Steel Mills

Cliffs Bonus a Shot in the Arm for Workers

July 6, 2021

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 managing editor for Steel Market Update. Cowden has covered the steel industry since 2007. He has since 2014 specialized in flat-rolled steel but has previously reported on steel long products, steel pipe and tube as well as aluminum. Before joining SMU, Cowden held reporting jobs at Fastmarkets AMM in Chicago - where he was involved in launching AMM's daily hot-rolled coil index, 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.