Here’s cheers for the big incentives
FROM free beer to bitcoin, a $1M prize and charity pledges, organisations are piling on the perks to encourage their customers and staff to get vacc nated and speed up their postCovid comeback.
While their impact may be up for debate, supporting the vaccination race is a savvy move for many companies, according to RMIT behavioural economist Meg Elkins.
“This is branding; aligning themselves with what they perceive to be the right side of the argument,” Dr Elkins said.
“It’s part political, but it’s business nous as well – the closer we get to vaccination targets, the more opportunities there will be for them.”
INCENTIVES AND REWARDS
Few have a greater vested interest in upping vaccination rates than the travel industry, and for Aussies keen to spread their wings beyond the healthmandated radius, deals are there for the taking.
Qantas is among the organisations weighing in on the vaccination race, offering discount vouchers, reward points and a major prize draw for vaccinated patrons, in one of the airline’s biggest giveaways.
Framed as a reward, rather than an incentive to get the jab, Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said the perks recognised those who have made the effort to protect themselves and the community.
“Getting vaccinated is an important step that every Australian can take that brings us that little bit closer to life as we knew it,” Mr Joyce said.
Tourism NT was the first Australian tourism body to roll out a vaccine incentive,
offering up to $1000 off the cost of a holiday, while a Melbourne Airport competition is handing out $60,000 to spend on travel.
“With the tourism industry heavily impacted by the pandemic and border restrictions, we’re encouraging Australians to come to the NT this summer and have the adventure of a lifetime,” Tourism NT executive director of marketing Tony Quarmby said.
Beverage giant Lion is shouting double-vaccinated punters a free beer at participating venues. It has also promised its jabbed staff an afternoon off to go to the pub, and is encouraging other business to do the same in its Vaxxed To The Pub campaign.
The ‘Million Dollar Vax aliance’ is an initiative launched last week in a bid to drive the country’s vaccination rates. The campaign launched by around 20 philanthropists and corporations will see one lucky Aussie win $1 million dollars for receiving their jab (www.milliondollarvax.com).
PRACTICAL OFFERINGS
For some businesses, promoting vaccination is about pragmatism more than perks.
Westpac was one of the first companies to establish employee vaccination hubs across NSW, with more on the cards. “Westpac continues to strongly encourage employees to get vaccinated, which a recent staff survey indicates more than 90 per cent intend to,” a spokesperson said.
In the same vein, ride sharing platform DiDi has offered to shout a portion of trips to vaccination hubs and clinics for eligible passengers, while earlier in the year Uber promised up to 10,000 free rides to help people with a disability, and their carers, to get a jab.
Comparison site Finder has covered several bases with its incentive package, providing leave for employees to get vaccinated, plus $5 of bitcoin currency to any Australian who gets the jab. The company is also appealing to the altruistically minded, vowing to donate three vaccines to the developing world for every employee who gets a jab.
UNICEF’s VaccinAid campaign is another platform for many organisations to encourage their staff to get the jab for the greater good.
Bupa, Qantas and NAB are among the many companies to have joined, pledging $5 for every employee who gets vaccinated – equivalent to the cost of UNICEF administering a double-vaccination dose to some of the world’s most vulnerable people.