Grocery store workers hazard pay

Nurses COVID

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Specializes in BLS, ACLS, CARDIAC, ER.

Is anyone else irritated by the fact that there are countless professions who are required to work during covid but the new is always revolving around grocery store employee needing hazard pay? What about nurses, doctors, hvac, etc..what are your thoughts?

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Specializes in LTC & Rehab Supervision.

I have no opinion honestly. I get hazard pay at my job. Although, I do agree that the countless professions should be getting some sort of compensation. They deserve it just as much as a nurse/etc if not more.

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Specializes in BLS, ACLS, CARDIAC, ER.

That's great! Do you work in LTC or a hospital? 

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Specializes in LTC & Rehab Supervision.

I currently work in LTC, but I also just got a job as a COVID vaccination nurse ?

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The only place I've seen this discussion is here; I believe there was at least one other thread in which this was the subject. 

I do not get "hazard" pay where I work, nor do I expect it.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I've never been under the impression that nursing doesn't involve caring for patients with communicable diseases, or that epidemics or pandemics can occur, so I don't expect extra pay for something I've understood to be part of the job.

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4 hours ago, 1gr8trnstudent said:

Is anyone else irritated by the fact that there are countless professions who are required to work during covid but the new is always revolving around grocery store employee needing hazard pay? What about nurses, doctors, hvac, etc..what are your thoughts?

No it doesn't irritate me. First of all, it is laughable to even think of comparing their wages to those of an RN, let alone a physician. Secondly, in no way, shape, or form did they sign up to deal with the health concerns of the general public as part of their job*. Thirdly, they've had to put up with a$$hats asserting their rights, and corporations/business owners who will rarely if ever put the needs, health, wellness or safety of an employee above the "rights" of anyone who has a dollar to spend in the store.

I guess that sums up how I feel about it.

*I don't believe nurses signed up to be betrayed by employers during times of pandemic, either. But we did at least know that we would be dealing closely with the health needs of patients, including infectious diseases.

 

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

Hundreds of people can come through a checkout counter in an 8-10hr shift with customers handling groceries prior to clerk ringing up item --much higher chance of asymptomatic spread., IMHO.  

Especially true for these staff

 

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Specializes in Mental health, substance abuse, geriatrics, PCU.

Hazard pay? As long as my pay check clears the bank, then that's payment enough. I knew getting into nursing that I was going to be dealing with infectious diseases, and COVID is not the only bug out there that scares me nor is it the only nasty one I've been exposed to. Not for nothing, but infectious disease experts have been predicting another worldwide pandemic for many years prior to COVID so I kind of figured at some point in my lifetime I'd be stuck working during one. 

As JK pointed out, many essential workers are given low wages that probably don't justify the amount of risk they take by being potentially exposed at work so giving them hazard pay isn't going to ruffle my feathers and by all means I think they should get some form of extra compensation for continuing to work during all this mess.

 

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Specializes in mental health / psychiatic nursing.

I think a big difference is that those of us in healthcare know that adverse circumstances and potential exposure to illness ARE a part of the job we have signed up for (covid has highlighted that risk, but we never really know what illnesses a patient my bring with them - global pandemic or no pandemic). As long as employer is taking adequate precautions and providing the equipment and protocols to keep us safe - we are probably MORE safe than  your average grocery store worker because our environment is often more controlled, and we have more knowledge of, and better access to infection prevention, and greater ability to respond quickly to isolate potential outbreaks/vectors. 

There is also a pretty stark pay discrepancy between working in a grocery store and most (though certainly not all) health care jobs.  When I worked in a grocery store I made minimum wage, no tips, and the scantest benefits ever.  Even as a CNA I made more and had better benefits.  As a PMHNP I am paid MUCH more for that potential risk of exposure than a grocery store clerk (and am given PPE that reduces my risk if used correctly) (I also now have sick leave, and qualify for FMLA which I didn't have when I worked as a grocery store clerk). 

I actually see it as rather insensitive to those who work in other essential fields and for all those who are unemployed by this pandemic to contemplate asking for hazard pay in my current role and would actually be rather offended to be offered it. 

Clearly - others have different experiences - and if I was in a different role, or different setting/environment - or with a different employer - my feelings on this subject may differ. 

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Specializes in Urgent Care, Oncology.
On 2/11/2021 at 1:24 AM, NRSKarenRN said:

 

 

Welcome to Florida. I'm a Florida native. 

I had to quit my job as an Oncology nurse because I did not feel safe around my co-workers while pregnant. One flew to Wyoming, came back with COVID,  and had a super spreader Thanksgiving event where 15 people came back positive. She then proceeded to work 3 days asymptomatic. None of my coworkers would get the vaccine and they were constantly pulling their masks down or off. ETA: They all believe this is just a flu and that our immune system naturally fights it off. 

We just hosted the Super Bowl and people all over the country saw how the locals acted here. All I want to do is just go to BBB for 20 minutes and test some strollers but I can't even do that because people just don't care here.

I did get my first Pfizer at 13+4 on Thursday. The nurses in the vaccine triage area were talking about me (after I walked around the corner) and getting the vaccine while pregnant. They were all "I'd never do it." My pregnancy brain may be broken but my ears worked just fine. They knew I was a nurse, too, because that's how I qualified to get the vaccine. 

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Specializes in Critical Care.
On 2/10/2021 at 11:52 PM, MunoRN said:

I've never been under the impression that nursing doesn't involve caring for patients with communicable diseases, or that epidemics or pandemics can occur, so I don't expect extra pay for something I've understood to be part of the job.

I do believe healthcare workers deserve hazard pay, particularly those that are working on covid wings.  The federal govt has given billions out to hospitals to help and they are supposed to spend that money on their staff.  My system got over a billion and still doesn't give hazard pay.  Wonder where all the money went!

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