The Push for Covid-19 Hazard Pay: Bills, Laws, and Ongoing Efforts

The Covid-19 pandemic placed frontline workers across the country at tremendous risk as they continued serving and caring for others. Many unions, workers, and advocates pushed for hazard pay to compensate essential employees for this heightened danger. While federal legislation stalled, state and local governments enacted various policies, prompting disputes and ongoing efforts to provide Covid hazard pay.

Background of Covid Hazard Pay

Hazard pay refers to additional compensation for work involving physical hardship or elevated risk It has frequently applied to military combat zones or highly dangerous civilian professions. With Covid-19, many argued that frontline healthcare workers and other essential staff faced comparable jeopardy deserving of bonus pay

Key arguments for Covid hazard pay included

• Exposure to a deadly, highly infectious disease
• Long hours caring for the severely ill
• Emotional toll and trauma witnessed
• Lack of adequate PPE early on
• Potential to spread the virus to families
• Ongoing stress and exhaustion

Many unions incorporated hazard pay proposals into contract negotiations and collective bargaining with employers. Hazard pay emerged as a national issue needing consistent policy.

Federal Efforts for Pandemic Hazard Pay

Senator Mitt Romney proposed the Patriot Pay Act in May 2020. It would give essential workers an extra $12 an hour from March to July 2020, for a total of up to $1,920 a month. Healthcare workers could get up to $2,880 more. However, the Senate rejected this temporary hazard pay.

In July 2020, House Democrats passed the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act, encompassing $190 billion for hazard pay to essential workers. Hospitals and employers would receive funds to distribute as bonus pay to staff who regularly interacted with patients or the public. Police, firefighters, teachers and transportation workers qualified The HEROES Act stalled in the Senate due to disputes over the size and scope of Covid relief packages

A $3 trillion cut to the HEROES Act was passed by the House in November 2020. It earmarked $180 billion for essential worker hazard pay, including:

• Up to $10,000 for health care workers over 6 months
• Up to $5,000 for other essential workers based on hours

This revision also idled in the Senate. Bipartisan negotiations produced the $900 billion December 2020 Covid relief package, which lacked any hazard pay provisions. While federal essential worker pay never passed, state and local governments enacted varied policies.

State and Local Hazard Pay Measures

Since there was no overall federal solution, hazard pay became a problem for each state, city, and employer. Responses fragmented across jurisdictions:

• Vermont approved $1,200 to $2,000 bonuses for frontline state employees in 2020.

• Philadelphia allocated $25 million for contract tracing and direct care workers earning under $100,000 annually.

• The Houston Health Department distributed $5 million in hazard pay up to $1,000 per employee.

• Minnesota provided $250 million in hero pay for frontline workers earning under $350,000.

• Seattle passed a new payroll tax on large corporations to fund $4 per hour in hazard pay for grocery workers during the pandemic.

• California approved one-time $500 to $1,000 grants for state-licensed hospital and ICU nurses under a temporary Nurse Training Fund.

Beyond one-off bonus programs, some governments enacted ongoing hourly wage premiums for the duration of public emergency declarations. Unions also negotiated hazard pay provisions into new contracts, especially for nurses and healthcare staff.

Covid Hazard Pay Disputes and Challenges

Despite piecemeal efforts, comprehensive pandemic hazard pay failed to materialize, spurring continued advocacy and legal conflicts.

• Unions pressed lawsuits seeking hazard pay denied to members under existing contracts.

• Workers not covered under state or local programs protested for inclusion.

• Essential corporations resisted new local taxes funding employee hazard pay.

• Governments weighed back pay demands against strained budgets.

One major dispute unfolded in Hawaii, where the Hawaii Government Employees Association demanded up to $50 million in unpaid hazard stipends for state and county workers under emergency proclamations. This remains contested, as governments face budget constraints.

As the threat diminished, some jurisdictions wound down Covid hazard pay programs despite union objections. For example, Seattle ended grocery worker hazard pay in 2021 even amid company lawsuits fighting the policy.

Ongoing Hazard Pay Initiatives

Though most temporary Covid bonus pay programs expired, the push for essential worker pay persists:

• Unions continue demanding hazard compensation through lawsuits and negotiations.

• Legislation proposed in Hawaii would mandate premium pay during any future emergency proclamation.

• Lawmakers in some states plan bills to attract and retain healthcare staff through higher pay.

• Some unions incorporated new hazard pay provisions into recent contract renewals should another health crisis emerge.

• Advocates maintain the federal government should fund essential pay continuity plans for future outbreaks.

While large-scale Covid hazard pay failed, the movement increased focus on compensating frontline workers amid heightened risk. As governments and employers debate the issue, new policies or agreements may emerge responding to demands for emergency pay equity. Essential workers argue bonus pay acknowledges their service and sacrifices keeping society functioning through an unprecedented pandemic.

Key Takeaways on Covid Hazard Pay

• Covid hazard pay aimed to compensate high-risk essential work during public health emergency declarations.

• Federal hazard pay bills passed the House but stalled in the Senate due to cost disputes.

• State and local governments enacted varying Covid bonus pay policies and programs.

• Unions continue pushing lawsuits and negotiations for denied hazard compensation.

• Disagreements weigh budgets against honoring essential worker demands.

• Advocacy persists for standby pay equity plans before future outbreaks.

Despite limited policies, the Covid pandemic strengthened worker voices and awareness around health crisis hazard pay. This concept will likely resurface whenever America faces the next public emergency threatening frontline services.