Harris Teeter confirms it plans to pay workers to get a COVID vaccine shot

Harris Teeter confirmed it has joined other retailers offering its workers financial incentives to get inoculated against the coronavirus.

The Matthews-based grocer will pay $100 to any employee who receives the full recommended doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, company spokeswoman Danna Robinson said Monday.

She said Harris Teeter “strongly encouraged” its workers to receive the coronavirus vaccine as soon as they are eligible.

But workers who cannot receive the vaccine due to medical or religious reasons will be offered an alternative method to receive the payment, Robinson said. Those details are still being finalized, she said.

Harris Teeter employs about 35,000 workers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Maryland, Delaware, Florida and the District of Columbia.

Other businesses like Lidl, Trader Joe’s, Aldi, Dollar General and Instacart, as well as Harris Teeter owner Kroger, are offering similar one-time payments to employees who voluntarily get vaccinated.

Since the start of the pandemic in March, Harris Teeter has offered employees bonuses, temporary hourly pay increases and hired more than 5,000 workers.

Working on vaccine distribution

As of Monday, 9,991 North Carolinians have died due to the coronavirus, according the state health department.

Harris Teeter also is working with federal and state officials to administer the vaccine.

All 211 Harris Teeter pharmacies will offer the COVID-19 shot in a phased approach based on eligibility requirements. Limited quantities are available at South Carolina, Virginia and Washington, D.C., stores by appointment.

Nearly 1.4 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in North Carolina since mid-December, according to the state health data.

This story was originally published February 8, 2021 at 5:10 PM with the headline "Harris Teeter confirms it plans to pay workers to get a COVID vaccine shot."