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An increasing number of U.S. businesses are offering employees incentives to be vaccinated against COVID-19, including bonuses up to $ 200.
Some chains offer normal payment for a specified period while an employee is vaccinated, while others offer cash rewards.
The steps come because vaccination programs currently aimed at protecting vital workers and highly vulnerable people are beginning to focus on millions of lower-risk Americans.
Getting vaccinated, however, can mean you lose hourly wages, or even have to incur extra travel and childcare costs.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said in December that employers can, in most cases, require their employees to get the vaccine once it is widely available. Many companies prefer an incentive approach and encourage workers to be vaccinated.
BIRA Health Worker Receives Vaccine (BRIA Health Services)
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In Chicago, the nursing home network BRIA Health Services said this month that it is offering $ 150 bonuses to vaccinated employees.
“To ensure we do everything in our power to encourage people to get the vaccine, BRIA puts our money where our mouth is,” company spokeswoman Natalie Bauer Luce told Fox Business earlier.
Some large retailers and restaurant chains also offer to pay their workers to be vaccinated. Here’s a look at some of them:
Dollar General
Dollar General will pay its employees four hours for the vaccination, the Tennessee retailer announced earlier this month.
The company said it did not want employees “to have to choose between receiving a vaccine or getting to work.”
| Ticker | Safety | Last | Alter | Alter% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DG | DOLLAR GENERAL | 194.61 | -4.44 | -2.23% |
Merchant Joe’s
Trader Joe’s offers its employees two hours per dose when they receive the vaccine.
The California grocery chain has said it will also shift employee schedules to ensure they can be vaccinated.
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Instacart
Instacart pays a $ 25 allowance to eligible employees, including service guides, in-store shopping and service providers who receive the vaccine from Monday.
The California-based grocery shopping service said it does not want workers to have to choose between an income as an essential service provider or being vaccinated. ‘
As vaccination programs help protect more vital health workers and vulnerable members of society against COVID-19, the pool of eligible people is growing. (AP Photo / Gerry Broome)
Aldi
Aldi will pay its U.S. employees up to four hours for the vaccination.
The German discount grocery chain, with its U.S. headquarters in Illinois, said it also plans to use vaccination clinics at its warehouses and offices to make vaccination easier for employees.
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Lidl
Lidl will pay $ 200 to its American employees who will be vaccinated.
The German-based discount grocery store with U.S. operations in Virginia said it would also provide for vaccination of vaccines in employee schedules. The company also partnered with CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield in March to provide its employees with COVID-19-related medical coverage.
Darden Restaurant
| Ticker | Safety | Last | Alter | Alter% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DRI | DARDEN RESTAURANTS INC. | 116.89 | -1.89 | -1.59% |
The parent company behind restaurants such as Olive Garden and Longhorn Steakhouse will pay its employees sick pay equal to up to four hours of free time to be vaccinated.
The Florida-based company said it does not require hourly employees to be vaccinated, but will “strongly encourage it”.