B.C. COVID-19 Temporary Pandemic Pay

B.C. COVID-19 temporary pandemic pay

Yesterday, the provincial government announced it will provide “hero pay” to essential workers in health care, social services, and corrections, as part of a cost-shared program with the federal government.

The $4 per hour wage increase will be provided in addition to increases due to wage leveling in the long-term care and assisted living sector.

Front-line workers will receive temporary pandemic pay, a lump-sum payment of $4 per hour for a 16-week period, starting on March 15, 2020. Eligible workers will receive the payment directly through their employer and do not need to apply.

The government has outlined that the pandemic pay will apply to the long-term care, assisted living, and publicly-funded home and community care sectors. BCCPA has requested clarification from the Ministry on whether the hero pay is applicable to the independent living and private-pay long-term care operators.

Eligible employees will only receive pandemic pay for straight-time hours worked starting on March 15th, 2020, and continuing over a 16-week period. It does not apply to the time when employees were not in the workplace due to vacation or authorized paid leaves (such as sick leave).

Occupations eligible for wage leveling will include direct nursing care, direct allied care, and administration/clerical positions, as well as non-clinical support services. Management staff, fee-for-service providers, and employees on leave are not eligible.

With the provincial focus on implementing single-site orders and wage leveling, more information about pandemic pay is expected from the government later in the summer.

We will keep you informed as we find out more about this lump sum payment.

Karen L. Baillie, RN, BScN, MHA, CHE, FCCHL

Chief Executive Officer

MENNO PLACE