Despite how the Healthcare Worker Bonus is being touted by New York’s government representatives, the program’s rules regarding who is an eligible employer and who is an eligible employee are deeply flawed, unfair and discriminatory.
The state’s Healthcare Worker Bonus Program is an acknowledgement by the NYS Legislature of the tireless, hard work that frontline healthcare workers have provided to our most vulnerable citizens, the sick and elders among us, throughout the pandemic. While the effort is laudable, unfortunately the Department of Health is picking and choosing amongst those frontline workers, with some deemed eligible for the bonus and others not.
“It’s outrageous that many of our frontline workers are deemed ineligible for the $3,000 bonuses,” comments Lisa Newcomb, the Executive Director of the Empire State Association of Assisted Living. “Every front line worker should get this bonus. Imagine having to explain to our dining room, activities, foodservice, and housekeeping staff that the state has not deemed them worthy of the bonuses that they are giving to other frontline workers including their counterparts working in nursing homes and hospitals. This is patently unfair. “
According to Newcomb, the Department of Health would like to make the owners of private pay Adult Care Facilities and Assisted Living Residences responsible for paying their employees the bonus. “They believe these owners can just pass along the cost to their residents,” she observes. “Unfortunately, that logic is based on a major misperception, since neither the owners nor the residents are affluent. These providers, and their residents, cannot sustain the increased cost of doing business in a state that continues to ignore them while providing relief to other healthcare settings. It sends a very negative message.”
Newcomb believes that all frontline healthcare employees who worked tirelessly and courageously throughout COVID deserve the state’s support and this bonus. “State government has the discretion to change this policy to include our frontline workers and should do so,” she concludes.
Empire State Association of Assisted Living is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to strengthening New York State’s assisted living sector and promoting the best interests of providers and residents.
Founded in 1979, ESAAL is the only association that exclusively represents the assisted living industry, serving over 330 Assisted Living and Adult Care Facilities throughout New York State. These member residences are home to more than 30,000 seniors. Visit esaal.org for more information.
