COVID Clinic at Seven Hills
Wednesday February 7, 10:00am to 12:00pm
Click here for details: COVID Clinic
Dear Members:
Last week the union received the following correspondence from Seven Hills Rhode Island regarding the Workforce Stabilization Loan Program they applied for. On their own they decided to discontinue the $2.00 an hour incentive pay you have all received since April. Below in bold is what the Workforce Stabilization Loan Program requires and what the employer tried to impose that is not required by the “Loan” agreement.
- As of May 4th, all prior COVID-19 related incentive programs implemented by Seven Hills RI will end and the new Workforce Stabilization Program will commence. The Workforce Stabilization Program and additional Seven Hills RI incentives, as described below, will continue through May 31st, 2020.
- As per the parameters of the Workforce Stabilization Loan Program:
Qualifying Employees Workforce stabilization funds shall be used to increase compensation for qualified provider frontline employees earning less than $20 per hour. Eligible employees include, but are not limited to certified nursing assistants, personal care aids, custodians, food service workers, laundry workers, housekeeping, maintenance and other direct service professionals. Eligible employees may be direct employees or contract employees. Qualifying employees must be on staff at the facility or work primarily in the facility. Case managers or caseworkers who travel to multiple residential sites earning under $20 are not eligible.
- Employees who earn less than $20 per hour and work thirty hours (30) a week or more are eligible for a $200 weekly salary increase.
- Employees who earn less than $20 per hour and work from twenty-two (22) to twenty- nine (29) hours per week are eligible for a $150 weekly salary increase.
- Employees who earn less than $20 per hour and work from fifteen (15) to twenty-one (21) hours per week are eligible for a $100 weekly salary increase.
In order to address employees that do not qualify for the workforce stabilization loan as indicated above as well as to further incentivize those working in homes deemed COVID-19 positive locations by Seven Hills Rhode Island, the following incentives will be offered by the organization. The following incentives are not funded by the Workforce Loan Program:
Direct Support employees working less than 15 hours per week will receive a$50 weekly salary increase.
Direct support employees working in COVID Positive homes will receive an increase of $3.00 per hour for the duration that the home is deemed a COVID positive home by Seven Hills Rhode Island.
The union has proposed the following for those employees described by the employer above as those who do not qualify for the Workforce Stabilization Loan Program. And, we have proposed that the employer pay more to all employees who work directly with individuals supported by Seven Hills RI Adult Ser
Proposed Hourly Incentive (retroactive to May 4, 2020:
All employees working direct care hours shall be paid an incentive pay of $5.00 per hour.
Employees working less than 15 hours per week shall receive a $50 weekly salary increase. (This addresses the exclusion of these employees from the Workforce Stabilization Program)
Direct support employees working in COVID positive homes shall receive an increase of $3.00 per hour for the duration that the home is deemed a COVID positive home by Seven Hills Rhode Island. (This is in addition to the $5.00 an hour above.)
The union also proposed pay increases, differential increases, and mileage increases as part of bargaining a new contract. Your current contract expires June 23, 2020.
Please feel free to call me if you have any questions. (401) 486-3903.
Jeanne