Kroger is the latest grocery store chain to try to encourage workers to get vaccinated. The company announced it will provide a one-time payout of $100 to all employees who receive the recommended doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
The statement from the Kroger company stated that associates “who cannot receive the vaccine due to medical or religious reasons will have the option of completing an educational health and safety course to receive the payment.”
The supermarket chain will join other grocery outlets including ALDI, Lidl, and Trader Joe’s with their vaccine payout initiative.
It’s not just grocery stores using this incentive. Dollar General, McDonald’s, Darden Restaurants (Olive Garden and Cheddar’s) and Instacart are a handful of the other companies who have similar programs.
Sixty percent of workers polled said they would get a vaccine if their employers provided a $100 incentive, as reported by The Business Journals.
This announcement from Kroger comes at a time when the company could use a bit of good press. Just days ago, the chain closed two of its California stores rather than pay its employees an extra $4 an hour in hazard pay following a vote by the city of Long Beach, as reported by The Hill.