Tractor Supply Company Will Pay Workers To Get COVID-19 Vaccine

Tractor Supply Company will offer a single payment of $50 and give permission for time off as needed for every hourly team member who chooses to get a COVID-19 inoculation. The retailer has also teamed with a third-party provider to allow for on-site inoculation clinics at “its eight distribution centers and Store Support Center upon approval and availability,” according to a Wednesday (Feb. 10) announcement.

Tractor Supply said it is not requiring that any team member receive the vaccination. The retailer says payment will be available after the complete “manufacturer-recommended doses” of the inoculation are obtained and the appropriate verification of vaccination has been given to the its third-party vendor that is handling coronavirus case management, safe return to work evaluations and vaccine verification.

“We have closely followed the advice of the CDC and other medical professionals to take proactive steps to protect our team and customers. As vaccines become more widely available, we hope to make it as easy as possible for those who want to be vaccinated,” Tractor Supply Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer Melissa Kersey said in the announcement.

The retailer said it has taken a number of steps since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic to “ensure the safety of its Team Members, customer and communities” as an essential merchant, according to the announcement.

Tractor Supply, a rural lifestyle retailer, provides a collection of merchandise needed to care for animals, pets, land and home. It operated over 1,900 Tractor Supply retail locations in 49 states and an online shopping website as of Dec. 26, 2020.

The news comes as the Kroger Co. family of companies said it would offer one $100 payment to all workers who receive the “full manufacturer-recommended doses” of the COVID-19 inoculation. In addition, the Kroger family of companies says it has taken many measures to support its workers amid the pandemic.