Perlmutter Cosponsors Legislation to Provide Hazard Pay for Essential Workers During COVID-19 Crisis

Press Release

U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter (CO-07) cosponsored legislation unveiled today by Rep. Matt Cartwright (PA-08) to provide hazard pay to health care professionals and other essential workers. The Coronavirus Frontline Workers Fair Pay Act compensates workers for the risks they are taking and for the public services they are providing during this unprecedented public health and economic emergency.

The proposal would ensure high-risk health care workers receive a hazard pay increase of $18.50 per hour, and other essential workers receive an increase of $13 per hour. Pay would be capped at $35,000 and $25,000, respectively. It would be retroactive to January 31, 2020 and would be available through the end of this year.

Specifically, this proposal would provide:

-High-risk health care workers would receive a flat rate hazard pay increase of $18.50 an hour, capped at $35,000 for workers earning less than $200,000 annually and $15,000 for workers earning over $200,000 annually.
-Other essential workers would receive a flat rate hazard pay increase of $13 an hour, capped at $25,000 for workers earning less than $200,000 annually and $5,000 for those earning over $200,000 annually.
-Telework hours are not covered.
-The hazard pay timeline is January 31, 2020 - December 31, 2020.
-Essential workers" and "high risk health care workers" would be eligible to receive back pay from January 31, 2020.
-Self-employed individuals and independent contractors would be eligible for hazard pay.
-Failure by employers to pay eligible employees the proper hazard pay amount would be treated as a violation of section 6 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206).

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