American grocery chain pays employees to get COVID vaccine
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Kroger will offer all workers a one-time payment of $100 for receiving the full manufacturer-recommended dosages of a COVID vaccine
Spotted: With COVID vaccines becoming more widely available, there has been a lot of discussion over how to encourage people who might be reluctant to take them for various reasons. One idea is to pay people to take the vaccine, and that is exactly what one retailer — grocery company Kroger — is planning to do.
Kroger has announced that it will offer all workers a one-time payment of $100 (€82.54) for receiving the full manufacturer-recommended dosages of a COVID vaccine. Those who cannot be vaccinated for health or religious reasons can receive the payment if they complete a health and safety course. In addition, all employees will receive an additional payment of $100 in store credit and 1,000 fuel points for their work during the pandemic.
Kroger’s move to offer payment is part of the company’s response to criticism that it has not done enough to reward employees for the hazards of working during the pandemic. The company has distributed several rounds of bonuses since the pandemic began, but stopped the premium pay program when it began last March, and has since closed stores in regions where COVID hazard pay was mandated by local lawmakers.
Dr Marc Watkins, Kroger’s chief medical officer pointed out that, “We know that the most effective defence against this pandemic comes in the form of the COVID-19 vaccine and the continuation of the rigorous safety precautions we’ve established across our stores, manufacturing facilities and supply chain.”
Now that a few COVID-19 vaccines have been approved and demonstrated to work, a number of innovative initiatives around the world are working to ensure that everyone has access to them. At Springwise, we have seen the emergence of initiatives such as pre-fabricated vaccine structures and mobile vaccination centres in converted shipping containers.
Explore more: Health & Wellbeing Innovations | COVID-19 Innovations