To get employees vaccinated, companies are motivated by incentives: they talk about days off and even financial instruments

Mass vaccination – in spring

Information in the international media reports that American restaurant chains such as First Watch, McDonald’s and Shake Shack have decided to contribute and encourage their employees to get vaccinated.

It has been argued that these networks, if an employee agrees to be vaccinated, will give employees paid time off per dose of vaccine, which ranges between 2 and 4 pm

Breakfast and lunch restaurant chain First Watch offered employees $ 15 each. for an hour of their time off, while other US restaurants would pay employees hours based on normal average employee pay.

It is true that mass vaccination has not yet taken place in Lithuania, but according to the Ministry of Health (SAM), it could start already this spring, as they say, if vaccine manufacturers ensure a stable supply of vaccines.

Delfi’s fast food restaurant chain McDonald’s in Lithuania asked if it also had plans in Lithuania to provide incentives to employees like the United States if they were vaccinated, but no specific answer was given.

“We responsibly consider our role in the communities in which we operate, so given the current situation, we encourage our employees to consider getting COVID-19 as soon as it becomes available,” said Premier Restaurants UAB, which operates McDonald’s restaurants. in Lithuania, Managing Director Vladimir Janevski.

Incentives are necessary, they would not be asked to compensate

Dans Arlauskas, president of the Lithuanian Employers’ Confederation, asked whether Lithuanian employers, when mass vaccination began in Lithuania, were determined to encourage their employees to get vaccinated in one way or another.

“I think this US idea is a very good one and our businesses will get infected. We are already talking about shortening the work week, there are many good examples and employers are realizing that people like it.

The other thing that we see happening now is that the number of infections in companies is increasing, it is difficult to control them, it is those employers who understand the crucial factor of human resources in their business, they will catch up with that idea. An example is needed. It’s a very good idea ”, commented D. Arlauskas.

He said he had spoken with several company executives who expressed concern that some employees were planning to refuse vaccines, but added that there was also a great example with the tests.

“It was said that the employees would not try, they did not want to go alone, but if it could be done in a company without leaving anywhere, they could try,” he said, explaining that.

“I think employers should inevitably contribute to vaccines. Those who see people as the deciding factor in ensuring HR provides turnover and profit will definitely go this way because if a person doesn’t get vaccinated, you are held hostage to contagion. I would like to encourage a person at that time, for example, to give him a day off and then to live in peace, ”he said.

According to D. Arlauskas, in this place the businesses do not say that those who in one way or another encourage employees to vaccinate will need state compensation for the time when, for example, a person does not go to work.

“This is a different angle of view of the situation than with the testing, when the state was asked to contribute.

Yes, this is an incentive, but the company itself should be interested, ”said the employer representative.

It could also promote financially

Andrius Romanovskis, President of the Lithuanian Business Confederation (LVK), stated that he believed that a company’s contribution to vaccination is one of the essential elements of its success, so employers should and could contribute to it.

“Still, the majority of the Lithuanian population that will be vaccinated en masse are employees and most of them work in companies. Companies have extensive experience in vaccination because they vaccinate their employees against flu, they have contracts with medical facilities, they have with past vaccination mechanisms, not to mention that the company understands the benefits of vaccination.

In fact, when employers talk to employees, they have the opportunity to inform them directly about vaccination, they can physically help, especially in the case of large companies, with vaccination sites and, of course, contribute to other incentives that motivate employees to get vaccinated, “he said.

As stated, business incentives could range from financial to public holidays.

“Of course, here each employer decides for himself according to his skills, job profile and the like. But I have no doubt that he is already, but the business with doctors is more waiting for vaccines and is always ready to be vaccinated that they can, ”he said.

A. Romanovskis said LVK will launch a campaign to encourage companies to support mass vaccination and contribute to it in all ways.

If you will be fired for not being vaccinated, call to request

Speaking about vaccines in general, Inga Ruginienė, the president of the Lithuanian Trade Union Confederation (LPSK), said that today most of the employees are ready to be vaccinated, but as always there is a section that is skeptical about the vaccines.

“I would say that there is a lack of communication, information and training material, an explanation of what the vaccine is, what the reactions may be and so on,” he said, but he assured that despite everything, the business must provide all possible conditions. for employees to test and vaccinate.

“You have to do everything possible so that a person can be vaccinated at no cost.

Our business could also provide employees, as in the US, those hours off, as well as take care if it is a larger team, employees do not necessarily have to vaccinate themselves.

The employer must encourage people in various ways, whether to give them a day off, if they need to go somewhere, at the end to pay for the trip, “he considered.

I.Ruginienė also assured that if the employee is fired for refusing to be vaccinated, he must inform the authorities.

“In no way should this be grounds for dismissal, because that way we would already be talking about compulsory vaccination, which is not enshrined in the law and would be a violation of human rights.

If the reason for the dismissal is not vaccination, then the person may submit an application to the Labor Disputes Commission, ”he said.