Pandemic pay continues for contracted nurses but not most Westmoreland County employees

Most Westmoreland County employees won’t see additional pay this month for working during the covid-19 pandemic, but commissioners Thursday agreed to a bump in wages for workers from a private company providing care at the county-owned nursing home.

The pandemic pay was included in a contract extension with Dedicated Nursing Associates of Delmont to provide staff to assist with operations at Westmoreland Manor in Hempfield. Commissioners Sean Kertes and Gina Cerilli approved the extension through Jan. 30.

“It’s the only company that can supply us with nurses so, if we don’t have them, we won’t have enough staff to care for our residents at the Manor,” Cerilli said.

The company has augmented staff at the Manor since last summer. Commissioners originally hired the firm at a time when all staff at the Manor were earning additional wages for working during the pandemic.

The additional pandemic pay for most county employees at the Manor ended in late December when the county exhausted the $31.5 million it was allocated as part of the federal CARES Act.

A handful of Manor nurses who work with infected residents continue to receive pandemic pay, but all other staffers are receiving normal wages, according to county officials.

Commissioner Doug Chew objected to the contract renewal, saying it was unfair to those no longer receiving additional pay. He suggested the county could have explored hiring a company that did not require pandemic pay for employees.

“Staff is not being treated equitably at the moment. Every part of county government, not just Westmoreland Manor, involves interaction with the public and inherent risk in that interaction. We need to have a serious discussion about all aspects of hazard pay and start 2021 off differently. There just aren’t enough resources for everyone to receive it,” Chew said.

Westmoreland Manor has been among the hardest hit by the coronavirus, with more than 170 residents and 80 staffers infected. Cerilli said one resident tested positive Wednesday, and there were five residents and six employees with active cases Thursday.

Residents and staff received first doses of the coronavirus vaccine in late December and are scheduled to receive their second doses next week.

Meanwhile, vaccinations for other county workers have yet to be scheduled, and employees in other county departments continue to miss time because of coronavirus infections. The county’s adult probation office shut down for two days last week because of a positive case. The clerk of courts office announced daily lunch hour closings for additional cleaning after four more staffers there tested positive.

Human Resources Director Alexis Bevan confirmed pandemic pay is no longer issued to most county staff. Nurses assigned to the Manor’s covid unit, county prison guards and a handful of children’s bureau caseworkers assigned to field work still receive hazard pay.

Commissioners said a possible return to hazard pay for all employees will be determined by any additional federal or state funding available this year.

“Hopefully, with the new administration coming in, we’ll see more CARES money,” Cerilli said.