Member in the Spotlight: Sabrine Aakil

Sabrine Aakil

Medical Lab Techician, Marlborough Hospital, 11/11/20

I am really passionate about what I do. I already have my two-year degree and currently work as a medical lab technician, but I am also in school to continue my passions. I work in the lab in Chemistry and Hematology at UMass Memorial, where I process specimens and review the result. 

In the beginning of COVID-19, it was overwhelming for all the hospital staff when the cases were really high. As lab techs, we worried about not having enough supplies to run COVID-19 tests. We used to wonder what will happen if we run out. However, now, we have enough supplies and are not worrying as much. Due to COVID-19, we just have to remain really sharp. We need to engage in proper protocol and PPE usage in order to make sure that we don’t get sick. It is extremely important that we maintain that.

During COVID-19, many patients call about results for their COVID-19 tests. They often have to get tested in case they are traveling or due to their jobs. We would let them know when their results would come in, but many of them are on urgent deadlines due to travel dates. In the lab itself, we only process rapid tests for patients who come through the emergency room. Most of the Covid-19 tests are sent out to another lab to be processed.  

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I love working with my coworkers. We communicate well — we make sure that things are working effectively and the timing is right. We are really good at helping each other work on things that require teamwork. My coworkers are super caring and nice, but also so smart. They have so much knowledge and I love to learn from them. I have learned how to work calmly and to figure things out. We are always learning new procedures and are needing to adapt within the lab. Thankfully, we are always receiving the best training possible. My coworkers also have a great work ethic and it has made me realize how important it is to be working with people who I can look up to.

At work, everyone is always complimenting each other and that makes the energy so nice. During our breaks, we talk to each other more on a personal level.  Before COVID-19, we used to always have baked goods on our table. We always have shared food, goals and ideas for our department. We are always working together to make it a better environment for all of us. Since Covid-19, things have changed. We don't have the option to bring things, but we always talk about what we will do when this is all over. Hopefully, we will be able to break bread together soon. 

Janet Wilder, SHARE Lead Organizer, Wins Cushing-Gavin Award

This December, the Cushing-Gavin Awards (CGA) recognizes SHARE’s own lead organizer, Janet Wilder, for her accomplishments. This recognition is a high honor -- the most respected labor award in our region -- and highlights Janet’s decades of dedication to the well-being of SHARE members.  Although this year’s award ceremony was, for safety reasons, held virtually, Janet brought the warmth and dedication of SHARE members, organizers, and union reps into this year’s award presentation as she described SHARE members’ efforts in the past year. 

Janet Wilder, SHARE Organizer, holding her Cushing-Gavin Award plaque. Established in 1967, the CGA represents a crowning achievement of a life’s work of labor activism. Janet’s leadership, perseverance, and compassion during the COVID-19 pandemic mirrors the commitment she’s shown for workers since helping to organize our union’s beginnings in 1997. 

About the Cushing Gavin Award

Every year the CGA celebrates four awardees: one labor leader, one labor attorney, one management leader, and a neutral/arbitrator. The CGA Ceremony (which is typically a gala dinner event) is hosted by The Labor Guild, part of the Archdiocese of Boston, an organization that aims to provide training, assistance, and recognition to those in the labor-management fields. Janet was selected as the labor leader winner for this year’s 54th annual prize. Describing the occasion in her acceptance speech, Janet said the CGA event is a place where we can “recommit ourselves” to the labor movement and this work.

The Importance of Healthcare Workers

Throughout her acceptance, Janet described the changing and often overwhelming conditions since the onset of COVID-19. Janet and her co-workers on the SHARE team at UMass Memorial organize healthcare workers in over one hundred different roles -- roles that, as Janet points out, tend to be overlooked by the press when describing those who are essential to hospitals.

Partnership Matters

Janet also described SHARE’s Labor Management Partnership with UMass Memorial as a crucial tool for making sure SHARE members have a say in how their workplace functions. When direct caregivers participate in the design of healthcare, it leads to better outcomes for all, especially patients. (Besides, as UMass Memorial Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer Bart Metzger put it in his congratulatory remarks to Janet: “There’s no business case for adversarialism.”) SHARE’s strategic partnership with the hospital aligns with the overall aims of the CGA and The Labor Guild to “foster a healthy labor-management climate.” 

