Kroger to end paid COVID-19 leave for unvaccinated workers

Kroger, one of the country's biggest employers, is adding a few sticks to the carrots already offered by the grocery chain to encourage workers to protect themselves from COVID-19. 

The company will no longer offer paid emergency leave to unvaccinated employees who contract COVID-19, according to a Kroger spokesperson. Under the policy, unvaccinated workers who get the virus can use earned paid time off or apply for unpaid leave.

"As we prepare to navigate the next phase of the pandemic, we are modifying policies to encourage safe behaviors including vaccination, which we continue to incentivize with a $100 payment for all fully vaccinated associates," a Kroger spokesperson told CBS MoneyWatch in an email.