Dollar General Corp. offers employees a deal: go get a Covid-19 vaccine and get paid four hours.
The retailer, which has 157,000 employees, is one of the first major U.S. employers to encourage vaccinated staff, a sign that companies with essential workers see mass vaccination as critical to overcoming the pandemic.
Grocery stores, airlines and transit businesses are shouting for their workers to gain access to Covid-19 vaccines, hoping to protect them from increasing cases, and giving customers the insurance, which in turn drives the business.
Some large employers have said they want as many workers as possible to be vaccinated, but that it is not necessary for staff to take shots. Verizon Communications Inc. told staff this week that it is not necessary to be vaccinated, and CVS Health Corp., whose pharmacists distribute the vaccines and are eligible for doses themselves, said it encourages shots but does not oblige.
Many hourly workers face challenges in achieving vaccinations for vaccines, from childcare needs and transportation constraints to limiting plans to occupy multiple jobs. Some retailers are wary of seeking medical care because they receive the minimum wage and often do not have access to work-guaranteed health insurance coverage or free time.