New Bill Proposed to Provide Hazard Pay for Essential Workers During the Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the critical role that essential workers play in keeping our society functioning. These frontline workers have bravely shown up day after day putting themselves at risk to perform jobs that cannot be done remotely. In recognition of their vital contributions and sacrifice a new congressional bill has been introduced that would provide essential workers with pandemic hazard pay.

Overview of the Proposed Essential Workers Bill

Adams, a congresswoman from North Carolina’s 12th district, introduced the Protecting Wages of Essential Workers Act of 2022 in December 2022. The goal of this bill is to make sure that essential workers get extra pay for the health risks they have had to deal with during the pandemic.

The bill would protect a portion of essential workers’ wages from being garnished or seized. Specifically, it would shield $1000 per week or 75% of take-home pay, whichever amount is higher, from debt collection or other legal actions. This protected income would be indexed to inflation annually.

Background on Pandemic Hazard Pay

Hazard pay refers to additional compensation for working dangerous or risky jobs. It is commonly given to first responders, healthcare workers, and others serving on the frontlines who accept heightened personal risk

Earlier in the pandemic, there was discussion of providing COVID-19 hazard pay for essential workers through congressional legislation. A previous bill, the Heroes Act passed by the House of Representatives in May 2020, included hazard pay funding but ultimately did not become law.

Proponents of pandemic hazard pay argue it is a matter of fairness. Many of the people who provide care, food, sanitation, public safety, education, and other basic services put their health at risk for low pay. Extra pay would recognize their sacrifices.

Details of the Protecting Wages Act

The Protecting Wages Act takes a different approach to providing financial relief for essential workers. Rather than giving direct hazard pay, it aims to protect a portion of earned wages from legal actions that could divert that income elsewhere.

Specifically, the bill would:

• Shield $1000 per week of take-home (after-tax) pay from garnishment, debt collection, seizing by creditors, etc.

• Protect 75% of weekly take-home income if that amount is higher than $1000.

• Index the protected amounts annually based on inflation.

• Apply to wages earned during the COVID-19 public health emergency period.

By protecting income essential workers rely on, the bill aims to provide financial stability and recognize their service during an unprecedented crisis.

Which Workers Would Benefit

The Protecting Wages Act defines essential workers broadly. It would apply protections to those whose work is deemed essential under state or federal pandemic response laws.

This generally covers frontline workers in healthcare, food services, transportation, education, sanitation, public safety, and other critical sectors.

Essential workers earning up to $200,000 annually would qualify based on the proposed bill language. These income limits aim to exclude high-paid executives and managers.

What Problems Does the Bill Aim to Address

There are a few challenges and realities the Protecting Wages Act tries to address:

• Many essential workers earn low or moderate incomes and live paycheck to paycheck. Extra hazard pay would provide financial stability.

• Essential workers face immense risks of viral exposure but often lack adequate sick leave or health insurance.

• Retail, food service, and healthcare jobs dominate the list of essential work. These roles tend to pay modest wages without great benefits.

• Garnishment reduces much-needed income for daily expenses. This bill would prevent creditors diverting funds.

• Essential workers sacrifice time with family members to protect public health. Added pay recognizes their service.

Overall, the bill aims to both symbolically and financially support essential workers who keep working in high-risk settings amidst the ongoing pandemic.

What Do Essential Workers Say About Hazard Pay?

Many essential workers have spoken out in favor of receiving additional pandemic compensation.

Hospital staff, grocery clerks, janitors, postal workers, and similar frontline workers have all cited the health risks they undertake and the need for hazard pay to offset those risks.

However, there are diverging perspectives on how hazard pay should be implemented. Some advocate for direct, temporary compensation like bonuses or hourly wage increases. Others prefer more lasting changes like permanent raises or expanded health benefits.

Generally, essential workers seem to agree they deserve recognition and compensation for performing vital services that cannot be done remotely. But approaches may differ.

Challenges the Bill Faces

Despite the noble intent, the Protecting Wages Act does face a few hurdles to becoming law.

• There is uncertainty if it has enough congressional support to pass both the House and Senate. Prior hazard pay provisions failed to make it through Congress.

• Fiscal conservatives argue temporary pandemic funds have already been overspent. They may resist new spending measures.

• It protects income already earned rather than providing additional hazard pay funds.

• Opponents argue garnishment protection could shield workers failing to pay lawful debts.

However, the Act’s sponsors can negotiate the language and build support. The public generally backs compensating frontline workers.

How the Bill Would Help Essential Workers

If passed into law, the Protecting Wages Act would benefit essential workers in a few key ways:

• Shield income from garnishment they rely on to cover basic living expenses. This provides financial stability.

• Allow essential workers to keep more of the pay they earn through their hazardous work.

• Offer inflation-adjusted protection that maintains purchasing power over time.

• Help essential workers avoid choosing between health risks and meeting basic needs.

• Establish legal guardrails restricting creditors from seizing essential income. This prevents added money issues.

While not traditional hazard pay, the bill would still recognize essential workers and support their families economically.

Building Public Support

For the Protecting Wages Act to succeed, it will need strong public backing. Concerned citizens can help in several ways:

• Contact your representatives in Congress and urge them to support this bill.

• Write letters and make calls to congressional leadership stressing the need to compensate essential workers.

• Start petitions and use social media to rally support. Tag your members of Congress to get their attention.

• Send a clear message that voters support pandemic hazard pay for frontline workers who have sacrificed for the greater good.

• Share stories of essential workers you know and the risks they undertake at work each day. Put faces to the issue.

• Coordinate call-in days where people flood Congressional offices asking them to pass the Act. Make lawmakers listen.

With enough public pressure, congressional leaders may be convinced to advance this important legislation to support America’s everyday heroes.

Looking Ahead

While the future of the Protecting Wages Act remains uncertain, it has brought renewed attention to getting financial relief to essential employees.

Ideally, the bill can be amended and passed through Congress with bipartisan support. However, even if this specific proposal stalls, the broader effort to provide pandemic hazard pay can and should continue.

Essential workers have more than earned fair compensation for their risks and contributions. Our society owes them a tremendous debt of gratitude. It is up to all of us to demand our government acts to properly recognize these courageous individuals who continue meeting our most basic needs despite unprecedented challenges. They are true heroes.