SHARE Blog Digest: Bonuses, Scholarships, Member Spotlights, and More . . .

APPRECIATION BONUSES 

As you probably know, UMass Memorial is giving an Appreciation Bonus for all the hard work done by caregivers during the COVID surge. Many SHARE members were surprised and pleased when they heard about the bonus. It’s the right thing to do, and not a small amount of money when you add it up for all the employees. COVID continues to be incredibly hard for everyone, and the hospital is trying to recognize what people are going through, and show their appreciation. Read more.  

EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS & ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIPS 

SHARE members and their families members qualify for a number of college scholarships and educational benefits, including free online degree programs. Some recently-announced scholarships for graduating high-school seniors have approaching deadlines. SHARE families have won these scholarships now for the past several years in a row . . . we’d love to see more students benefit from these opportunities!  

REFERRAL BONUSES 

Do you know someone who might be interested to work at UMass Memorial? The hospital is currently offering $500 Referral Bonuses to SHARE members and other hospital staff for their help in recruiting new employees to PCA jobs (both Inpatient PCA 1 and 2, and PCA2s in Ambulatory) and Medical Office Assistant (MOA) positions. Make sure your friend names you when they apply in order to qualify for the referral bonus.

SHARE’d STORIES

SHARE continues to spotlight members in a series of personal profiles we call “SHARE’d Stories.” Check out the latest profiles of Oncology Clinic PCA Dareth Watts and Denials Resolutions Specialist Lorie Rosen. And let’s hear your story, too!  

ABOUT the FLU VACCINE MANDATE 

SHARE leaders have been meeting consistently with Human Resources to discuss the impacts of the hospital’s flu vaccine mandate. The hospital continues to say that it will impose progressive discipline with staff who do not comply. They have agreed to a Problem-Solving approach to individual case management for SHARE members. More information about the hospital’s position on exemptions, vaccines for work-from-home employees, and more, can be found here

UMASS MEMORIAL SURGE PREP in the NEWS 

Dr. Ellison, UMass Memorial epidemiologist, joined other experts on the next wave of COVID in this series of boston.com interviews. Dr. Ellison describes that our hospital has amassed a several-month supply of PPE, and that it intends to keep ahead of the needs with the stockpile. Although much more is now known about caring for patients with the disease than during the previous surge, he stresses to readers the importance of taking precautions to avoid overloading hospital ICUs.