Sponsored By

Hy-Vee to pay bonus to pharmacy staff providing rapid antigen COVID-19 tests

‘Pharmacists and technicians are vital in the fight against this pandemic,” CEO Randy Edeker says

Russell Redman

December 14, 2020

2 Min Read
Hy-Vee food pharmacy store-Nebraska.jpg
The pharmacy bonuses come in addition to $23.3 million in appreciation bonuses paid to all frontline retail employees to date, Hy-Vee said.Hy-Vee

Hy-Vee plans to pay bonuses to pharmacists and pharmacy technicians participating in its new rapid antigen COVID-19 testing program. 

Plans call for full-time pharmacists who administer the tests to receive a $500 bonus and part-time pharmacists and technicians administering the test to get a $250 bonus, Hy-Vee announced yesterday. The rapid antigen COVID-10 tests launched at the first 18 of a planned 47 pharmacy locations on Thursday.

Pharmacists and technicians performing the COVID-19 testing will receive all personal protective equipment, including scrubs and seasonal clothing, at the heated drive-up facilities in the stores’ parking lots, Hy-Vee said. The rapid antigen tests, are performed via nasal swab. Patients receive test results the same day, in as soon as one or two hours after completing the test, which will be offered in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

“Hy-Vee’s pharmacists and technicians are vital in the fight against this pandemic,” Chairman, CEO and President Randy Edeker said in a statement. “We are very much aware of the sacrifices every essential worker, especially those administering COVID-19 tests, must make as they go to work every day. We want to do everything we can to ensure their safety and wellbeing in addition to showing our appreciation for the role they play in this public health crisis.” 

Related:Hy-Vee launches rapid antigen COVID-19 testing

The pharmacy bonuses come in addition to $23.3 million in frontline appreciation bonuses paid to all retail employees to date, along with an upcoming 10% employee bonus on all hours worked for this year’s holiday season (from Dec. 21 to Jan. 10), Hy-Vee noted. The West Des Moines, Iowa-based food and drug retailer also offers all employees, including its pharmacists and technicians, affordable access to telehealth services, including mental health. The company will pay 100% of the costs for all full-time employees and their dependents who used the 24-hour virtual medical service. The chain, too, offers job protective leave of at least two weeks for employees who test positive for COVID-19 and/or are required by health officials to self-quarantine. 

The rapid antigen tests add to the free molecular PCR COVID-19 tests that Hy-Vee now offers in drive-up sites at more than 180 of its pharmacy locations. Results from those tests are usually available in three to five business days.

To assist with testing and upcoming administration of COVID-19 vaccines, which began shipping in the United States for emergency use this weekend, Hy-Vee aims to hire more than 1,000 pharmacy technicians across its Midwestern market area. The new full- and part-time pharmacy techs will help support pharmacists at the company’s 270-plus pharmacies. 

Related:Hy-Vee seeks 1,000 more pharmacy techs as COVID-19 vaccines near

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

Stay up-to-date on the latest food retail news and trends
Subscribe to free eNewsletters from Supermarket News

You May Also Like