Some Maine businesses offer incentives for employees to get COVID-19 vaccine

PORTLAND (WGME) -- Some Maine businesses are paying workers to get a coronavirus vaccine.

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Others are requiring employees to get one.

Many business owners say it’s a difficult and strategic decision and there are many ways to approach it, from strongly encouraging staff to get vaccinated, providing incentives or just making it a requirement.

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“The last thing we want is for another lockdown,” El Corazon Restaurante Owner Joseph Urtuzuastegui said.

For the owner of El Corazón, he sees no other option than to make getting the vaccine a requirement for everyone on his staff.

“Not only does it benefit the employees, but the fellow coworkers and it benefits the business,” Urtuzuastegui said.

And he’s making it worth their while.

“Once they get their vaccination card complete, they will get an additional four hours added to their time card,” Urtuzuastegui said.

“I think it’s great,” El Corazon Restaurante Manager Jennifer Leger said. “That’s absolutely awesome and it encourages us to go ahead and get vaccinated.”

He’s not the only one giving his employees an incentive.

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Across town at Flatbread Company, they’re paying employees a $100 wellness bonus if they get the shot.

“A lot of them were going to get it anyways, so it’s an extra bonus and they’re really excited about it,” Flatbread Company Managing Partner Amy Marchessault said.

Bangor Savings Bank is paying fully vaccinated employees $500.

At some of Maine’s largest employers, there will be no incentives or requirements.

“We are highly encouraging our folks to take it seriously and to do what they can to vaccinate,” Camden National Bank Executive Vice President Renee Smyth said.

According to experts, it is legal to require employees to get vaccinated unless medical disabilities prevent them from doing so.

“It’s possible that an employer could say, ‘We can’t have you work unless you take the vaccination. There’s no way to work around that, therefore we don’t have a job for you,’” Jim Erwin of Pierce Atwood Employment Practice said.

Out of the more than 20 businesses CBS13 called, the majority aren’t requiring employees to get vaccinated, but rather strongly encouraging them to do so.