One large Alabama employer is giving its employees a shot at $1 million – if they get the shot.
Leidos, which owns Huntsville’s Dynetics, is instituting a vaccine lottery with $1 million to be shared among 10 randomly selected workers who have gotten the vaccine.
Dynetics, which was founded in the Rocket City in 1974, is a world-class applied research and national security solutions company with large portfolios in the space and defense sectors.
Leidos acquired Dynetics two years ago and now has more than 3,000 employees in Huntsville.
The company’s approach to vaccines contrasts with that being used in other sectors.
Recently, the federal government unveiled its plans to implement a door-to-door strategy to identify unvaccinated Americans and urge them to become vaccinated.
Some private companies are mandating that their employees receive the vaccination, an action deemed legal under federal law by the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission.
Norwegian Cruise Lines has not only required their employees to be vaccinated, but the company sued the state of Florida earlier this week seeking to overturn the state’s law preventing businesses from requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination for its customers.
Leidos simply wants to offer its employees another incentive to consider the vaccine.
“Our company, like the country at large, has seen a bit of a slowdown in the number of people actually getting the vaccine,” Roger Krone, chairman and CEO of Leidos, told The Washington Post. “We see a huge need to gently push people who are on the fence, and give them one more reason to do it.”
The company’s goal is to award each winner the equivalent of one year of salary. Proof of vaccination is not required for entrance into the sweepstakes.
“In the end, in a time of crisis, what people are about is providing safety, health and security for their family,” Krone concluded. “I can’t wait to celebrate our first few winners.”
Leidos has more than 40,000 employees worldwide and has climbed to No. 248 in the Fortune 500 rankings.
Tim Howe is an owner of Yellowhammer Multimedia
