The Riley County Commission will incentivize employees to get COVID-19 vaccinations.
Commissioners voted 2-1 Thursday morning to pay employees one hundred dollars upon proof of vaccination. Benefits eligible employees will also receive an additional scheduled annual day of leave time. Employees will have a two month period to get vaccines, allowing for the time necessary for the dual-dosing required for the Moderna or Pfizer shots.
The topic gained traction after the commission earlier this month discussed COVID protocols going forward, electing not to implement a mask mandate for county buildings.
Human Resources Manager Elizabeth Ward said in following up with benefits-eligible employees, there are currently 135 that are confirmed to be vaccinated.
It’s estimated that if 100 percent of employees eligible would get vaccinated, the cash incentive would total more than 68 thousand dollars. The leave time is estimated to have a 52 thousand dollar impact.
Commission Chair John Ford noted that the real budget issue faced by the county would be when employees miss work because of having come down with COVID.
Commissioner Kathryn Focke, noted the plan would use CARES funding from the federal government to pay the incentives.
Greg McKinley voted against the plan, because of the leave time, but backed the one hundred dollar bonus.
