All "essential" employees in the nation, are on the front lines of a global pandemic. These employees are constantly and consistently risking their health and the health of their loved ones by being exposed to so much of the general public as COVID-19 continues to spread exponentially throughout the community. "Essential" employees - from within the medical field to grocery stores, are demanding fair compensation by way of hazard pay for being potentially exposed to this dangerous and lethal virus.

Hazard pay is defined by the US Department of Labor as "additional pay for performing hazardous duty or work involving physical hardship. Work duty that causes extreme physical discomfort and distress which is not adequately alleviated by protective devices is deemed to impose a physical hardship."
Fair hazard pay currently runs between 10% and 20% of an employee's current hourly wage. It is the responsibility of each employer and the US Government to fairly compensate the workers for the risks they are taking to perform their job. 

WHY THIS MATTERS

Coronavirus COVID-19 has spread to over 160,000 people worldwide since its first case in November 2019, as of March 17, 2020. The disease has been fatal to over 6600 people. Transmission is caused mainly through people who are untested and are currently asymptomatic as the virus has an incubation period of upwards of two weeks. This virus is spreading quickly, exponentially, and silently.

Gloves and masks are not adequate protective measures, and the CDC recommends social distancing as the main preventative measure for spreading COVID-19. Those within the medical fields to Grocery store employees are seriously limited in their ability to maintain a distance between themselves and the general public.

Nevada state governor, Steve Sisolak, has banned restaurants (except those offering take-out services), bars, casinos, recreational facilities, and other non-essential businesses from operating for 30 days. These individuals, although some have lost their jobs, are being compensated. Whether it being through unemployment or company paid leave, they are paid something while being staying home and steering clear of this virus. 

The CDC recommends prohibiting public events and gatherings of 10 people or more. These measures are in place in order to aid public health and safety. Most, if not all "Essential" employees, work in places where there are far more then 10 people in one place at time. This is deemed as dangerous under the CDC's guidelines and guarantees the continued transmission of COVID-19.

The ONLY preventative measures currently are social distancing, self-isolating, and quarantine. As previously stated, gloves and masks are NOT enough to stop the transmission of the virus, and as such, it is impossible for these "Essential" workers continue to provide their own adequate protection against COVID-19, hence the necessity of providing employees with fair hazard pay.

Those within the medical field, grocery store employees, first responders, gas stations, etc., are risking their health and safety in order to help society operate in these distressing times. These workers are helping to maintain a semblance of normalcy and security during the midst of a global pandemic.

Provide these employees jeopardizing their health and the health of their loved ones for the sake of the community with fair compensation immediately!