Here’s How AutoZone Is Encouraging Staff to Get Their COVID Vaccine

Since we all started drifting back to work after the easing of lockdown measures, workplaces the world over have had to make some challenging decisions, and nowhere is this arguably more relevant than in the retail business.

That is not to say other industries aren’t facing challenges, but when it comes to making decisions regarding the health and safety of employees and customers, retail has more interaction between them than most. Customer facing roles carry with them a greater chance for contact and infection, while employees can also be open to abuse and violence from petulant customers who would rather make a scene than follow COVID guidelines and regulations.

Employees need support and employers need to provide it. If workers don’t feel safe in their work, chances are they’ll start looking elsewhere as no job, especially relatively low paid and plentiful jobs such as in retail, is worth getting sick or assaulted over.

Vaccines

One of the more complex decisions employers are struggling with right now relates to the COVID vaccine rollout. Should retailers require new and returning staff to have been vaccinated before allowing them to start or resume their roles?

The question is a challenging one as employers must balance the rights of an individual employee to decide for themselves whether they want to receive the vaccine or not, with the rights of other employees and customers to potentially be exposed to the dangers of coming into contact with an unvaccinated person. Of course, you could come into contact with anyone at any time just going about your life, but within a workplace there is an assumed and legislated duty of care which comes into play.

One argument in favor of mandating vaccination could be that the company is not technically forcing employees to receive the jab as they can always refuse and simply look for a job elsewhere. However, this is not always as easy as it sounds and, despite there being a retail staffing crisis right now, it may not be possible or practical for the employee to work elsewhere – due to transport issues, for example – which would then place excessive pressure on them to get the jab.

While most would agree that getting vaccinated is the sensible and most civic minded course of action, freedom to choose is also an important consideration. Like we said, it’s not a simple decision for employers to make.

AutoZone

However, Memphis, Tennessee based auto parts retailer, AutoZone believes it has found a good compromise. While being respectful of its employee’s right to choose their own path on vaccination, AutoZone knows that getting vaccinated is the right thing to do and has produced an innovative idea to motivate its people to do so.

Earlier this year, AutoZone announced it would pay each employee an additional $100 on top of their usual wages if they completed their COVID vaccination course.

"The health and safety of AutoZoners, customers, and the communities we proudly serve is our top priority," said Company Chairman, President, and CEO, Bill Rhodes, in a press release. "AutoZoners’ response to COVID-19, throughout the entire organization, has been tremendous. As a company, we are removing any potential work-related barriers, strongly encouraging, and incentivizing AutoZoners to get a COVID-19 vaccine when they are eligible."

This comes after AutoZone has already paid out more than $125 million to its full- and part-time employees to support them during the COVID-19 crisis and help them keep their heads above water when unable to work due to health or lockdown restrictions. This latest initiative would add roughly another $100 million to that bill, if every one of AutoZone’s approximately 100,000 employees took it up on the offer.

While not willing to mandate that its staff receive COVID vaccinations, we think AutoZone has made a solid statement on how important it thinks getting vaccinated is and is willing to invest a significant amount of money to get its point across. Fingers crossed we’ll see a sizable proportion of AutoZone employees motivated to get their vaccines.

Final Thoughts

The vaccine mandate question is just one of many challenges being faced by retailers and their HR officers during the COVID-19 crisis. Balancing individual freedoms with the greater good is never an easy thing to achieve, but it seems AutoZone has found a terrific compromise which encourages without forcing its people down one path or another.

It will be interesting to see whether the initiative was successful or not.

You can hear AutoZone’s Talent Acquisition Manager for Field/Stores, Foluke Houston, speak at HR Retail 2022, taking place in April at the Hyatt Regency Austin, TX.

Download the agenda today for more information and insights.