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A growing number of key companies do not want their employees to choose between working or receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.
On Thursday, Trader Joe’s and Instacart teamed up with Dollar General to offer financial incentives to their workers – considered essential during the pandemic – to encourage them to get the COVID-19 vaccine. The shift comes as grocery workers and other key employees prepare to be next in line for pictures of the COVID-19 from Moderna and Pfizer.
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Beginning February 1, Instacart will offer a $ 25 stipend to all qualified employees, including shift leads, in-store buyers and full-service buyers.
The vaccine support stipend is “to ensure that when the time comes, you don’t have to choose between earning an income as a provider of essential services or being vaccinated,” the company said in its announcement.
Since the start of the pandemic, more than 500,000 Instacart shoppers have worked to meet an increase in demand for online shopping, as the virus continues to keep shoppers out of stores.
GENERAL DOLLAR WILL PAY WORKERS TO GET THE COVID-19 VACCINE
Likewise, Trader Joe’s supermarket chain, which has more than 50,000 employees, has announced that it will give employees two hours of pay per dose to receive the vaccine. The Monrovia, Calif.-Based company said it would also change schedules to ensure employees have time to get vaccinated.
The announcement came 24 hours after Dollar General launched an incentive to encourage its staff to receive the vaccine when it becomes available.
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The discount retailer, which has more than 16,900 stores in 46 states, has announced that it will offer frontline hourly staff members a one-time payment that equals four hours of regular pay.
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“We don’t want our employees to have a choice between getting a vaccine or coming to work, so we are working to remove the barriers,” Dollar General said in a statement. These obstacles can include travel time, gas mileage and child care needs, the company explained.
Dollar General is also working with its distribution and transportation teams “to make similar accommodations for these teams.”
OPERATOR JOE DISCLOSES CORONAVIRUS INFECTION RATES AFTER HIGHLIGHTS REPORT MERCHANDISE RISK
Last month, a federal advisory panel recommended that people aged 75 and over and essential workers such as firefighters, teachers and grocery workers should receive the vaccine next.
They are considered to be at high risk of infection because their work is critical and requires them to maintain regular contact with other people.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.