SHARE Questions and Answers
About the Labor Pool & Redeployment
What We Know So Far
Overview: What does the Labor Pool plan for SHARE members?
Managers are submitting names of staff to the Labor Pool when work in their department is suspended or volume is reduced.
SHARE members in the Labor Pool may be floated to help with the COVID emergency, in some way that fits your training.
If you are in the Labor Pool, but the hospital does not need you to float right now, you stay home and get “admin” pay. You will not have to use your own time.
HR Business Partners plan to contact each individual SHARE member whose name was put into the Labor Pool.
It is possible to opt out of the Labor Pool. If you do so, you need to use your own paid time off to get paid. Or you could apply for unemployment.
This plan will be in place until at least May 2nd.
What’s the Good News? Financial Security, Some Stability, and a Plan
We are glad that UMass Memorial is announcing a plan that will allow all employees to be paid, even if there isn’t enough work in their departments. Before this decision, some SHARE members were told that they would have to use their own time if they did not have enough work. SHARE has been advocating for all SHARE members to be paid if they are willing to work, even if their normal work is going away.
Having a plan through May 2nd gives everyone some stability. With many things changing every day, it is good to have this level of certainty.
UMass Memorial is trying to be prepared for whatever comes with this COVID pandemic, such as the possibility of a “field hospital” at the DCU Center. Some other hospitals have done furloughs or layoffs. UMass Memorial is choosing to pay everyone even if there is no work for them right now, so that as many people as possible are available if needed down the road, and so that employees have a stable income.
Who Goes into the Labor Pool?
Department managers were asked how many people they need for the current levels of work. They were asked to give names of who is available for the Labor Pool. SHARE has recommendations about how this should work, but we don’t know how most managers made decisions.
SHARE has been advocating with management for:
Transparency, so SHARE members understand how it was decided.
Standards and guidelines, to avoid the appearance of favoritism.
Choice for SHARE members, wherever possible.
SHARE’s recommended practice for deciding who goes into the Labor Pool:
The manager should decide how many people they need to keep in the work area. This could take into account how many of each role, any specific skills needed, and shifts that need to be covered. This information should be shared with the SHARE members, so it’s clear.
Ask for volunteers to go into the Labor Pool. If there are too many volunteers for the available slots in the Labor Pool, the most senior should be chosen first.
If more people are needed for the Labor Pool, it should go by reverse seniority, least-senior first.
How is the Labor Pool going to work?
Here’s what we know so far:
The COVID situation is constantly changing, and plans to respond will continue to evolve.
It’s in everyone’s interest for SHARE members to be assigned work that they feel competent and confident to do. Different SHARE members in the float pool will be qualified for different roles.
A Human Resources Business Partner is supposed to contact each staff member whose name was put into the Labor Pool. They will discuss any department-specific processes and address any concerns.
The Command Center is keeping a list of work they need help with. Needs have included helping with fit-testing masks, handing out masks, working in the testing tent, screening visitors, PCAs working to support co-workers on the inpatient floors, patient observers, staffing the supply donation center, etc.
At the moment, some of these needs are short term, like a day, and some are longer term. SHARE believes that people may move in and out of Labor Pool assignments, and some staying at home, as this crisis progresses. The other possibility departments may want to consider is rotating who goes to work and who is assigned to the Labor Pool.
What if I’m assigned to the Labor Pool, but not given work?
This will probably be true for many SHARE members for now, especially those who do not give direct patient care. You stay at home, until you are contacted about an assignment. UMass Memorial is guaranteeing pay for people in the Labor Pool, whether or not there is work you are asked to do, at least until May 2nd.
Under the current plan, will my pay and benefits and budgeted hours stay the same if I am in the Labor Pool?
Yes.
What if I don’t want to be in the Labor Pool?
If you are not needed in your usual job and you want to opt out of the Labor Pool, you can use your earned time, or you can apply for unemployment. (Massachusetts came out with new guidelines to use unemployment when you still have a job but temporarily have no work because of the Coronavirus. SHARE will post more info soon about unemployment.)
SHARE has been advocating that floating should be voluntary. Of course, SHARE members who float will make crucial contributions to taking care of patients during this pandemic. The hospital’s view is that this is an emergency, and they need all hands on deck to deal with it. That’s why they will pay people in the Labor Pool, but those who opt out will have to use their own time.
If you have individual concerns about being floated, tell your manager, and talk with the HR Business Partner when they call you.
What if…..?
Individual SHARE members will have all kinds of questions about this new plan and their situations. SHARE suggests talking with your manager first. If the issue isn’t resolved, or you want help thinking it through, reach out to your local SHARE rep, or reach out to your SHARE Organizer. We want to help make this work for both the hospital and for individual SHARE members.
What’s going to happen in the future?
Like everyone in the hospital community, SHARE is working hard to prepare for changes that may come for SHARE members. None of us knows exactly what new challenges may arise. UMass Memorial is making decisions about how to prepare for a surge in COVID patients, with whatever information they have today. Changes are implemented on a daily basis, which can be incredibly frustrating for staff. Thankfully, SHARE has observed that UMass Memorial is doing a better job of communicating and informing staff than some other hospitals we have heard about, but there are still moments of miscommunication.
Going Forward
SHARE is working to communicate the members’ concerns we are hearing to senior management, and to act as back-up for members who have issues that can’t be resolved through their manager, the Command Center, or Employee Health. We are collecting questions and issues for management about this new plan, so please let us know what you are thinking.
Our hospitals play an essential role in our community, and our hospitals work because SHARE members do. Stories from SHARE members stepping up to help in so many different ways have been inspiring! Many are juggling complicated questions of how to take care of yourselves and your families, while helping the hospital as much as possible.
And, In Case You Missed It . . .
This email from hospital CEO Eric Dickson describes the current UMass Memorial plan . . .
