Lidl offers workers a bonus for vaccination
Company will pay $200 in extra pay to encourage vaccination
ARLINGTON, VA » As states begin to make COVID-19 vaccines more widely available, Lidl US has announced a new initiative to encourage its employees to get the vaccine.
The grocery chain is providing $200 in extra pay to all Lidl US employees who choose to be vaccinated against the virus.
The additional payment will help offset the costs associated with vaccine administration, including travel costs and childcare, according to the company. Employee schedules will also be accommodated for vaccine appointment.
“We are proud to provide our employees the resources they need to receive the COVID-19 vaccine free of any obstacles,” Johannes Fieber, CEO of Lidl US, said in a press release. “From the outset of the pandemic, we have worked hard to put the health and safety of our employees first. From offering free COVID-19 healthcare to our entire workforce, to installing hospital-grade air filtration in our stores and warehouses to assure cleaner and healthier air, Lidl has made it a priority to adapt our policies to work better for our people during this pandemic. We are proud to do so again today to ensure that every team member who wants to get vaccinated is able to do so as soon as possible.”
According to an internal survey, Lidl employees are eager to receive the vaccine. Nearly 8 in 10 employees said they planned to get the vaccine as soon as it became available.
The company is providing employees with information about the availability of vaccines in their area and continues to work with state and local officials to ensure workers are a priority for vaccine distribution.
The company operates five stores in the region — three in Montgomery County, one in Delaware County and one in Berks County.
In Pennsylvania, under current state guidelines, the vaccination program is currently in its first of four phases — Phase 1A. According to the vaccination program website, grocery workers in Pennsylvania will be included in Phase 1B. There is no date given for when that next phase will launch.
Lidl’s initiative builds on the company’s ongoing effort to protect the health of its employees, according to the release.
In January 2020, the grocery
chain began offering comprehensive medical coverage to all full and part-time employees, regardless of the number of hours they work per week. In March, Lidl developed a program with CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield to give all its employees access to comprehensive COVID-19 medical coverage at no cost.
Lidl operates more than 11,000 stores in 32 countries, employing more than 310,000 employees globally. Lidl established its U.S. headquarters in Arlington Va., in 2015,
and operates more than 110 stores across nine east coast states.
In Montgomery County, Lidl is located at 1831 E. Ridge Pike in Upper Providence; 2613 Ridge Pike in Lower Providence; and 1150 Welsh Road in Towamencin. In Berks County, Lidl is located at 3564 Penn Ave. in Sinking Spring; and in Delaware County, Lidl is located at 420 McDade Boulevard in Ridley Township
For more information visit www.lidl.com.