Essential workers could be getting an increase in their paychecks under legislation introduced in the state Senate recently.
Sen. Andrew Gounardes, D-Brooklyn, has introduced S.8955, which would direct the state labor commissioner to tell employers to make hazard payments to essential workers during a state disaster emergency. The payments will be a percentage or a fixed dollar amount and not be more than $25,000 in any year for any essential worker earning less than $200,000 a year or $5,000 for any essential worker earning more than $200,000.
“During an unprecedented pandemic or state of emergency, many essential workers continue to go to work exposing themselves to high-risk conditions without appropriate protective equipment, adequate safety standards, or basic job protections,” Gounardes wrote in his legislative justification. “This leaves them susceptible to contracting contagions and other dangers at a higher rate than the general public.”
Hazard payments would be in addition to and not be part of an essential worker’s basic annual salary, and would not affect any performance advancement payments, performance awards, longevity payments or other rights or benefits to which an essential worker may be entitled. A hazard payment shall be terminated upon the cessation of the state disaster emergency.
Essential employers include essential health care operations including research and laboratory services; essential infrastructure including utilities, telecommunication, airports and transportation infrastructure; essential retail including grocery stores and pharmacies; essential services including trash collection, mail, and shipping services; news media; banks and related financial institutions; providers of basic necessities to economically disadvantaged populations; construction; vendors of essential services necessary to maintain the safety, sanitation and essential operations of residences or other essential businesses; vendors that provide essential services or products, including logistics and technology support, child care and services needed to ensure the continuing operation of government agencies and provide for the health, safety and welfare of the public.
Hazard pay has been a topic of discussion during the COVID-19 pandemic. Pa. Gov. Tom Wolf created a hazard pay program with $50 million the state received from the federal CARES Act. According to Wolf’s office, the administration received more than 10,000 applications totaling nearly $900 million during the two week application window. Of those applications, more than 5,000 businesses requesting $300 million were eligible. Of those 5,000 eligible employers, 639 were awarded $50 million to support a $3 per hour increase in pay for 41,587 workers across seven eligible industries.
Vermont created a similar program, the Front-Line Employees Hazard Pay Grant PRogram, with $28 million in CARES Act funding. Eligible workers must make $25 per hour or less, log required hours working a job with an “elevated risk” and must have worked between March 13 and May 15, 2020. The hazard pay can be up to $2,000 per worker.
The HEROES Act, proposed by the U.S. House of Representatives as its second stimulus proposal, would allocate $200 billion for hazard pay. The hazard pay would be set aside in a “Heroes Fund” and provide an additional $13 per hour for essential frontline workers up to a maximum premium pay of $25,000 for workers earning less than $200,000 and a maximum of $5,000 for workers earning more than that through the end of the year. The hazard pay would be retroactive to Jan. 27, 2020.
The Heroes Fund also would provide a $15,000 recruitment incentive in the form of a sign-on bonus for first responders and health and home care workers who sign on to do essential work. It also would provide additional benefits, such as a lump sum of the hazard pay to relatives if an essential worker dies while working through the pandemic.
The COVID-19 pandemic put a spotlight on the risks faced by essential workers across many industries. From healthcare staff to grocery clerks, these employees continued serving on the frontlines despite dangers of virus exposure. In response, a push emerged in Congress to provide “hazard pay” to compensate them for these health risks. But what ultimately happened with the proposed Hazard Pay for Essential Workers Act? Did this bill aimed at mandating additional pay ever get passed into law?
Understanding the Call for Hazard Pay
Hazard pay refers to extra compensation for jobs involving hazardous duties or physical hardship The premise is that workers taking on risky roles deserve higher pay for putting themselves in harm’s way
During the pandemic advocacy groups and some Democratic lawmakers pushed for hazard pay for private and public sector employees with high virus exposure. including
- Doctors, nurses, hospital staff
- First responders
- Food supply workers
- Grocery clerks
- Pharmacy staff
- Transit workers
- Janitors and sanitation workers
- Childcare providers
- Postal service workers
These frontline staff faced illness risks quarantines lack of protective gear, and constant infection threats. Hazard pay legislation aimed to compensate them for these ongoing dangers.
Examining the Federal Hazard Pay Bill
In late 2020, House Democrats introduced the “Hazard Pay for Essential Workers Act” led by California Rep. Ro Khanna. It proposed a $13 per hour raise on top of regular wages for essential staff during the pandemic.
Key details included:
- Eligible workers getting hazard pay for up to 1,200 hours.