Janet’s devotion to true collaboration and collective problem-solving has changed the lives of many of us in Central Massachusetts. We’re grateful for her, and proud that she represents all of us with this recognition. Congratulations, Janet, and to everyone in the SHARE community! 

An Open Letter to Massachusetts' U.S. Senators about Hazard Pay

Because SHARE members continue to face exhausting, potentially dangerous challenges during the pandemic, SHARE’s Executive Boards have sent the following letter to Senators Markey and Warren urging Federal support for the front lines. Specifically, we urge them to fund much-needed hazard pay for healthcare workers. We again encourage you, too, to push your Senators for meaningful support.

2021 Dues Rates Announced

AFSCME, SHARE’s parent union, has announced dues rates increases for the upcoming year. The 2021 regular weekly dues rate for SHARE members will be $9.60. That is an increase of eighteen cents per paycheck, or a little less than ½ cent per hour. For members working 20 hours/week, the 2021 weekly rate will be $7.19. The new rates will be reflected in the January 7 paycheck.

WHY SHOULD I PAY DUES?

Dues are an investment that SHARE members make in themselves and their coworkers. Without a union, employees have very little leverage to make change, or even to hold onto what they have.

SHARE members want respect for the work that they do, fair treatment, opportunities for advancement, and good raises so that they can take care of themselves and their families. SHARE gives employees a voice in various ways:

• In contract negotiations, we have a voice in our pay, benefits and work policies.

• In union meetings and individual conversations, we have a voice in the direction and priorities of the union

• Through the problem-solving process, we have a voice when individual problems/conflicts come up at work

• In union elections, we have a voice in who our representatives will be

• Through committees, Unit Based Teams, and ad-hoc negotiations, we have a voice in issues that face groups of SHARE members

When it comes down to dollars and cents, dues pay for themselves. SHARE has consistently negotiated raises each year that our union has existed, over 22 years. Those increases have resulted in notably better pay rates than non-union counterparts. Among other things, our hospital also continues to contribute to the Defined Benefit Pension plan of all SHARE members, as well as continuing to pay 85% of Health Insurance costs.

Working together through the union, SHARE members can continue to make progress in all these areas. And dues support the staff who support this work.

HOW ARE DUES CALCULATED?

Any annual increase is calculated by the AFSCME International office based on the average percent increase of AFSCME members’ pay rates across the country in the previous year.

WHERE DO MY DUES GO?

The short answer is that dues mostly pays for SHARE staff.

The longer answer is that SHARE members at UMass Memorial pool their dues money with members of three other unions locals: SHARE at UMass Medical School, HUCTW at Harvard University, and USW at Cambridge Health Alliance. The four union locals together are called the New England Organizing Project (NEOP). All their dues together pay for the union staff for all the locals, union offices, phones and utilities, mailings, etc. About 75% of the budget is for staff.

The staff spend their time gathering information and opinions from members, sharing information with members, developing and supporting SHARE Reps, helping members with questions or problems, negotiating contracts, organizing events, researching issues, writing blog posts, etc., all on behalf of SHARE members.

MORE INFORMATION

If you would like to know more, please talk to a SHARE Rep, email share.comment@theshareunion.org, or call 508-929-4020. You can also learn more about what our union does, and the benefits of union membership, by exploring www.sharehospitalunion.org.

Blog Digest: PFML & STD, Member Spotlight, and More

Our hospitals are as busy as ever, and SHARE is hopping. In case you missed it, check out this update of What SHARE’s Working on Now, which summarizes a baker’s dozen of our current projects and trends in the work that we’re doing together. And there’s plenty more . . .  

Paid Family Medical Leave & Short Term Disability 

SHARE has been asked questions about how Short Term Disability insurance (STD) and the new Massachusetts Paid Family Medical Leave Law  (PFML) will affect SHARE members starting in January. Many of these answers have been developing over the past several months, and we’ve worked to understand and collect them together. Read more . . . 

