Why hasn’t pay increased? Hazard pay, etc.?

Nurses COVID

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Why hasn’t pay increased? Hazard pay, etc.? Especially considering that multiple hospitals lack supplies for PPE and we are frontline workers.

Specializes in Urgent Care, Oncology.
11 hours ago, Tegridy said:

Ugh some places do. Usually private clinics and the like.

I work for a large Oncology practice (100+ offices) and we do not have enough PPE, either. I wear the same mask for the whole day. We're also switching to IV push for pre-meds and withholding a lot of fluids because we just don't have enough. We're supposed to double glove to hang chemo but the gloves coming in won't even be chemo rated. No gowns, either.

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Specializes in ICU.

Two big players in Nephrology are doing things differently. One company is paying its employees 1.5x and $100 per working day for child care services on top of their premium pay. On the other hand, the other company believes that the current pandemic is “not a medical emergency nor a disaster” and that employees are not incapable of going to work despite the numerous lockdowns in some states and counties, therefore, does not activate their “premium pay policy during disasters/emergencies”. They opted to pay $100/week for the risk their employees would have to endure during the outbreak.

Right now, the only reason why I want to be paid more during this outbreak is because when I contract the disease - which I expect to happen given the lack of proper PPE while caring for infected patients - is that I just want my family to be in a better financial position for when I become unable to provide or when I pass. Given the economic crisis we are in right now, the money can go to my family and be more prepared when recession becomes imminent.

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Specializes in Dialysis.
14 minutes ago, Chimera123 said:

Two big players in Nephrology are doing things differently. One company is paying its employees 1.5x and $100 per working day for child care services on top of their premium pay. On the other hand, the other company believes that the current pandemic is “not a medical emergency nor a disaster” and that employees are not incapable of going to work despite the numerous lockdowns in some states and counties, therefore, does not activate their “premium pay policy during disasters/emergencies”. They opted to pay $100/week for the risk their employees would have to endure during the outbreak.

Which company? I work for F, they aren't getting 1.5, but they are getting $2/hr shift diff in addition to other pay. Also getting the $100 a day for childcare, which is essentially useless as almost all daycares in our area are closed, so not a big help. My friend at D says she's not getting anything extra.

I'm just asking because you mentioned 1.5x

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Specializes in ICU.
1 minute ago, Hoosier_RN said:

Which company? I work for F, they aren't getting 1.5, but they are getting 2/he shift diff in addition to other pay. Also the $100 a day for childcare, which is essentially useless as almost all daycares in our area are closed, so not a big help. My friend at D says she's not getting anything extra.

I'm just asking because you mentioned 1.5x

1.5+ or $2 more, perhaps. Child care service may not work for your area, but it does for other employees in other areas, so it’s a big help for them. D does not give a hoot. I heard, they put out a memo saying they are trying to procure N95s to give their employees peace of mind. (Well, I guess they got tired of complaining, belligerent employees. And it’s not even about employees and patient safety) LOL

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Specializes in ICU.
15 hours ago, rzyzzy said:

PPE only works if you’re screening properly and aggressively.

With a virus where initially not everyone even runs a fever, and testing isn’t actually available - PPE is worthless.

as for hazard pay, my company offered a temporary $2 bump. I told them to keep it and to find an orifice to stick it in.

Management doesn’t get to work from home and hide under their blankies and *pretend* to be generous to the grown-ups actually doing the work. If they came out of their hidey-holes & spent a day triaging in a paper mask like me, maybe I’d have a little respect for them.

I’ll get as many of my patients through this as I can, take my guaranteed case of covid like an adult & look for better pastures after the *** is un-stuck from the fan.

As for “not deserving” hazard pay, that’s not even realistic. We absolutely do deserve a serious bump in pay - I’d give anything to hug my compromised parents now, but I can’t share space with them due to my exposure at work. I don’t even know if I will be able to share space with them for several months in the future due to my workplace exposure to a virus that could kill them.

We must be working in drastically different circumstances. I’m in an ICU with covid positive patients and R/o Covid. Appropriate PPE is necessary 100% of the time. I’m way past the screening point. We’re attempting to save lives of the critically ill.

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Specializes in Non judgmental advisor.
On 3/24/2020 at 9:04 PM, gcupid said:

Why hasn’t pay increased? Hazard pay, etc.? Especially considering that multiple hospitals lack supplies for PPE and we are frontline workers.

I think nurses would have to ask for it directly or make it known ?

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Specializes in ICU.
8 hours ago, Tegridy said:

At the end of the day people can want what they want but the market will determine who is worth 100 an hour

And that is what the market is at right now. I’ve been getting offers in several states. NY 6,200/week, Cali 6,000/week Arkansas 5k Minnesota 5,600k etc. Suffice to say that if the market is willing to pay, then nurses can negotiate for more pay.

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Specializes in Non judgmental advisor.
11 minutes ago, Chimera123 said:

And that is what the market is at right now. I’ve been getting offers in several states. NY 6,200/week, Cali 6,000/week Arkansas 5k Minnesota 5,600k etc. Suffice to say that if the market is willing to pay, then nurses can negotiate for more pay.

Many nurses actually may be afraid to negotiate or ask for more pay, I think its also that most nurses are women and women are more silent when speaking up for what they should get/need very good at taking the circumstances bestowed upon them ?

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Specializes in anesthesiology.
2 hours ago, Tegridy said:

There are docs not making 100 an hour. Under most circumstance and in most places I would saying nursing care isn’t worth 100/hr. But the market can decide that. That’s more than many engineers and other careers that demand a higher set of knowledge.

No... there isn't, unless you work for the military and they are paying off your loans. The market has decided that rate. You can bet if those engineers were required to risk their own safety and that of their family they would absolutely demand that rate.

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Specializes in Psychiatry.

So, its interesting that many see requesting hazard pay as wanting a pat on the back or wanting compensation for what you "signed up for". One of our hospital clergy is in critical condition, I have 2 coworkers at home with Covid-19, and we're all waiting to get ill. Our doctors are starting to work remotely and are leaving us in the hospital to perish or be left with 30% reduced lung function. So, I have to ask.. What's stopping me from just walking off the job??? I'm sure in 6-12 months I could find another job somewhere once things start to normalize. I can weather some time not earning a check and go on cobra. So without hazard pay, why not just walk out?

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Specializes in Non judgmental advisor.
1 minute ago, Marc Goodman said:

So, its interesting that many see requesting hazard pay as wanting a pat on the back or wanting compensation for what you "signed up for". One of our hospital clergy is in critical condition, I have 2 coworkers at home with Covid-19, and we're all waiting to get ill. Our doctors are starting to work remotely and are leaving us in the hospital to perish or be left with 30% reduced lung function. So, I have to ask.. What's stopping me from just walking off the job??? I'm sure in 6-12 months I could find another job somewhere once things start to normalize. I can weather some time not earning a check and go on cobra. So without hazard pay, why not just walk out?

Walking off the job may be the future, it would result in more pay when it does happen

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Specializes in Dialysis.
1 hour ago, Chimera123 said:

1.5+ or $2 more, perhaps. Child care service may not work for your area, but it does for other employees in other areas, so it’s a big help for them. D does not give a hoot. I heard, they put out a memo saying they are trying to procure N95s to give their employees peace of mind. (Well, I guess they got tired of complaining, belligerent employees. And it’s not even about employees and patient safety) LOL

That's too bad about D. So glad I work for F, so far they are making efforts to take care of our safety

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