(NEXSTAR) — Kroger announced Friday it is offering a bonus for employees who decide to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
Kroger “will provide a one-time payment of $100 to all associates who receive the full manufacturer-recommended doses of the COVID-19 vaccine,” the company said in a news release.
Kroger owns multiple grocery store chains, including Ralph’s, Food 4 Less and Smith’s Food and Drug.
“Since March, we have invested more than $1.5 billion to both reward our associates and to safeguard our associates and customers through the implementation of dozens of safety measures that we continue to execute today,” said Tim Massa, Kroger’s chief people officer.
Kroger will also be giving a $100 store credit and 1,000 fuel points to hourly frontline grocery, supply chain, manufacturing, pharmacy and call center associates.
“As we move into a new phase of the pandemic, we’re increasing our investment to not only recognize our associates’ contributions, but also encourage them to receive the COVID-19 vaccine as it becomes available to them to optimize their well-being as well as the community’s,” Massa said.
The company came under fire earlier this month for announcing the closure of two California stores after the city where they were located imposed a COVID-19 “hero pay” of $4 per hour for some grocery workers.
“After everything they’ve been through and all the sacrifices and the service our members have provided Long Beach during the pandemic, Kroger responds with this chilling message to workers,” Andrea Zinder, president of UFCW Local 324, said in a statement from the union.
Kroger employees nearly 500,000 people across 35 states.