Pandemic bonuses approved for Westmoreland Manor staff

Nurses, administrators and support staff at Westmoreland Manor will receive bonuses for their work over the last 20 months during the coronavirus pandemic.

County commissioners on Thursday voted to divert about $670,000 of the $1.5 million in federal American Rescue Plan funds awarded directly to the county-owned nursing home this year to supplement staff pay.

“This is to reward people who have stayed with health care for the last year. It’s not as good as a $6,000 sign-on bonus for RNs who are new to the county, but it’s a start,” said Commissioner Doug Chew.

Ongoing nursing shortages at the Manor prompted commissioners to pay out bonuses to new hires, an amount that was increased to $6,000 this summer. Signing bonuses are also given out to other new hires at the 408-bed facility in Hempfield.

On-duty Manor staff for much of 2020 earned time-and-half for regular hours worked during the pandemic. That additional pay was halted in 2021.

The bonuses approved for existing staff will be paid out in installments over the next several weeks, according to Lacey Perry, the county’s human resources coordinator. The money is not part of the $105 million in American Rescue Plan funds allocated to the county.

All direct care workers, including nurses, will receive a $2,200 bonus. Nondirect care staff, such as dietary and maintenance workers, will receive $1,100. Nonunion workers, including administrators, will receive $1,700.

At Thursday’s meeting, Sarah Lombardo called on commissioners to use coronavirus relief money to reward nursing home workers but opposed awarding bonuses to administrators.

“It’s insulting to me and fellow union members,” said Lombardo, a Manor nurse.

Service Employees International Union Healthcare Pennsylvania represents unionized staff at the Manor.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, 214 Manor residents have contracted covid, including 20 whose deaths were attributed to the virus. Another 133 cases were diagnosed among facility staffers, according to state statistics.

Staffing shortages was a concern at the Manor for years and continued as the pandemic surged.

In addition to sign-on bonuses, county officials also retained private nursing companies to augment the facility’s staff.

Commissioners also approved a program to hire independent nurses to handle shift work to fill staffing gaps.

“You see hiring signs for all nursing homes throughout the county, and this is a way to incentive working at Westmoreland Manor,” said Commissioner Sean Kertes.

The program could include retired nurses or those on staff at other facilities looking to take on additional work without having to commit full-time to Westmoreland Manor. In lieu of benefits and pension contributions, the county will increase hourly pay for the part-time staffers. Registered nurses will receive up to $45 an hour, with licensed practical nurses and nurse aides receiving salaries that range between $30 to 40 an hour.

“This is an opportunity for people who have jobs at Excela or anywhere else that maybe want to pick up an extra eight- or 12-hour shift on the weekends,” said Commissioner Gina Cerilli Thrasher.