Jennifer Perchak & the AFSCME Free College Benefit 

Jenn Perchak has been one of the SHARE pioneers in AFSCME’s Free College benefit program, having already earned a spot on the Dean’s List, and now her first college degree. This opportunity is open to all SHARE members and their families. SHARE has heard several really great reports about this benefit, and we’re very happy to know that it’s making a difference. Read what Jenn has to say about the experience. 

This Thursday: LatinX Listening Session 

Hosted by UMass Memorial with hospital CEO Eric Dickson, this Webex will focus on questions about creating a more equitable and inclusive healthcare system. Learn more about this event, and register in advance to join the conversation on November 19 at 4:30. 

Observational Assistants, and Improving Deployment in the Next Surge 

During the first COVID surge in our hospital, SHARE members highlighted that being deployed as a One-to-One Observer was tough on schedules. Since then, over 170 respondents replied to our recent One-to-One Observer Survey. As a result, SHARE members can volunteer for what works for them more, and our hospital will be better staffed. Thank you for your help to keep our union and our hospital strong. 

AFL-CIO Pushes Federal Hazard Pay for Front Line Caregivers 

Recent communications from the AFL-CIO, an umbrella organization of over 12.5 million union members, including SHARE, point out that, with COVID-19 on the rise again, unprecedented numbers of people filling hospitals across the country. There’s not time to wait for the upcoming political transitions before providing more federal support to front line workers. “We need the U.S. Senate to pass the HEROES Act now to provide real relief to front-line workers and the unemployed,” they write. And we can all take action to urge our Senators to do that. 

Short Term Disability and Mass. Paid Family Medical Leave: Details and FAQ

SHARE has been asked questions about how Short Term Disability insurance (STD) and the new Massachusetts Paid Family Medical Leave law (PFML) will affect SHARE members starting in January. Many of these answers have been developing over the past several months, and we’ve worked to understand and collect them together.

Working with the Benefits department in Human Resources, SHARE put together this FAQ. It’s very detailed, because these two programs are both very detailed, and because the answers will be different for different SHARE members.

We hope you find this information useful. If you have read the info in the HR benefits packet and this FAQ and you have more questions, please call the SHARE office at 508-929-4020, or email share.comment@theshareunion.org. We will work to find out the answers with you.

Member Spotlight: Jenn Perchak, Medical Office Assistant, Endocrinology

Jenn Perchak has been one of the pioneers in AFSCME’s Free College benefit program, which is open to all SHARE members. SHARE has heard several really great reports about this benefit, and we’re very happy to know that it’s making a difference. As you can see, Jenn is mighty busy, but that hasn’t kept her from impressive success earning a spot on the Dean’s List and then her first college degree. Here she is in her own words . . .

I swore I would never work in the medical field. My mom is a registered respiratory therapist and LPN, so I grew up around hospitals, and swore I would never work in one. When I had my oldest child nineteen years ago, I was looking for a job to do. My friend said to take a one hundred hour course to become a CNA and if you passed it then you would be paid for the one hundred hours in minimum wage. However, I was getting sick of working weekends and holidays. So I decided to become a medical assistant, and now work in the Endocrinology Department at UMass. 

My favorite part of this job is interacting with the patients. I have a patient who found out that I raise cows with my mom and now he calls me “beef” and it's pretty funny. My mom had learned about the bad quality of the meat sold in stores, and so she asked her husband if she can buy a cow. That was a gateway to now having sixty-five cows. I help my mom out with sixty-five grass-fed non-GMO certified cows, and have a store in New Braintree with her. 

Outside of working on the farm on the weekends, I work forty hours at UMass, I have four kids, and I also decided to go to school full time online through the union. I just finished my associate degree and graduated with a 3.9 GPA in June. Now, I am working on my bachelors and just got accepted into Central State of Ohio with the Union bachelor’s program. Going to school has been fun! The classes were not as tough as I thought they would be. It has been super interesting to learn so much. 

