As more grocery store employees become eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations, several grocery retailers are stepping up to incentivize their staff to get vaccinated. Following the lead of Instacart and Trader Joe’s, companies like Aldi are now offering financial rewards to encourage vaccination among their workers.
Incentives from Major Grocery Chains
Instacart announced that starting February 1, they will provide a $25 “Vaccine Support Stipend” to eligible workers, including in-store shoppers and shift leads. CEO Apoorva Mehta emphasized the importance of ensuring that their employees can get vaccinated without financial concerns.
Trader Joe’s has also joined in, promising employees two hours of pay for each vaccine dose received. They are adjusting schedules to accommodate vaccination appointments. Similarly, Aldi is offering two hours of pay for each of the two doses, and they are committed to covering the cost of vaccinations while ensuring that employees do not lose pay for any missed work hours.
Dollar General is providing a one-time payment equivalent to four hours of regular wages for hourly team members who complete their vaccinations. For salaried employees, the company will allocate extra labor hours to compensate for their time away. Dollar General clarified that while they strongly encourage vaccination, it is not mandatory for their employees.
Other Retailers’ Approaches
Notably, some retailers, such as Target and Albertsons, have not announced any incentives. Target is making the vaccine accessible for its employees through on-site CVS pharmacies, ensuring it is available to their 350,000 staff members when the time comes.
The move to offer incentives is significant, especially considering a Carnegie Mellon University survey indicating that while over 70% of respondents are inclined to get vaccinated, skepticism remains, particularly in certain regions. Experts like Laura Boudreau from Columbia Business School suggest that employers are rightly attempting to alleviate barriers to vaccination for their frontline workers.
Vaccination Prioritization
As the U.S. plans vaccine distribution, grocery workers are expected to be prioritized in the second wave of vaccinations after healthcare professionals and nursing home residents.
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In summary, grocery retailers like Trader Joe’s, Aldi, and Dollar General are introducing compensation programs to encourage their employees to receive COVID-19 vaccinations. These initiatives arise in response to the growing eligibility of grocery workers for the vaccine and aim to support their health without sacrificing income.