President-elect Joe Biden will push for an OSHA standard to protect workers from COVID-19.
By Nikki Johnson-Bolden
Jan 20, 2021
President-elect Joe Biden announced a $1.9 trillion plan to benefit workers and instill workplace safety standards related to the pandemic on Jan. 14, according to Bloomberg Law.
The proposal is intended to be the first part of a two-step plan. It specifies providing “relief to individuals and businesses” that have struggled due to COVID-19. One part of the plan encourages OSHA to issue a coronavirus protection standard, as there are currently only guidelines, not an official standard.
The proposal also mentions extending enhanced unemployment benefits through September 2021. The extra federal benefit would also increase from $300 a week to $400 a week. Congress’ emergency paid leave mandate would be expanded under the plan as well. Paid sick and paid family and medical leave for COVID-19-related circumstances would also be mandated.
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Editor s note: This is the second part in a two-part Missoulian investigation into how nurses are faring during the pandemic in Montana while being denied hazard pay by their employers.
Working during a deadly pandemic, with the stress of trying to protect themselves from the virus and having to watch patients suffer anxiety-wracked deaths, is taking a huge mental toll on nurses in Montana.
Adding to that pain, almost all of them have been denied hazard pay in union negotiations with their employers. We should have hazard pay, said Geri Unbehend, an emergency-room registered nurse at Community Medical Center in Missoula. Anyone working in the hospital should be getting hazard pay. Housekeepers who have to clean those rooms should be getting it. It can affect anybody.
SANTA ANA, Calif. The city of Santa Ana is looking into giving grocery and pharmacy employees an extra $4 an hour in hazard pay, a temporary boost in their paychecks for being essential workers during the pandemic.
The Santa Ana City Council last week directed city staff to explore the pros and cons of such an ordinance, according to the Orange County Register.
Santa Ana officials looking into giving grocery, pharmacy workers $4 an hour in hazard pay
KABC
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SANTA ANA, Calif. (KABC) The city of Santa Ana is looking into giving grocery and pharmacy employees an extra $4 an hour in hazard pay, a temporary boost in their paychecks for being essential workers during the pandemic.
The Santa Ana City Council last week directed city staff to explore the pros and cons of such an ordinance, according to the Orange County Register.
One councilwoman wants the pay boost for workers in companies that have at least 300 employees nationwide, with at least 10 workers in each store, the news outlet reports.