It is really easy to sign up for college through the union. You just go to the SHARE website and click the link. I found out about this through a coworker who was starting Nursing school through this same program. She just told me that I should do this and so I am doing it! 

My favorite part about school is that I can apply what I am learning to the farm that my mom and I run together. I am studying Business Management so when I had to write a business plan for school I wrote one for the farm. When I had to work on social media marketing for school, I applied it to the farm. 

If you are dedicated to school and work you can do both! Just take advantage of this opportunity as much as you can. I was just looking at my associate in Business Management and the price of it without FAFSA and the union is $59,000. After FAFSA, the Union paid for the rest. People say that unions just protect the bad employees but I have been with UMass for eleven years and my dues have not equaled 59,000 dollars. We deserve this and more. 

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In the past, I was anti-union until I worked at UMass. Now that I have been in the union, I would not trade it for the world. I have always worked with [staff organizer] Bobbi-Jo from the beginning. It is so nice to have her around and she has been so supportive of me through school. I have known Bobbi-Jo for eight years now and I don't even know if she is technically my union representative now but I told her that you are stuck with me! I can call her any time and I know that she will be there for me. 

What's SHARE Working On?

Click the image for the full-size interactive pdf

Upcoming LatinX Virtual Listening Session with UMass Memorial CEO Dr. Eric Dickson

SHARE supports UMass Memorial’s efforts to be a more inclusive community. We encourage Hispanic and LatinX members to take note of the following opportunity to engage directly with hospital leadership . . .  

LatinX Caregivers: Thursday, November 19, at 4:30 pm – Because we do not currently have a large LatinX Employee Resource Group, we open this session to all caregivers who may identify as, with, or support these groups.

If you are interested in attending, please send an RSVP note to Eric.Dickson.System.CEO@umassmemorial.org or reply to this email that you would like to attend. Once we have your RSVP, we will send you the Webex link.

More about the Listening Sessions

6-7 of these sessions have taken place already. Our goal in convening these sessions is to listen and respectfully acknowledge our colleagues who share their experiences with racism in the community and at work.

• We acknowledge that there has not always been room for these conversations

• For this reason, we are here today to listen and to learn from one another so that we can move forward together

• We encourage a continued dialogue and invite your continued feedback so that we can improve

• There is important equity work that we need to do going forward, and we will act but that action must be informed by the feedback employees, patients, and the community share with us.

• We are meeting with and listening to different employee groups as a part of our planning for action

• We will then share a plan of action with the goal of making our system one in which all employees and patients feel a true sense of belonging through inclusion

Potential Questions for Discussion

• Please share ways in which we can make our health care system more equitable.

• You may wish to share a story of an interpersonal challenge you have witnessed or experienced in our healthcare system.

• You might also share an example of an equity related systems issue you have observed or faced in our healthcare system.

• If you would like to share a question or comment in advance of the session, please email valerie@promotinggoodllc.com.

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.   

SHARE Member Spotlight: Lorie Rosen, Denials Resolution Specialist

I have been working in insurance for 30 plus years. I am currently a Denial Resolution Specialist at UMass. I get lists every week of claims that have been denied by the insurance companies. We have to understand why it was denied. I try to get authorization for it or write an appeal or adjudicate for payment. What happens is someone comes to the hospital and they create a claim for the insurance company. Sometimes there is a problem and sometimes we need to get authorization. We need to do extensive research to understand what has gone wrong and how to change it.

I love the problem solving that my job requires. Developing relationships with different people from insurance companies has been really helpful in being able to get these claims through. We call the insurance companies and speak with them and hopefully get the claim reprocessed. We develop relationships with people from these companies and you get to know them well. I have developed these relationships and when there is a further problem we are able to go through it together. They are going to try harder to solve the issues and if there is a mistake on their end then they try to fix it as soon as possible and speed up the process instead of it coming back. 

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Sometimes, we get to speak with the patients and ask them to call the insurance company to just confirm who the primary insurer is. When I get to talk to patients who might be older and not understand how their insurance works, it is reassuring and warming to let them know to call the insurance company and then I can work with the insurance company to really resolve their insurance issues. This impacts not only their current payment, but also future claims. That is what is really rewarding. 

