lives impacted because of COVID-19. But what I believe to be true, is that together, we will contain and find a cure for this virus with each of us doing our part. We each play critical roles - the role of corporations, the role of government at every level (federal, state and local), scientists, and each of us. Nationwide CEO Kirt Walker and many other local CEOs, Governor DeWine and Mayor Ginther have been decisive and committed to responding to this pandemic for the good of associates and the public; and we each individually get to do our part daily by following the CDC recommendations to include social distancing and limiting our exposure to others, self-quarantining and staying home as appropriate, and practicing healthy habits to protect ourselves and others. By doing so, we limit our unknowingly being exposed and/or exposing others. 

I know that we will successfully navigate these uncertain times, but this morning I want to say thank you to all Nationwiders, to our local, state and national leaders for their leadership, to the mission critical people, and the businesses that remain open for us - grocery stores, pharmacies, hospitals, law enforcement, firefighters, transit workers, etc. And a special, special thank you and prayers for our health-care workers, who are working tirelessly to respond to this crisis and protect and support us all. Always, a proud Nationwider, a proud Ohioan – and just proud of the human spirit. Thanks to everyone for your leadership during this time. 

Let’s all be kind and take care of ourselves, our friends, our families and each other – We are all in this together.