Passavant Memorial Homes Family of Services, which serves those with intellectual disabilities, autism and behavioral health needs, boosted the pay of about 1,100 frontline employees by $5 per hour for this week in recognition of those employees who have maintained services during the covid pandemic, a company official said.

“People went above and beyond” their duties during the pandemic, and this is Passavant’s way of awarding them during the national Direct Support Professional Recognition Week, said Zachary Senft, chief operating officer for Passavant Memorial Homes, which is based in Marshall.

The company has about 140 community residential homes in Western Pennsylvania and Delaware, providing care to about 350 people. Of its frontline workers, about 400 are in Westmoreland County and 355 are in Allegheny County.

“Nobody shied away” from working during the covid pandemic, Senft said.

The pay raise for the direct support workers started Sunday and will continue through Saturday. Anyone working overtime during this week will get an additional $5 per hour atop their overtime pay rate, Senft said.

“While our resources are limited, we are committed to continuously supporting and recognizing DSPs,” said Rick D. Senft, president of Passavant Memorial Homes.

This pay increase is in addition to the raises provided last year during the covid pandemic, when the state rejected its request for Paycheck Protection Program aid. Passavant Memorial Homes paid workers an extra $3 an hour from August 2020 through late October, which cost the company about $2 million.

Passavant Memorial Homes, like so many other employers across the region, is challenged with finding employees, Zach Senft said.

“We’re always seeking more employees. We have 150 open positions across all of our homes,” Zach Senft said.

To attract employees, Senft said the company is offering a $2,500 sign-on bonus for new full-time employees and a $2,500 bonus to an employee who refers someone who takes a full-time job at Passavant.

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