For example, we have talked to people who have been in a car accident. In these cases, we need the patient to call Medicare to update their status stating that either the claim is not due to the injuries from auth or Worker’s comp or that the auto coverage payment has been maxed out. You need to be able to talk to people effectively so that they will want to assist and make it into a positive.

Work for us has remained similar post-COVID. One of the things that has changed is that we can't scan in documents, but we can use our phones and use the equipment from our office. We are able to use the UMass phone system from our homes ensuring that the calls are secure. I am happy there is not a lot of background noise at home so I can focus more. It is quieter when I am making calls as well because the phone lines are not always great. Also, I don't have a commute anymore and that has been so helpful. I can add a few more hours to my day problem solving and working a job that I truly enjoy! 

UMass Memorial Appreciation Bonus

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.

In the memo about the bonus, Dr. Dickson explained, “We recognize that this bonus does not compensate you for all that you did during the peak of the crisis – especially for those who directly cared for COVID-19-positive patients.”

This bonus is not considered hazard pay, which SHARE members deserve. (SHARE continues to follow bills containing hazard pay in both Congress and the State House – there’s still hope.)

The amount of the Appreciation Bonus is $500 for full-time employees (people with 32-40 budgeted hours on the books), and $250 for people with up to 31 hours/week on the books. Remember, that’s the amount before taxes. Bonuses get taxed extra – just as they do when SHARE members get a retro check after negotiations if an agreement isn’t reached before the end of a contract.

Flu update: SHARE Describes Discussions with Human Resources

SHARE has met with Human Resources several times to discuss the new mandatory flu vaccine. (See Flu Vaccine: SHARE Questions and Answers, Part 1, about SHARE’s meeting with the Infectious Disease doctors for their answers to those questions.) SHARE’s main issues for HR are: 

1. Flu vaccine for SHARE members working from home 

HR says that any SHARE member who comes into a UMass Memorial workplace for even one day during flu season needs to get a flu vaccine. Since work-from-home agreements say that employees must be able to come to work on two-hours notice, management’s position is that SHARE members who work from home must get the flu vaccine. 

Departments such as billing are offering flu vaccines at work, on work time, for SHARE members who want them. You can also get a vaccine at your doctor’s office or a CVS and send the documentation to Employee Health.  

We don’t know how actively HR and managers of SHARE members who work from home are going to pursue following up with every work-from-home SHARE member to make sure they get the flu vaccine. 

2. Exemptions from the flu vaccine: Religious or Medical 

The hospital’s FAQ about the new flu vaccine policy has a lot of information about exemptions from the mandatory flu vaccine for medical or religious reasons. The form to request a medical exemption should be turned into Employee Health. The form to request a religious exemption should be turned into your HR Business Partner, who then forwards it to the Office of the General Counsel for review. HR says that in both cases, the forms will be reviewed and the employee will be informed afterwards whether they are granted an exemption or not. 

3. What happens if a SHARE member refuses to get the flu vaccine? 

Progressive Discipline: If a SHARE member does not have an approved exemption, and they do not get the flu vaccine, HR says that they will be disciplined. HR and SHARE have agreed that any discipline about a SHARE member who does not get the flu shot will follow the disciplinary steps in the SHARE-UMass Memorial contract: Documented Counseling, Verbal Warning, Written Warning, Final Written Warning, and Termination. SHARE and HR are still discussing whether the hospital would actually terminate someone for not getting the flu shot. At the moment, they are not ruling out that an employee could be fired for not getting the flu vaccine. 

Each step of the disciplinary process involves a meeting with the SHARE member and HR, possibly the member’s manager, and a SHARE Rep if the member wants one. SHARE and HR have agreed that we will take a case management problem-solving approach: Listening to the member, trying to understand the problem and find a solution. 

