As the numbers of COVID-19 positive cases continue to increase, SHARE members are having a broad range of experiences – working on the front line, coming to work with reduced work to do, working from home, waiting for potential redeployment to the Labor Pool. There are still a bunch of unanswered questions. SHARE leadership continues to be in regular conversation with members and with hospital leadership about an evolving list of difficult issues. SHARE organizers will continue to advocate for answers that best serve SHARE members. We know that there’s a real need for clear answers to these questions, and we’ll continue to provide you the best information we have.
SHARE MEMBER PERSPECTIVES: COVID-19 at the FRONT LINE
SHARE members perform crucial roles as UMass Memorial faces the oncoming coronavirus surge. Many, including members of SHARE’s elected leadership team are caring for COVID-19-positive patients firsthand. We recently talked to:
Kona Enders, a PCA and long-time SHARE Rep, has had her work moved to 3 Lakeside Short Stay, where positive patients are currently being cohorted.
SHARE Executive Board Member Joel Masley works directly with breathing difficulties in his role as a Respiratory Therapist, and is preparing the equipment to handle even more. And,
SHARE member Prestine Frazier works the front desk in Employee Health, helping caregivers to get the assessments and care that they need.
We asked all three of them to describe from their vantage point how things are going in this collection of SHARE Member Spotlights.
FINAL CAREGIVER SURVEY DEADLINE: TONIGHT at MIDNIGHT
Please note that TODAY is the final day to complete the Caregiver Engagement Survey. We urge you to spend five to ten minutes providing your perspective. Press Ganey is administering the survey on behalf of UMass Memorial. It is short, easy, completely confidential, and the results will help SHARE continue to refine its priorities as we work with our hospital to adapt to the changes that the coronavirus is forcing across hospitals everywhere.
HELPFUL RESOURCES for HANDLING HARDSHIP
Although we’re glad that our hospital currently has the financial stability to avoid the kinds of layoffs and furloughs that some hospitals are experiencing, the coronavirus crisis is already creating difficult situations in our community. We’ve compiled this list of resources for hard times, including:
Information about Massachusetts’ recently-revised Unemployment Insurance guidelines for those of you who have friends and family who have lost work,
The Federal Stimulus package, and what it might mean for you, and
A wide array of links to financial, legal, medical, and nutritional assistance, and more.
STAYING CONNECTED
It remains as important as ever for our union to stick together. We'd really appreciate your help making sure that these messages are getting through to as many SHARE members as possible. Sometimes, we have incorrect email addresses -- if anyone you know isn't getting our emails, please send us their correct email address or have them contact us at SHARE.comment@theshareunion.org. Thank you.