How Small Businesses Are Getting Employees Vaccinated

As vaccinations slowly open up to the majority of the U.S. population, half of restaurant operators plan to incentivize their employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19, according to a new survey from BlackBox Intelligence. 

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission states it is legal to require COVID-19 vaccination, but many employers have found ways to encourage employee vaccination without making it mandatory.

How Chains Have Been Encouraging Vaccination

McDonald's announced in early February that it will provide four hours of paid time to crew at corporate-owned U.S. restaurants and to U.S. corporate employees who receive the vaccine. 

“Vaccination is essential in the fight against the pandemic, and we are actively encouraging McDonald’s employees to take this important step,” Tiffanie Boyd, McDonald's U.S. chief people officer, told 1851 Franchise. 

Darden Restaurants is also offering hourly workers two hours of pay for each dose of the COVID-19 vaccine they receive, while Chipotle said it will pay for costs associated with the vaccine. 

Is Offering Vaccine Incentives Cost Effective?

These campaigns only apply to corporate-run locations, which means franchisees are responsible for covering their own employee vaccination costs. These corporate initiatives suggest brands believe incentivizing employees to get vaccinated may be cost effective in the long run if it is the fastest way to create a stronger business.

A January survey from Blackhawk Ventures found that 40% of Americans had reservations about getting a vaccine. Two-thirds of respondents said they would accept a monetary incentive ranging from as little as $10 to as much as $1,000 or more, with one third of the total respondents saying they would accept an incentive of $100 or less. The remaining third of respondents said that monetary incentives didn’t impact whether or not they’d take the vaccine. 

There are several different ways to go about offering this monetary incentive. As the survey from BlackBox Intelligence shows, the most popular option is a direct payout, with about one-third of restaurant operators planning to offer a one-time cash payment. Over half of the companies surveyed said they will give paid time off for vaccinations. About 5% will simply pay for the cost of the vaccine. 

Will Restaurants Continue with Restrictions After Vaccinations? 

A vaccinated workforce doesn’t necessarily mean customers will be eager to eat out at restaurants again, especially with the CDC implicating on-site dining as a continuing cause of COVID-19 illnesses and deaths. 

That is why, of those restaurant operators surveyed by BlackBox, 75% said they will continue implementing heightened safety protocols once their employees are vaccinated. All of the limited-service companies surveyed by Black Box said their vaccinated employees will still be required to wear masks, and all full-service restaurants said social distancing will continue.

In addition, several major companies like McDonald's and Starbucks have committed to maintaining their mask protocols and distancing restrictions in states like Texas, Mississippi and Massachusetts, where dining rooms are open at 100% capacity. In most states, restaurant workers are still ineligible for the vaccine

.