4. Can a union stop management from disciplining members who don’t get the flu vaccine? 

The MNA at the Brigham lost a court case saying said that management didn’t have the right to force employees to get a flu vaccine, and the Brigham has since terminated employees who didn’t get the vaccine. Since then, the Governor has mandated flu vaccines for public school students, and teachers and employees in long-term care, which makes this an even more difficult issue. 

SHARE does not want to see anyone lose their job over the flu vaccine. Neither does the hospital. We are all hoping that we can find a solution in each case. However, to date, UMass Memorial continues to maintain their right to terminate. 

SHARE Member Spotlight: Dareth Watts, Patient Care Associate

Dareth Watts

PCA II, Oncology Clinic, 10/9/20

I have been working as a PCA with cancer patients for twelve years. People think that working in the cancer department would be sad, but the patients are amazing. They have the best attitudes and they will fight this.

Yesterday, we had two patients finish their treatment, and it's a big deal around here! We give them a piece of paper that says congratulations and everyone signs it. When they walk out the door they get to ring a bell! It is just such a good feeling to get them through the treatment. It takes people about a month or more to get through the treatment and they don’t have to come back in until maybe six months later. 

We have not had a lot of patients finish recently. Because of COVID, many patients have pushed back their treatment. We can't hug and just there's nothing better than wrapping your arms around a patient to say congratulations. But, we tap elbows now and that has still been nice. I'm a big hugger and patients come in that are crying and upset and I can't give them a hug! It's really hard and tough.

I enjoy so many things about my job. I love the patient interaction and being able to have different conversations with patients to check in on how they are feeling. and see how they are feeling. Just getting to talk to them and hearing them tell me that they don’t need to take certain meds anymore makes me feel so happy. It is such a good feeling for them and being a part of that feels like such a good thing.

Click to connect with more SHARE’d Stories!

My second family is here at work. This is where I am needed, so I need to be here. I have relationships with the cafeteria, housekeeping, the nurses, the lab and basically every department that impacts the patients’ care. I moved here from Worcester to Marlborough and these relationships were built over time. A patient needed knives, so I grabbed a handful from the cafeteria because we needed them in the drawer. We have patients who come in and need a lab immediately and because of my relationship with the lab I can help get that done for the patient. It is nice that I can ask for what is needed and sometimes they can do what is needed and sometimes they can’t. But if I never introduced myself and talked to them, I would not be able to just go down there and ask for the things that are needed.

If I were to give advice, it would be to be patient with patients and your coworkers. Not being patient and having a temper is not going to help you get very far in the medical field. Everyone has bad days — most days might be fine but there might be a day where your coworker just is having a bad day and is taking it out on you. Just let them do that and go on with your day. You have to keep relationships with people because in this field relationships help us to care for the patients in the best way possible. 

Scholarship Opportunities & Free College Benefit

SCHOLARSHIPS

Got a High School senior at home? Here are four great opportunities for scholarship money that are open to children of SHARE members and, in some cases, grandchildren. Check each one for different criteria, deadlines, and award amounts.  

• AFSCME Family Scholarship: The deadline to apply is Dec 31. AFSCME is our parent union - if you pay dues to SHARE then you are a member of AFSCME.

• Union Plus Scholarships: Applications are due January 31.

• Massachusetts AFL-CIO Scholarships: Applicants will be required to take a Labor History exam (there is a study guide). Registration for this year’s exam will close December 18, 2020.

• The Central Mass AFL-CIO has a separate scholarship. It is usually opened in February, due around late April, and you are notified in August if you get it. We will post the notice on the blog when applications are open. Click here to read last year’s notice on our blog.

Please note that the full name for our union at UMass Memorial Hospital is AFSCME/SHARE Local 3900.

FREE COLLEGE BENEFIT

Our parent union AFSCME offers a Free College Benefit, making it possible for all SHARE members, their families, and other members of their households to earn a free associates degree online from Eastern Gateway Community College.

Students who have already earned their Associates Degree can apply for a free online Bachelor’s Degree completion programs in Teacher Education, Business Administration, or Criminal Justice through Central State University. Additional programs are under consideration.

