NASHVILLE — Bridgestone Americas Corp. will provide $100 to U.S.-based employees who choose to get the COVID-19 vaccine, as a "support payment" to remove barriers such as missing work, childcare or transportation.
Bridgestone said it employs more than 33,000 in the U.S. The program is voluntary
The tire maker said it also is looking at offering a comparable program to employees in Canada and Latin America as vaccines become more widely available.
"Throughout the pandemic, our employees have done an extraordinary job working to keep each other safe, while also finding innovative ways to serve our customers and communities," Paolo Ferrari, president, CEO and COO of Bridgestone Americas, said. "As we now move into vaccine distribution, the well-being and safety of all Bridgestone employees remains the company's most important value, and we are committed to providing educational resources and support for employees to make an informed decision about the vaccine."
The company said it will continue to promote its COVID-19 education and outreach to employees, including the latest informational materials from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and reminders about the importance of social distancing, mask use and increased handwashing.
Nashville-headquarted Bridgestone Americas' U.S. presence includes 16 tire and retread manufacturing facilities, research & development centers in Akron and Fishers, Ind.; and more than 2,200 company-owned tire and automotive service centers.
