Vaccine Bonuses: Companies are paying their employees to get vaccinated

• Author: Jessica Williams
• Posted: 2024-08-12

To many of us, it might seem like a wild notion, but it is nonetheless happening across the country: Companies are paying their employees to get vaccinated. For many, this seems absolutely astonishing: Given the shortage of supply right now, many of us would, in fact, pay to be vaccinated - not the other way around! However, vaccine bonuses are a real thing, and they are very helpful for companies that are trying to encourage their employees to get vaccinated. Here's a look at who is giving out these bonuses and why they are doing so.

Who is Giving Out Vaccine Bonuses?

A recent story showed that Kroger is paying its employees $100 for getting both doses of the vaccine. If an employee can't get the vaccine for religious or health reasons, they can still get the bonus if they take a safety course. 

While Kroger is one of the more recent companies to announce such a bonus, it is not the first by any means. A variety of other retail and grocery chains, including Instacart, Trader Joe's, Aldi, and Dollar General have made similar announcements. Amtrak also recently said that they would pay their employees a bonus if they got the vaccine. Many other companies have given paid time off so employees can get vaccinated, allowing up to four hours in order to get vaccinated. Some companies are also giving bonus sick days to help any employee who has to deal with the negative side effects of the vaccine. 

In addition to the national chains that are giving out such a bonus, many local businesses and health care facilities are doing the same. Northampton County, Pennsylvania, operates a senior nursing home, Gracedale. The nursing home - like many others throughout the country - has been devastated by COVID-19. It has taken a top priority in the vaccine supply chain, but vaccine hesitancy among its staff remained an issue. As such, the country began to offer a massive, $750 bonus for anyone who got vaccinated.

But...Why?

The reasoning is simple: Vaccine hesitancy remains a huge problem. According to a survey released by the Centers for Disease Control, even in the health care industry, only 60% of workers said that they would get the vaccine as soon as it was available. While that number does seem to be increasing as time and the pandemic continue, vaccine hesitancy remains a major challenge. For many society-critical operations, such as health care or food distribution, this is a major challenge. As such, major businesses are turning to vaccine bonuses in order to encourage employees to take the vaccine.

However, it is also important to realize that there's more to vaccine bonuses than just encouraging employees to get the vaccine. First, it makes it clear that the business is taking employee safety seriously, and thus taking the safety of their customers seriously as well. The move can inspire confidence and encourage customers to shop in one of their locations more often. Furthermore, it looks good for the company, as it shows that they are willing to pay their employees to take care of themselves. 

Is It Working?

This is the million-dollar question. Vaccines have only been available for about six weeks now, so there simply isn't enough data available yet to determine whether or not vaccine bonuses working. However, there is evidence to suggest that it can work, when part of an overall communication effort.

In most cases, a vaccine bonus alone will not be the sole factor that helps someone overcome their fear of the COVID-19 vaccine. However, it may work when part of an overall communication strategy. Many health care providers have noted that they are essentially in a "race" against misinformation and social media. As a result, they are trying to engage in as many communication plans and positive messaging about the vaccines as possible. Vaccine bonuses can be part of that effort and an important part. These bonuses can help provide a "nudge" that can encourage people to get vaccinated against the disease. 

Vaccine bonuses, of course, aren't cheap, and they can cost organizations hundreds of thousands of dollars, or even millions. However, at this moment, they appear to be a critical part of getting people safely shopping again - and putting millions of Americans back to work.