After a year of work in the streets, at the Board of Supervisors and at the bargaining table, the SEIU hazard pay bargaining team has finalized the COVID-19 Compensation Framework with the County. Hazard pay payments will range from $1,500 to $2,500 and teleworking payments will be $750. Here are the details:
Hazard pay and teleworking categories
- Hazard Pay Category A: $2,500 – County employees who work directly with COVID-19 positive individuals and persons under investigation of being COVID-19 positive, including those who work with the deceased; as well as all employees who perform field work that requires them to enter residences or facilities not operated by the County, those who work in locked correctional facilities, residential care, patient care settings and County employees who work onsite at County work locations during a documented COVID-19 outbreak.
- Hazard Pay Category B: $1,500 – County employees who do not perform work under Category A but engage with the public and/or clients that increases the potential for contact with COVID-19 positive individuals. Additionally, all County employees who are required to report to work onsite on a part-time or full-time basis and are at risk of exposure due to interaction with coworkers.
- Teleworking Category C: $750 – Teleworking payment to support employees who are teleworking and have incurred work-related expenses, such as internet access, printing, equipment and electricity use to fulfill job requirements.
To be eligible, employees must:
- be employed by the County on or before Oct. 19, 2020 and not terminate before the first day of the pay period prior to the lump sum payment.
- have a minimum of 1040 paid work hours during the period of March 19, 2020 through May 31, 2021.
- performed the duties under the working conditions described in the categories for more than 50 percent of their paid working hours during the period of March 19, 2020 through May 31, 2021.
Part-time employees receive a pro-rated amount according to their standard hours. Read the entire COVID-19 Compensation Framework with the County by following this link. Reach out to the union hall or your worksite organizer if you have further questions.
In addition to hazard pay and telework stipends, the organizing power we built during our last contract negotiations continues to pay off with two benefits we negotiated in our union, SEIU Local 221. On your July 23 paycheck, the County will begin paying a 1.5 percent wage increase and a $1500 bonus in our next paychecks, for those with paid service in Fiscal Year 2020-’21. To continue getting increases and bonuses like these, we must act together. We are stepping up the preparations to negotiate with the County in the coming year. If you haven’t already attended an Organizing Committee meeting, ask your steward how to attend your July or August meeting.
It is critical that we act now by signing up coworkers who are not members. We can have them fill out a membership today online by following this link, so that we are stronger in the next contract fight.
