Covid jab: Hospo boss Scott Imlach offers $100 gift voucher to vaxxed workers

A Gold Coast bar boss desperate to end harsh lockdowns for good is controversially offering his employees a reward in return for getting vaccinated. WHAT’S ON OFFER >>>

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A Gold Coast hospitality boss desperate to end crippling hard lockdowns for good is offering his employees a $100 gift voucher to get vaccinated.

Imlach Hospitality Group’s Scott Imlach, who counts Mr Hizolas, Bine Bar and Hideaway Kitchen & Bar in his stable, put forward the controversial idea to workers this week - just as Labor leader Anthony Albanese called for a $300 per vax incentive to be paid to people.

Gold Coast hospitality boss Scott Imlach is offering his employees a $100 reward if they get vaccinated. Emma Rodger of Mr Hizolas is one of the workers set to take up the offer. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

Emma Rodger, 25, is among dozens of employees behind her boss’ idea, revealing Mr Imlach’s incentive was the motivation she needed to “finally get her butt into gear”.

“I was always going to get the vaccine, I have a few family members who are in the high-risk categories,” Ms Rodger said.

“Scotty put it in our work’s group chat and we actually had a couple of people come back and say they really like the idea and others revealed they had already been vaccinated.

“The demographic of our workers is 19-25, we’re in the perfect age group to get it, but most people just didn’t think to even register because we’re technically not eligible.”

The longtime hospitality worker believes vaccination will be key to helping the embattled industry regain some stability and confidence amid a dwindling workforce.

“When we have been allowed to open there have been times when we’re booked out each Saturday for six months in advance. The issue has been finding the staff to work, because no one is looking for hospo jobs at the moment,” she explained.

“It’s so clever on Scotty’s behalf. If everyone’s not jumping at (getting vaccinated) then we need to do something to help that along,” she said.

Securing an appointment for the Pfizer jab has since proved the biggest challenge: “I’ve registered online and they told me I was in the portion that could also call around to local GPs. Now I’m on the waiting list for the convention centre and also at a Southport GP.”

Her hours have taken been cut by 70 per cent during the course of the pandemic.

“Personally, the vaccine is the only way to stop lockdowns. The way it’s hurting this business, something needs to be done,” Ms Rodgers said.

Mr Imlach said the idea was largely welcomed by his workers but some had not been so keen.

“There was a couple of people who didn’t like the idea, but I must stress it was just an incentive. No one is forced to go get it and no one will lose their job if they decide not to,” Mr Imlach said.

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Originally published as Covid jab: Hospo boss Scott Imlach offers $100 gift voucher to vaxxed workers