SALEM — The city has launched a new round of its Employee Incentive Program, which will focus on supporting the hiring and retaining of frontline workers at businesses that are required to show proof of vaccination for public entry.
This includes employees working at businesses covered by the Board of Health’s Dec. 22, 2021 order requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination.
The program will provide $500 to qualifying employees who must be in an eligible type of work subject to the proof of vaccination order.
Employees must be on the payroll of the business any time between Jan. 15 and Feb. 4, and must remain employed at the business for at least six consecutive weeks, working at least 30 total hours over the course of the six weeks.
Mayor Kimberley Driscoll said she encourages every eligible business to apply for this financial support program for its qualifying employees.
“We are all working hard to keep our community safe and our small businesses open and strong,” Driscoll said. “As a city, we have stepped up for our small businesses throughout this pandemic, provisioning large quantities of free protective equipment, free rapid tests for frontline workers, direct financial help, technical assistance with everything from air-handling equipment to navigating federal-relief programs.”
For a list of eligible types of work and covered categories of business, additional program requirements, and the link to apply, visit www.salem.com/incentive.
Applications must be submitted before noon on Monday, Feb. 7.
“While we have had a net gain in businesses over the course of the pandemic, that doesn’t mean it has been easy for those who have held on,” Driscoll said. “We all want Salem’s vibrant small businesses to stay safe, open, and strong, and the employee incentive program is one more tool at our disposal to help make that happen.”
