Healthcare Worker Retention Pay

 

It took the COVID-19 pandemic for the public to finally understand what SEIU members have always known: health care workers are essential to our survival. California’s Nurses and Health Care Professionals have long endured dangerous and punishing working conditions. We’ve experienced the ordeal and physical strain of fighting to keep the public safe during a fast-spreading, deadly and prolonged event.

 

We know that the extraordinary commitment and sacrifice we make every day deserves more than lip service. That’s why SEIU members fought for and won more than $1 billion to recognize and retain California’s underappreciated healthcare workforce.

 

WHAT IS RETENTION PAY?
Retention Pay is a one-time payment of up to $1,500* for all healthcare workers working in:

  1. Hospitals
  2. Skilled nursing facilities
  3. Acute psychiatric hospitals
  4. Medical groups affiliated with a hospital
  5. Clinics affiliated with a hospital system

AM I ELIGIBLE?
Once the program begins, if you have fulfilled the 91-day qualifying work period, you may be eligible for retention pay as described below.

 

Full-time workers:

  1. Work on-site and are designated as full-time by their employer or
  2. Have worked more than 400 hours during the 91-day qualifying period.

Part-time workers:

  1. Work on-site and are designated as part-time by their employer or
  2. Have worked at least 100 and less than 400 hours during the 91-day qualifying period.

*Full-time workers receive a bonus payment of $1,000, and part-time workers receive a bonus payment of $750. Both full and part-time workers may be eligible for up to $500 in matching funds. A qualifying matching bonus payment is one that was received between December 1st 2021, and December 31st, 2022.  

 

Once employers receive funding from the state, they will have 60 days to distribute bonuses to eligible workers. Workers should receive the funds in late 2022 or early 2023, depending on the time it takes for the program to begin.

 

If you have questions, please reach out to your Union Rep/Organizer. You can find their contact info on our hospital pages.