NSW clubs encourage staff Covid vaccination with incentives

Clubs across NSW are offering incentives for employees to get the jab, helping to fuel the state’s race to the six million-vaccination mark.

Bar staff are rolling up their sleeves and getting the jab with new incentives at NSW’s clubs helping fuel the state’s race to the six million-vaccination mark.

Campbelltown Catholic Club is one of the watering holes encouraging their staff to get vaccinated, with employees offered $100 in rewards to get their shot.

For staff member Lyndsay Hunter getting the jab was an easy choice and one largely motivated by personal causes.

Campbelltown Catholic Club's food and beverage director Peter Sheppard, cellarman Danny Gillett and gaming floor supervisor Lindsay Hunter have received their jabs as part of the club’s incentive-based approach to vaccinating their workforce. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“Mum’s nearly 96 but she had polio at 11 years old in 1935,” said Mr Hunter, who ­received his second AstraZeneca jab last month.

“Back in those days they didn’t have vaccinations and she was unfortunate to get it, so I’m obviously very pro vaccines.

“Most people forget about that stuff – diseases like polio and small pox – back then they didn’t have the option to get vaccinated.”

He’s one of the majority among the club’s staff who have had the jab.

Peter Sheppard, the club’s food and beverage director, has had both Pfizer shots and was among the first of the club’s staff to do so.

“We’re at the stage now where we all need to be keeping an eye on the bigger picture and look at what we need to do to come out of this as a state and a country, and if ­vaccinating is the way we do that, then it’s what we’ve got to do,” he said.

Club CEO Michael Lavor­ato said it was an easy choice to put the vaccine incentives in place for staff.

“When they come back from lockdown we want as many of our workforce vaccinated as possible, and this’ll be an added incentive to get out there and get your vaccine,” he said.

“I’d encourage all busin­esses to encourage their workforce to get vaccinated – if it means giving them time off or incentives.”