FILE - A shopper loads his car with
groceries at the Kroger in Novi, Mich on Jan. 23, 2021. Kroger
says, Tuesday, Dec. 14, it is modifying some of its COVID-19
policies. Unvaccinated workers will no longer receive certain
COVID-19 leave benefits if they get the virus, and some who refuse
the shot will also have to pay a monthly health insurance
surcharge. (Nic Antaya/Detroit News via AP)
FILE - A shopper loads his car with
groceries at the Kroger in Novi, Mich on Jan. 23, 2021. Kroger
says, Tuesday, Dec. 14, it is modifying some of its COVID-19
policies. Unvaccinated workers will no longer receive certain
COVID-19 leave benefits if they get the virus, and some who refuse
the shot will also have to pay a monthly health insurance
surcharge. (Nic Antaya/Detroit News via AP)
Kroger, the
country’s biggest traditional grocery chain, is ending some
benefits for unvaccinated workers as big employers attempt to
compel more of their workforce to become vaccinated with cases of
COVID-19 again rising.
Unvaccinated
workers will no longer be eligible to receive up to two weeks paid
emergency leave if they become infected, a company spokesperson
confirmed Tuesday. That policy was put into place last year when
vaccines were unavailable.
The
Cincinnati company confirmed changes in benefits first reported by
The Wall Street Journal. The change is effective Jan. 1.
The company
said it will also begin charging a $50 monthly fee to unvaccinated
salaried workers and managers who are enrolled in a company health
care plan. Unionized workers and non-union hourly workers won’t be
charged that fee.
Kroger has
nearly 500,000 employees in the U.S.; 66% belong to a union. The
company won’t say what percent of its workers are vaccinated.
The White
House made it clear Tuesday that Kroger’s policy __ including the
$50 monthly charge __is not one the federal government is
promoting. President Joe Biden backs a vaccine mandate at large
companies, but that plan is facing legal opposition. In the
meantime, many companies are still trying to get as many of their
employees vaccinated as possible.
“We know
different private sector companies and entities are going to take
different steps to incentivize people to get vaccinated, to keep
their employees safe and their work force safe,” White House press
secretary Jen Psaki said at her briefing Tuesday. “It’s not a
policy we’re putting out there from the federal government.”
Kroger said
it will still offer various leave options for employees who
contract the virus, including earned paid time off and the ability
to apply for unpaid leave. What Kroger called a “special” leave
will only remain available to fully vaccinated associates.
Early last
year Kroger implemented emergency leave that allowed paid time off
for any worker diagnosed with COVID-19. All employees were eligible
to receive their standard pay for up to 14 days.
As Kroger
modifies some of its policies, the company said that it will
continue to encourage workers to get vaccinated with $100 payments
given to all fully vaccinated employees.
Kroger
employees interact with as many as 9 million customers daily. Asked
whether the new policy might encourage some employees to come to
work even if they’re sick, a Kroger spokesperson said the company
continues to implement enhanced cleaning and physical distancing
and requires employees to wear masks in all of its stores and
offices, regardless of vaccination status.
Kroger is not
the first company to steer clear of an outright mandate, instead
trying to coerce employees through company-sponsored health
plans.
Delta
Airlines announced it August that it would charge employees on the
company health plan Lava eel stardew valley if they fail to get
vaccinated against COVID-19. The airline also said at that time
that it would stop extending pay protection to unvaccinated workers
who contract COVID-19 on Sept. 30, and would require unvaccinated
workers to be tested weekly beginning Sept. 12, although Delta will
cover the cost. Unvaccinated employees also have to wear masks in
all indoor company settings.
