Will a financial reward convince hesitant or recalcitrant French people to get vaccinated against Covid-19? Experienced for several months in the United States, this practice is emerging in France. Faced with the fourth wave of the pandemic, the Cooperl slaughterhouse, the French leader in the pig industry, decided at the end of July to pay a bonus of 200 euros to its employees and voluntary temporary workers, reporting a complete vaccination.
“This is to support the national vaccination incentive system and protect employees”, indicates the group, which has some 7,400 employees, including 4,700 in Brittany. The cooperative is thus a pioneer, while working conditions in large slaughterhouses have been deemed favorable to the transmission of Covid-19. Several clusters have been detected there since the start of the pandemic, particularly in France and Germany.
On the other side of the Atlantic, several large groups have already implemented incentive policies, with highly variable premium amounts depending on the business sector. The American asset management giant Vanguard, rival of the world leader BlackRock, has indeed just offered a reward of $ 1,000. The roughly 16,500 eligible U.S. employees will need to show proof of vaccination by 1er October.
“Best way to stop the spread of the virus”
“Vanguard recognizes that vaccines are the best way to stop the spread of this virus and strongly encourages its staff to get vaccinated,” Vanguard spokesperson Charles Kurtz justified. The financial group intends to reward employees who have taken the time to “Protect themselves, each other and our communities by getting vaccinated”.
The boss of the Californian food company Bolthouse Farms meanwhile gave a bonus of $ 500 to his vaccinated employees in the spring, also organizing briefings with nurses for employees worried about the vaccine.
Other American firms offer smaller amounts. In January, home food delivery group Instacart offered to pay the half-million freelance delivery men who work for it $ 25 if they took the time to get vaccinated. The low-cost American supermarket chain Dollar General paid the equivalent of four hours of additional wages to its vaccinated employees.
Employees of its competitor Kroger received $ 100 if they presented proof of vaccination. “For many, getting vaccinated may require time off work, travel or childcare, indicated the president of the sign. By offering financial support, we make the decision to get vaccinated less burdensome. “