Industrial conglomerate Emerson Electric Co. EMR -2.14% considered requiring all 90,000 employees to get the vaccine but ultimately decided a mandate wasn’t in line with the company’s culture and would cause unneeded blowback from the press and workers.
“We can mandate it, but that would be the wrong way to go,” said CEO David Farr. “We wouldn’t get the best results that way.”
Instead, Emerson plans to reward employees who get vaccinated and place activity limits on those who don’t. It is considering a contribution to workers’ 401(k) retirement accounts or gift cards to spend at local businesses. Those who don’t get the shot won’t be able to travel or attend company events that include gathering, he said.
“Here is the carrot, and here is the stick,” Mr. Farr said. Emerson expects some of its workers will have little choice because customers may require the vaccine for people entering their facilities.