These companies promote COVID-19 vaccine for employees with bonuses and more

A growing number of U.S. companies are offering employees incentives to get COVID-19 shots, including bonuses of up to $ 200.

Some chains offer to cover regular wages for a set period while an employee is being vaccinated, while others offer cash rewards.

These measures come as immunization programs that are currently aimed at protecting essential workers and highly vulnerable people begin to focus on millions of low-risk Americans.

Getting the vaccine, however, can mean lost hourly wages or even additional travel and childcare costs.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said in December that, in most cases, employers can require their employees to receive the vaccine once it is widely available. Many companies opt for an incentive-based approach instead, encouraging workers to get vaccinated when possible.

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In Chicago, the retirement home network BRIA Health Services said this month it was offering bonuses of $ 150 to employees who get vaccinated.

“To make sure we’re doing all we can to encourage people to get vaccinated, BRIA is putting our money where we are,” company spokeswoman Natalie Bauer Luce told Fox Business.

Some large retailers and restaurant chains are also offering to pay their workers to be vaccinated. Here’s a look at some of them:

General dollar

Dollar General will offer its employees four hours’ wages to get the vaccine, the Tennessee-based retailer said earlier this month.

The company said it didn’t want employees “to have to choose between getting a vaccine or coming to work.”

Teleprinter	security	Latest	Change	% Change
DG	GENERAL DOLLAR	194.61	-4.44	-2.23%

Trader Joe’s

Trader Joe’s offers his employees two hours of pay per dose to get vaccinated.

The California-based grocery chain said it will also change employee schedules to ensure they can get vaccinated.

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Instacart

Instacart will pay a stipend of $ 25 to eligible employees, including team leaders, in-store shoppers and full-service shippers, who receive the vaccine starting Monday.

The California-based grocery service said it didn’t want its workers to have to “choose between earning an income as an essential service provider or getting the shot.”

Aldi

Aldi will give its American employees up to four hours’ wages to get the vaccine.

The German discount grocery chain, with its U.S. headquarters in Illinois, said it also plans to use on-site vaccination clinics in its warehouses and offices to make vaccination more convenient for employees.

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Lidl

Lidl will pay $ 200 to its US employees who get vaccinated.

The Germany-based discount grocery store, with U.S. operations based in Virginia, said it would also support vaccine appointments in employee schedules. The company also partnered with CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield in March to provide its employees with medical coverage related to COVID-19.

Darden Restaurants

Teleprinter	security	Latest	Change	% Change
DRI	DARDEN RESTAURANTS INC.	116.89	-1.89	-1.59%

The parent company behind restaurants like Olive Garden and Longhorn Steakhouse will pay its employees sick pay equivalent to four hours of paid leave to get vaccinated.

The Florida-based company said it would not force its hourly workers to get vaccinated, but would “strongly encourage it.”