ARTICLE
QUESTIONS: Is your agency paying your DSPs hazard pay? If so, what factors were taken into consideration to determine the amount paid? Yes, we chose to do a Hero Pay stipend with a set amount per week for full time employees and half that for part-time. Only front line DSP’s working in the homes and not caring for their own loved ones. Each person will continue to get the stipend until the day program is open again. We are paying staff an extra amount per hour to work in homes where we are monitoring at a LVL 4 for possible secondary exposure for up to 14 days. If a client has a diagnosis or is symptomatic (presumed COVID) Hazard Pay is instituted for all shift with that client until either a negative test negates the presumption, the quarantine is served out, or the doctor gives the all clear. We provide most of our supports in Marion County – which is the closest thing to a HOT SPOT that we have. I truly picked the extra amount per hour because I felt that people would be motivated enough by this rate to still show up to work. It is more per hour than they are making at base. Knowing this would be covered (at least temporarily) by our PPP funds made this doable. We were considering using money from our PPP to give a hazard bonus to DSPs, however, the growing sense that receiving a PPP while we continue to receive a good deal of funding from our programs may be considered double dipping has given us pause. We are offering a Hero Bonus for employees who voluntarily work with COVID-19 positive clients and quarantine with them. It’s basically an additional amount per day based on the length of quarantine chosen/needed. Thankfully, we have not had any clients or staff who have tested positive at this time. We are paying hazard pay to staff who are working in homes where there is a COVID positive person. Those DSPs moving in for two weeks will be paid the equivalent of 8 eight weeks of their pay for the two weeks of service. These staff will work 12 hours on and be off for 12 hours. We have found that these staff are pretty dedicated and generally work more than 12 hours a day. For those DSPs working in a COVID positive home not moving in they will receive a bonus. We are paying an amount per hour for staff to work with a client while we are waiting for the client’s test result. That amount is also what we will pay for staff to work with a client who tests positive, but we haven’t had any. In April we began paying anyone who is performing direct care duties a “crisis pay” differential per hour. That will continue for an undetermined amount of time. We are paying all direct support staff or any staff that interacts with the public an additional amount per hour. We also will pay hourly hazard pay to any direct support staff that works with an individual diagnosed with COVID-19. These pay policies are only in place temporarily. We are evaluating these policies every couple of weeks. We are paying up to 2 weeks of average hours worked for those staff with positive test results and then paying a premium wage for those that work with individuals served with positive test results. Yes, we are paying Hazard/Hero pay. In settings where individuals we serve have tested positive for Coronavirus (we have had three sites where this has occurred) any staff who continue to work in the home receive a per hour premium. In the even that a single staff volunteers to quarantine in the home (we have had one do so) the premium applies for the full 24 hours. Additionally, we will be paying out a one-time bonus to DSPs at the end of the fiscal year depending on hours worked during the crisis. This information is a compilation of suggestions, ideas, and opinions shared by INARF Members in response to the featured question. This information should not be considered official interpretation or guidance of State or Federal Policy. Additionally, statements within this document do not necessarily reflect an official position or opinion of INARF.
QUESTIONS: Is your agency paying your DSPs hazard pay? If so, what factors were taken into consideration to determine the amount paid?