Brockport-based electronics recycler, Sunnking, offers a program to give paid time off to employees opting to receive their COVID-19 vaccine, as required by New York State law.
“With me, having asthma, it’s definitely a no-brainer for me to go get this vaccine,” said Darien Payne, a Sunnking employee. “My first thought when I heard that is that they really care about the wellbeing and health of their staff and employees.”
The private recycler has offered full-time employees four hours of paid time off for each vaccine shot needed. The program’s goal is to promote individual vaccination and serve as an example for other local businesses to offer the same benefit.
“We’re giving all employees four hours PTO to use towards getting a vaccine,” said CEO Duane Beckett. “At Sunnking, we’ve always had a very strong health, safety, and environmental policy, and this is just one part of it.”
Last year, the state listed recycling as an “essential” business, allowing Sunnking to remain open during New York’s mandated business closures.
“I don’t think it hurts to offer that to employees,” said Beckett. “It builds a little bit of morale, it shows that you care about your employees, it helps protect all your own workers and any customers, so we think there are no negatives to this.”
In 2020, out of an abundance of caution for its residential customers, the private recycler had to postpone some local e-recycling events after staff members tested positive for the virus. The new PTO program should ensure that the risk of COVID-19 exposure is limited.
“It’s always been on my mind to go get this vaccine so that way I don’t catch it, and I’m protecting my family members and others who I associate with,” said Payne.
Sunnking employs nearly 100 people in Western and Central New York; however, it has made necessary changes to its business practice to comply with any health and safety protocols.
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