Kaiser Permanente and workers on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic have forged an agreement that will help employees with childcare assistance, temporary shelter and extra leave if they are tested or diagnosed with COVID-19.
The measures provide support for 80,000 workers represented by the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions.
“This agreement will make a real difference at a time when we need every healthcare worker on the job and focused on taking care of COVID-19 patients,” said Juanita Kamhoot, a surgical services worker with the healthcare provider.
The measures provide support for 80,000 workers represented by the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions. (Photo by Bryan Chan/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
The agreement focuses on three key areas:
Childcare assistance: Kaiser employees who work 32 hours a week or more will be eligible for a grant of $300 a week to pay for childcare for children 14 or younger, as well as disabled, dependent children. It can be used to pay for their own caregiver, providing they are not a spouse or domestic partner, or to find child care outside of the home.
The stipend will last until May 31 and will be pro-rated for employees who work 20 to 32 hours a week. It will provide a minimum of $210 weekly.
Temporary shelter: Kaiser will work with hotel chains to provide alternative shelter for employees who test positive for COVID-19, work a double shift, work multiple 12-hour shifts, have fewer than 8 hours between shifts, or have a household member who has COVID-19 or is in a CDC-defined vulnerable group.
Eligibility applies to employees working at least 20 hours a week between April 13 and May 31.
Eighty additional hours of leave: This applies to employees who work more than 20 hours a week and test positive for COVID-19. Employees who are sent home from Kaiser and are awaiting a test result also will be covered.
