County employees who continue working during the COVID-19 situation and in regular contact with the public are being compensated for the risk.
The Henry County Board of Commissioners voted at its April 7 regular meeting to approve a two-tiered plan for granting hazard pay to employees depending upon the job and the level of outside contact. County manager Cheri Hobson-Matthews said that her staff looked at other jurisdictions to see what would be appropriate, and she recommended that the board authorize her to use money from fund balance to pay for it.
The employees in the top tier will receive an additional $2.50 per hour, with an extra $1.50 per hour going to those in the second tier. Matthews said that she expects the move to cost the county no more than $800,000 but it could be much less, depending upon how long the plan is in place.
Level 1 employees were identified as those who are in direct contact with the public on a daily basis. That would include members of the E911, fire and police departments along with the Sheriff’s Office, animal control and code enforcement. Also at Level 1 are transit employees, building inspectors, facility maintenance personnel, risk management, stormwater, DOT and tech services. Grounds crews in the Parks and Recreation Department and those who deliver Meals on Wheels are also in the top group.
“These are people who have the potential of direct impact from COVID-19 patients,” as Mat-thews put it. “The next tier is those coming into the office who could have exposure to others.”
Level 2 employees include the human resources, community development and building departments along with the courts, finance office and the airport. Others in that category include communications, facility grounds crews, elections staff, the Tax Commissioner’s and Tax Assessor’s offices, Senior Services, and Parks and Recreation administration. Matthews said part-time permanent employees would be included in the plan.
She recommended that it be approved with an effective date of March 17, which was when the emergency declaration was implemented. The projected end was set at April 21, which is when the current shelter-in-place order is scheduled to end. If that order is extended, so will the hazard pay.
Matthews updated the board on how county employees are continuing to work during this period of time, with many working from home and some in their offices performing necessary functions. The Building and Plan Review Department is currently conducting inspections twice a week and processing permits through the week, receiving their necessary information in a drop box outside the administration building and going directly to each site.
Transit drivers are providing trips necessary to medically fragile patients for needed treatments and Senior Services employees continue to provide Meals on Wheels to seniors in need, Matthews said.