- Employers paying the extra hourly amount but able to apply for federal grants covering the cost.
- Both public and private sector employees qualifying.
However, the bill faced challenges gaining bipartisan support needed to pass, including:
- Narrow eligibility leaving many essential workers out
- Employer opposition over cost burdens
- Republican resistance to new spending mandates
- A price tag approaching $180 billion
The Verdict: Hazard Pay Bill Stalled in Congress
Despite union lobbying and support from progressive Democrats, the federal Hazard Pay for Essential Workers Act remained unlikely to pass Congress and become law.
Major partisan differences made agreement a hurdle. While public polling showed support, the bill failed to gain momentum with leaders focused more on broader recovery plans.
Absent a breakthrough, the road ahead looked difficult despite the worthy goals. However, the concept could resurface in future pandemic preparedness discussions.
Could States or Localities Enact Hazard Pay?
With federal action stalled, could state and local governments step up on hazard pay? The short answer is yes, this emerged as an alternative approach.
For instance, Los Angeles County approved ordinances in 2021 requiring large grocery and pharmacy retailers to provide an extra $5 per hour in hazard pay for frontline staff. Other areas like Seattle and Long Beach passed similar laws.
While legal battles followed in some places, this demonstrated local hazard pay mandates were possible by adapting minimum wage laws. Broader state-level efforts remained in early discussion stages.
The Takeaway: Positive Goals But No Federal Bill Passage Yet
The proposed “Hazard Pay for Essential Workers Act” elevated important issues despite lacking passage so far. Essential staff faced real risks warranting compensation for their service.
The COVID-19 experience offers a useful blueprint for potential future crises. While no federal bill has passed to date, the door remains open for revisiting hazard pay legislation down the road. For now, state and local initiatives can lead in this area.
The pandemic highlighted that essential employees were there when needed most. Ensuring they receive fair pay for sacrifices made remains an ongoing priority. Hazard pay offers one approach to both show gratitude and uphold economic dignity for everyday heroes.
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FAQ
Do we get hazard pay?
California does not have a law that requires employers to provide hazardous duty pay. Though some employers choose to provide hazard pay to their full-time or part-time employees.
How much is hazard pay per hour in Florida?
How much does a Hazard pay make in Florida? The typical Florida Hazard pay makes $54,356 a year, which is $26 13 per hour. Entry level positions start at $50,700 per year while most experienced workers make up to $64,106 per year.
What happens in hazard pay?
Hazard pay means additional pay for performing hazardous duty or work involving physical hardship. As an example, a physical hardship is a job duty that causes extreme physical discomfort and distress that can’t be fixed by safety gear.
How much is federal hazard pay?
In Appendix A to Subpart I of 5 CFR 550, you can find a list of the conditions and pay rates for dangerous work. No matter how many dangers an employee faces in a day, their total hazard differential pay for that day can’t be more than 25% of their basic pay (5 U.S. S. C. 5545(d)(2)).
Is hazard pay dead in the Senate?
After passing hazard pay for essential workers in the House, the bill is now being sent to the Senate. Speaker Nancy Pelosi wants the Senate to immediately take up the bill and start negotiating it. 2. Is hazard pay dead on arrival in the Senate? Not necessarily.
Who is the sponsor of the hazard pay bill?
To provide hazard pay to frontline essential workers employed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill’s titles are written by its sponsor. Sponsor. Representative for New Jersey’s 2nd congressional district. Republican. These bills were brought up in Congress before on September 22, 2020, but they were never voted on.
How does hazard pay work?
In some cases, states and local governments help pay for the costs, and in others, employers are required to pay hazard pay. Some states chose to let cities and counties decide on hazard pay rules, but 15 states have passed laws that apply to the whole state.
Where can I find Hazard Pay legislation & proposals?
State-by-state hazard pay legislation and proposals can be found in the appendix. Pay and Length: One model that states are using gives hazard pay in chunks of weeks, months, or pay periods that add up to $60 to $300 a week.
How much would a hazard pay plan cost?
Employers would apply for grants to provide workers with the $13 bonus. The American Action Forum says the plan could cost as much as $673 billion, even though the federal government would give $200 billion to these grants. Senator Romney introduced a different stand-alone hazard pay bill, Patriot Pay.
Does the Heroes Act provide hazard pay funding for essential workers?
The House passed The Heroes Act almost a week ago. Among other things, it gives $200 billion to essential workers for hazard pay. Questions about risk pay are now pouring in, just like they did when the second stimulus check was talked about. Here are the facts on seven key areas for essential workers and hazard pay.
