Whirlpool Jumps on Vaccine Incentive Bandwagon
Whirlpool has joined the ranks of businesses offering financial incentives for employee vaccinations, confirming its stance on promoting vaccinations amid the ongoing pandemic. According to CNN, the appliance manufacturer is all set to pay its employees a grand sum of $1,000 for getting vaccinated.
While the Biden administration is mulling over an emergency rule, which would require large companies like Whirlpool to ensure 100% vaccination among their workforce or carry out regular testing for unvaccinated employees, those skipping vaccinations might face weekly fines up to $14,000 per violation. The White House has expressed its intention to impose these fines on recalcitrant companies.
Whirlpool went ahead and upped its earlier incentives last week, doubling the amount to $1,000. Chad Parks, Whirlpool spokesperson, confirmed that the enhanced bonus applies to both vaccinated employees who had previously secure their doses and newbies looking to get their shots. He refrained from revealing the exact sum of the previous incentives.
In an official statement, Whirlpool affirmed its commitment to priority the health and safety of its employees. They added that their staff had tirelessly catered to customers during this pandemic, exceeding expectations, and their overall objective was to build trust in their products.
Whirlpool's $1,000 incentive falls under the category of generous rewards offered by companies recently, following Vanguard's $1,000 bonus introduced for its 16,500 U.S. employees in the summer. Kroger offers a one-time $100 payment to employees who get vaccinated, while Bolthouse Farms throws in a $500 bonus. This trend signalizes companies' growing efforts to nudge their workforce towards vaccinations.
Other Companies' Incentives
- Publix rewards its associates with a $125 gift card post full COVID-19 vaccination.
- Dollar General and Lidl offer additional pay to their employees upon successful vaccination.
- AutoZone and Petco incentivize their employees with extra pay and funds for their assistance fund, respectively.
- Best Buy grants paid time off for vaccinations, together with additional sick time if required due to side effects.
Sources:
- Vazquez, M. (2021, October 1). Companies in the U.S. Offering Financial Incentives for COVID-19 Vaccinations - Graphiq. Retrieved August 27, 2022, from .
- Schiffer, A. (2021, October 15). Biden's Efforts to Bolster COVID Vaccinations in Workplaces Meet Resistance - The Washington Post. Retrieved August 27, 2022, from .
- Associated Press. (2021, October 14). Kroger to Pay Workers Who Get Vaccinated; Reopens Test Sites. US News & World Report. Retrieved August 27, 2022, from .
- Vercellino, R. (2021, September 15). Indiana University Will Pay Staff to Get COVID-19 Vaccine. IU Newsroom. Retrieved August 27, 2022, from .
