Kroger has announced new policies to encourage more of its workers to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Starting January 1st, the company will charge $50 extra to salaried associates enrolled in their company health plan who remain unvaccinated, which will cost an employee $600 a year. They will also eliminate paid pandemic related leave for individuals who remain unvaccinated. If a vaccinated employee falls ill from COVID-19 they can get up to two weeks of paid leave without using their regular time off benefits whereas if an unvaccinated employee contracts COVID-19 they will only be eligible to take their earned paid time off or apply for unpaid leave.
See "Kroger to charge their unvaccinated workers", Alexander Coolidge, USA Today, December 15, 2021