PESHTIGO (NBC 26) — An area business owner is paying his employees extra cash to get fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and has personal reasons for the incentive.
Jerry Ort, an owner of Aacer Flooring, Tigerton Lumber Company and Wittenberg Hardwoods, said he will give each of his 210 employees $300 if they complete the COVID-19 vaccine series. Up to nine fully vaccinated staff members will also have the chance to win a $1,000 raffle.
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“I feel that it’s my obligation as a business owner to have a safe work place and it’s important to me that my business family is safe," Ort said.
Carrie Kruse, a quality and inventory control inspector at Aacer Flooring, said she got vaccinated before the incentive was announced on Aug. 30. She said the additional money could make more employees think about receiving the vaccine too.
“Honestly out there, money talks," Kruse said. " I think there’s a lot that are on the fence - borderline to begin with. So I think they will. That’ll push them.”
Ort said this effort is personal: His dad died from COVID-19 complications last year at the age of 85. Due to past hospital restrictions, Ort said he couldn't be with his dad in-person. Zoom calls kept the two connected until his dad passed away in October.
“My father was the leader of these companies. When he passed, it wasn’t his time. He had a lot of life left in him," Ort said. "That’s why I feel it’s important to keep our coworkers safe.”
Now, he's challenging other local businesses to offer similar incentives for getting vaccinated.
“I can understand where some people can be hesitant," Ort said. "When this first came round in early 2020, I was skeptical of COVID. But then I saw how it affected my business family, with coworkers being out for extended periods of time. And then I’ve seen how it affected my personal family, when my dad passed away in October. And I don’t want anyone else to have to go through that.”
Ort said the COVID-19 vaccine is not mandatory for employees. The incentive will be available until Oct. 15.
