February 11, 2021 at 9:45am
Fairfax County government workers whose jobs put them at high risk of exposure to COVID-19 will now receive $2,000 in hazard pay, an increase from the $1,500 that county staff initially recommended in January.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the one-time bonuses on Tuesday (Feb. 9) before directing staff to look for additional funding to cover bonuses for all employees.
“It has been something to watch the response of our county employees over the past year to this pandemic,” Board Chairman Jeff McKay said after introducing the motion. “To be able to do this and have the resources available to reward these employees and thank them is absolutely critical.”
Virginia Issues Permanent COVID-19 Standard shrm.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from shrm.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
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Virginia employers should take note of how the new COVID-19 permanent standard differs from last summer’s temporary standard and ensure that training and policies are updated accordingly.
In July 2020, the Commonwealth of Virginia became the first state in the nation to enact enforceable workplace safety standards on an emergency basis to address the risks of COVID-19. On January 13, 2021, the Virginia Health and Safety Codes Board (Board) voted to finalize a permanent regulation (the Standard) that will be enforced by the Virginia Occupational Safety and Health (VOSH) Program of the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry (DOLI).
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In July 2020, the Safety and Health Codes Board of the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry approved an emergency temporary standard for COVID-19. In so doing, Virginia became the first state to issue such a temporary standard. On January 13, 2021, the Virginia Safety and Health Codes Board enacted a permanent standard for COVID-19. The “Final Permanent Standard for Infectious Disease Prevention of the SARS-CoV-2 Virus that Causes COVID-19” will be enforced by the Virginia Occupational Safety and Health program (VOSH) and is anticipated to take effect on January 27, 2021.
The permanent standard largely reiterates the provisions and requirements of the emergency temporary standard, and, for the most part, employers that are already in compliance with the emergency temporary standard will be able to comply with the permanent standard by maintaining existing policies and practices. However, there are several materia
January 28, 2021 at 1:15pm
Fairfax County should provide hazard pay to all local government workers, a union that represents more than 2,000 general county employees argues.
The county is currently considering a proposal to provide a one-time $1,500 hazard pay bonus to workers who are at high risk of exposure to COVID-19. Staff say about 4,000 employees would be eligible for the benefit.
However, SEIU Virginia 512 the Fairfax County government employees’ union says the bonus should be available to all workers, because they have all taken risks and been forced to adapt so the county can keep providing essential services during the pandemic.
As of yesterday (Wednesday), a petition urging Fairfax County supervisors to extend $1,500 hazard pay bonuses to all staff has been signed by nearly 1,000 workers, with more signatures expected to come, according to SEIU Senior Communications Specialist Rachel Mann.