Cliffs Bonus a Shot in the Arm for Workers

Cleveland-Cliffs has launched a cash-incentive program across all its facilities to encourage employees to get their COVID-19 vaccines.

“The program works per site. The company will pay all vaccinated employees a cash bonus based upon the level of vaccination achieved by that site,” a Cliffs spokeswoman said.

If 85% of workers at a given mine, mill or stamping plant get their shots, each vaccinated employee at that site receives a $3,000 cash bonus.

cliffs natural resources The cash bonus drops to $1,500 per vaccinated worker if the percentage of those getting their shots is 75-84.9%. And it plunges to a mere $200 if the 75% threshold is not met.

The program, which is voluntary, runs through Aug. 21, 2021, the spokeswoman said.

Cleveland-Cliffs is the largest flat-rolled steelmaker and iron ore pellet producer in North America, according to its website. It also operates R&D centers, several tooling and stamping plants, and two tube mills.

The company has operations in Ontario and in 10 U.S. states: Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky, North Carolina and Alabama. It had 25,000 employees as of December 2020, per a company fact sheet.

By Michael Cowden, Michael@SteelMarketUpdate.com

Michael Cowden

Michael Cowden is editor-in-chief for Steel Market Update. Cowden has covered the steel industry since 2007. He specializes in flat-rolled steel but has also reported on steel long products, steel pipe and tube, and aluminum. Before joining SMU, Cowden held reporting jobs at Fastmarkets AMM in Chicago, the Associated Press in Pittsburgh, and the Cambodia Daily in Phnom Penh. He has also worked as a copy editor and in marketing at the University of Chicago Press. Cowden has a BA in English from the University of Chicago and an MSJ journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. Contact him at michael@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-759-7872.