DC 37 fought hard to create a fund for “essential pay” for members on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks in part to that effort, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the state set aside $1.2 billion in the budget to fund bonuses up to $3,000 for health care and mental hygiene workers at public and private hospitals, health care facilities, and related employers providing health care-related functions. The New York State Health Care and Mental Hygiene Worker Bonus covers the period from Oct. 1, 2021, to March 31, 2024.

The program provides bonuses to frontline health and mental hygiene workers who provide hands-on assistance with health care services. Currently, the program includes full-time and part-time employees, temporary, and contracted workers in 101 H+H titles, with additional titles in Mayoral agencies to be determined. The union is advocating for the largest possible group of titles that have been or will be engaged in health care, including in H+H and mayoral agencies where employees provide care to patients, clients, or residents. The union is also advocating for members working at nonprofit, private sector organizations that provide care and are funded through the state offices of Persons with Developmental Disabilities, Mental Health, Department for the Aging, or have Medicaid funding. Title equations will be made where the title does not match the state title but the function is the same.

Vesting periods covered for the bonus are:

1. Oct. 1, 2021 – March 31, 2022
2. April 1, 2022 – Sept. 30, 2022
3. Oct. 1, 2022 – March 31, 2023
4. April 1, 2023 – Sept. 30, 2023
5. Oct. 1, 2023 – March 31, 2024

Full-time, eligible employees who work at least two of the above periods will receive up to a maximum of $3,000, or $1,500 per period, before taxes. Part-time employees will receive a pro-rated amount. Payments will be made in December for employees who have completed one or two vesting periods. Employees who earn a $125,000 or more annual base salary (excluding bonuses or overtime pay) are not eligible for this bonus.

• Staff must be on payroll in order to receive the payment.
• Retired or separated staff are not included.
• Staff on full-time release to the union are not included.
• Eligible staff in these titles are being notified directly by H+H.

H+H employees, and all employees, with outstanding time sheets must be sure they are up to date with their timekeeper for the period dating back to Oct. 1, 2021. This will be used to calculate hours worked, especially for part time employees who work full time.

Employers must submit an application on behalf of eligible employees. Employees should contact their employer’s HR department regarding their application process and when to fill out any forms. The first step is for the employer to submit the titles that are eligible and receive approval from the state. Your employer is required to submit reimbursement claims to the state and make bonus payments to all eligible employees or face penalties, including suspension from the Medicaid program.

The state has indicated that the program will expand to education sector employers in October.

The union cannot answer any questions about specific titles at this time. For up-to-date information about the Bonus program, please visit the HWB Program Portal or FAQ page. For questions about the bonus program and application process, please contact the Health Care Worker Bonus (HWB) Call Center at 866.682.0077.

DC 37 will continue fighting at the bargaining table for essential pay for all members who have continuously worked during the pandemic.

IMPORTANT: HEALTH CARE WORKER BONUS UPDATE

DC 37 fought to create a fund for essential pay for members on the front line of the COVID-19 pandemic. The New York State Health Care and Mental Hygiene Worker Bonus covers the vesting period from Oct. 1, 2021 to Mar. 31, 2024. The program pays bonuses of up to $3,000 to eligible full and part-time employees, temporary and contracted workers. Read more about the bonus program HERE.

In the submission for the first vesting period of the NYS Health Care Worker bonus, over 10,000 DC 37 members were included in the reporting to the State. This includes Mayoral Agencies and NYC Health and Hospitals, EMS workers, School Nurses, Social Workers, Patient Care Associates and a number of titles involved in direct patient care. The first vesting period covered the time period Oct. 1, 2021 to Mar. 31, 2022. The second vesting period covers April 1, 2022 to Sept. 30, 2022. We are aware that some employees may have been missed in the first vesting period and therefore the employers will submit their names, if eligible, during the next submission period which opens on Oct. 1.

If you believe your work was involved in direct patient care and did not receive an attestation letter from your employer, please contact your HR department first, and then your union representative. The program continues until Mar. 31, 2024, with a maximum of two vesting periods per eligible employee.

Employers must submit an application on behalf of eligible employees. Bonuses will be paid in December 2022. For program details, contact the Health Care Worker Bonus (HWB) Call Center at 866-682-0077.

The state has indicated that the program will expand to certain limited titles in the Education sector that deal with Medicaid in October.

DC 37 will continue fighting at the bargaining table for essential pay for all members who have continuously worked during the pandemic.