VICTORY! Kaiser Union Members Win Hero Bonus and Extended COVID Benefits

When we’re united in our Union, we win! The 85,000 members of SEIU and the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions were firm in our resolve to win extensions to the COVID childcare and paid leave benefits that were set to expire this month, along with a Hero Bonus. 

Now Kaiser has announced that they are going to meet our Hero Bonus demand with a 100% pay out of PSP in March 2021, and they are extending the COVID-19 paid leave benefit through March 31 and the childcare grant through April 3! See below for details.

This is a tremendous victory for us. We appreciate Kaiser for recognizing the hard work, dedication, and courage we demonstrate by continuing to show up and care for our patients and our communities every day--but we must remember that this is the direct result of our collective action as SEIU and CKPU members. 

COVID-19 Paid Leave

Up to 80 hours COVID-19 Paid Leave for employees who are required to report to work away from home - through 3/31/2021

• Provides employees on KP payroll enterprise wide who are required to report to work away from home up to 80 hours of COVID-19 Paid Leave* to be used if they have been placed off work to self-quarantine due to COVID-19 symptoms, or orders from a doctor or federal, state, or local authorities
• All Employees required to report to work at a KP facility (e.g. RNs, EVS workers, receptionists, pharmacy workers, etc.) or directed to work at a non-KP facility (e.g. as a home health professional) are eligible
• All Employees (including non benefit eligible) on KP payroll are eligible up to the 80 hrs; 80 hours are prorated based on actual hours, 0.5 FTE would receive 40 hours
• Maximum benefit for eligible employees is 80 hours of COVID-19 Paid leave
• Employees are eligible for the COVID-19 Paid leave through March 31, 2021
• If Public benefit becomes available that is comparable, this program will retire upon the effective date of the Public program, otherwise, program retires on March 31, 2021
• Eligibility is through March 31, 2021
• The hours provided by this program expire April 30, 2021

Note: The up to 80 hours available leave will refresh January 1, 2021. Unused hours in 2020 do not roll over.

Childcare Grant

Short term childcare grant of $200 per week for employees who are required to report to work at KP – effective 12/20/2020 – 4/3/2021

• Facility (i.e. RNs, EVS workers, receptionists, pharmacy workers, etc.) or directed to care for patients in person at a non-KP facility $200 per week grant which enables full time, part time and per diems working at least 20 hours per week who are required to report to work at a KP facility for their scheduled shifts or directed to care for patients in person at a non-KP facility to secure childcare for school-aged children* (and disabled dependent children)
• Employees working remotely / at home are not eligible
• Can be applied for weekly; payments will be issued on the next on cycle payroll
• Employees and per diems must provide weekly attestation that includes hours worked in a facility, caregiver name, phone number, address, and email. KP reserves the right to validate this information
• Full-time defined as 32+ hours, school-aged defined as age 14 or younger
• Eligible hours are those hours worked in a facility (time off benefits do not count towards calculation)
• Grant amount will be prorated if worked less than 32 hours; minimum grant will be $140 per week
• Amount prorated for employees who work less than 32 hours (actual hours / 32)
• All employees and per diems must work at least 20 hrs in a facility in the week that the Grant is being requested
• One grant per household
• Eligible caregivers exclude spouse or domestic partner residing in the child’s home. Other relatives are eligible.
• Program expires April 3, 2021
• If Public benefit becomes available that is comparable, this program will retire upon the effective date of the Public program, otherwise, program expires on April 3, 2021

*Includes any eligible child an employee has as a covered dependent