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Aldi eyes easier COVID-19 vaccinations for employees

Hourly workers to receive time off, pay compensation to get vaccine

Russell Redman

January 19, 2021

3 Min Read
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For hourly employees, Aldi said it will cover costs for vaccine administration and provide two hours of pay for each dose they receive.Russell Redman

Aldi has unveiled a COVID-19 vaccination plan that it said is aimed at “removing obstacles” so employees can get a shot.

Batavia, Ill.-based Aldi Tuesday that it’s working with state, local and health care officials to reduce exposure to coronavirus and explore ways to enhance vaccine accessibility. Plans call for the company to deploy on-site vaccination clinics at its warehouse and office locations to ensure its employees have easy access to the vaccine.

In addition, the deep discount grocer is offering all hourly workers time off and pay compensation to get a shot. The company said it will cover costs for vaccine administration and provide wage-earning associates with two hours of pay for each dose they receive — up to four hours in total — and salaried employees with scheduling flexibility.

“Since the onset of the pandemic, our entire Aldi team has worked to keep stores safe and stocked and serve communities without interruption,” Aldi U.S. CEO Jason Hart said in a statement. “Providing accommodations so employees can receive this critical vaccine is one more way we can support them and eliminate the need to choose between earning their wages and protecting their well-being.”

Aldi noted that it has enacted a range of safety measures to reduce employee and customer exposure to COVID-19.

Related:Grocery retailers ramp up COVID-19 vaccine distribution

The chain, with more than 2,000 stores in 37 states, said both workers and shoppers required to wear “properly fitting” face coverings, and customers must maintain social distancing of six feet during their shopping trip. Signs, floor decals for one-way aisles and protective barriers have been installed throughout our stores and at checkout to aid distancing. Deeper cleanings are conducted throughout stores — with an extra focus on high-touch areas and carts — while self-serve cart wipe stations have been installed for shoppers to sanitize carts before shopping. Hand sanitizing stations also are available for customers and employees.

Frontline grocery workers remain at high risk for coronavirus, which in the United States has infected more than 24 million Americans and killed over 399,000 people. According to the United Food and Commercial Workers International union, 124 grocery workers among its membership have died from COVID-19 and 25,760 have been infected or exposed to the virus.

Food and agricultural workers, including grocery store associates, are slated to be inoculated in Phase 1B of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommended allocation schedule for COVID-19 vaccines. States and municipalities have been adapting the CDC’s guidelines in vaccinating their own populations.

Related:Supermarket pharmacists among priority COVID-19 vaccine recipients

Last Friday, President-elect Joe Biden cited grocery workers as among the priority population groups for COVID-19 immunizations, which he said are being administered too slowly and aren’t always reaching those most vulnerable to the virus.

“We’ll fix the problem by encouraging states to allow more people to get vaccinated beyond health care workers and move through these groups as quickly as states think they can. That includes anyone 65 and older — a population that has accounted for 80% of the deaths to date,” Biden said in a speech detailing his national COVID-19 vaccination plan. “We must also continue vaccinating frontline essential workers like educators, first responders and grocery store workers. It won’t mean that everyone in these groups will get vaccinated immediately, as supply is not where it needs to be. But it will mean that as vaccines become available, they will reach more people who need them.”

For our most up-to-date coverage, visit the coronavirus homepage.

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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