Healthcare workers are forced to report to work, day after day, to battle the life-threatening virus that has taken tens of thousands of lives and turned life as we know it upside down. These employees are in the thick of it, coming in contact with infected people on a daily basis, and putting their health and that of their loved ones at risk. These are our "soldiers" in the war against COVID-19. Yet, we're sending health care workers into combat without adequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and asking them to accept normal hourly rate, as if it was just another Friday night in the ER. 

Sadly, there is currently no legal requirement that these medical employers provide health care workers with hazard pay, despite the grave dangers they continue to face.

However, health care systems and hospitals can and should voluntarily provide hazard pay to these workers. For example, these employers could pay time and one-half for work hours in the ER, just as they routinely do when these same workers exceed forty hours in a week. 

It's the right thing to do. Yet few if any healthcare systems are actually providing hazard pay; that has to change!  Please let them know how you feel. 

Atrium: Chris Berger, 704-631-095, Chris.Berger@AtriumHealth.org

Novant Health: 704-384-4832 & 1-888-648-7999
Mission Hospital:  (828) 775-4716

Caromont: 704 834-2080 https://www.caromonthealth.org/Contact-Us.aspx