Target announced Wednesday that it will give hourly employees who get a COVID-19 vaccine up to four hours of extra pay.
Although Target’s 350,000 part-time and full-time employees aren’t required to get the vaccine, the company is strongly encouraging it. The retailer said it will pay the full cost of a Lyft ride to and from the vaccination appointment.
“As more vaccines become available, especially for frontline and essential workers, we’ll help our team members across the country get the information and access they need,” Target’s chief human resources officer, Melissa Kremer, said in a corporate blog post.
Protecting workers
Target has given employees who have continued showing up to work during the pandemic extra pay and coronavirus-related benefits. The retailer said it has spent $1 billion more on employees in 2020 compared to 2019.
The company has also stepped up its safety efforts and accelerated its plans to raise its minimum wage to $15 per hour. Officials say the retailer is also working on getting CVS and other providers on board with giving COVID-19 vaccines at CVS stores inside of Target locations.
A number of other retailers are offering four hours of extra pay to employees who get vaccinated, including Aldi, Dollar General, and Trader Joe’s. Kroger has said it will give employees who get the two doses a one-time payment of $100. Amtrak, Chobani, and McDonald’s are also reportedly using cash incentives to promote vaccinations.