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To find additional educational opportunities in the future, note that you can always filter the SHARE Blog using search tools, including the category tags such as #Education and #Scholarships.

SHARE Blog Digest: Face Shield Distribution THIS FRIDAY, EAP, Flu Vaccines, and More

Face Shields for SHARE Members

SHARE is very happy to have received 500 face shields from local makers in the Worcester Face Shield Project. Organizers will be at the office this Friday, October 23rd, to distribute shields to members who arrange in advance. For more details — including how to arrange your own face shield pick-up — click here.

COVID Outbreaks among Staff at Two Massachusetts Hospitals: Why?

The spread of COVID continues to develop, as does the understanding of that spread. Thankfully, death rates are on the decline across demographics, suggesting that clinicians and caregivers continue to dial-in the effectiveness of the treatments they provide. At the same time, hospitals including Baystate Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital have seen recent outbreaks of COVID among staff. As the hospital epidemiologists investigate what happened, they point to staff removing their masks to eat in crowded break rooms, and lack of eye protection, among other factors.

Flu Vaccine: SHARE Questions and Answers, Part 1

SHARE leaders met recently with Drs. Kimi Kobayashi (Chief Quality Officer) and Richard Ellison (Hospital Epidemiologist) to ask them some of the questions that SHARE members have been asking us about the flu vaccine and the new mandatory vaccination policy. Read more here . . .

Stop the Spread: Free COVID Testing, and Volunteers Needed!

UMass Memorial is staffing free COVID testing at locations in the community. SHARE has offered to help get the word out that they need volunteers to help run the events: providers to swab and people to register. Training is provided, and so is PPE, water and snacks. People who have volunteered say that they personally found it very rewarding work. Get a free COVID test while you are there!

UMass Memorial Changes Employee Assistance Provider

UMass Memorial has decided to change who provides Employees Assistance to employees. In the past, the Medical School EAP also served hospital employees. Now, the hospital will be contracting with an outside company to provide the service.  We encourage you to learn more and provide feedback to SHARE in this anonymous survey. Thank you!

Flu Vaccine: SHARE Questions and Answers, Part 1

SHARE leaders met recently with Drs. Kimi Kobayashi (Chief Quality Officer) and Richard Ellison (Hospital Epidemiologist) to ask them some of the questions that SHARE members have been asking us about the flu vaccine and the new mandatory vaccination policy.

Why isn’t Wearing a Mask Enough?

Employees who declined the flu vaccine in the past had to wear a mask throughout flu season. Why isn’t that enough now?

• Like COVID, people can be contagious with the flu before they have symptoms. Wearing a mask decreases the chances that a caregiver will give a patient or co-worker the virus, but it does not fully prevent that possibility. There is no “silver bullet” for preventing the transmission of the flu. The more preventive measures that are layered on top of each other, the better: wearing a mask, proper hand hygiene, staying home if you feel sick, and getting the flu vaccine. Any one of those measures helps, but employing all four is most effective, just as wearing a seatbelt, having airbags and driving the speed limit each decrease risk, but doing all three measures is safest.

• The flu vaccine reduces the risk of transmission if you take off your mask at work, like to eat in the break room. It also protects you from getting or sharing the flu outside of work.

• The flu vaccine helps your immune system fight any flu virus – even if you get infected by a flu virus not included in this year’s flu vaccine. Your body will be better able to fight it, so if you do catch it, it will make you less sick, and less at risk of getting so ill that you need to be hospitalized.

• The combination of COVID and influenza this year could make everything worse in healthcare. The hospital may need every caregiver to be healthy this winter, so they can be at work taking care of patients.

We asked about Ingredients in the flu vaccine that UMass Memorial is using:

Are there preservatives in the vaccine?

No. There are no preservatives in these vaccines. They are all single doses, so preservative is unnecessary.

Are there metals/adjuvants in the vaccine?

No. There are no adjuvants or metals in these vaccines.

Is there an option for those who are allergic to eggs, or vegan?

Yes. Standard Flu vaccine is grown in chicken eggs. Employee Health has a limited supply of Flu Blok for those who need it, which is not grown in eggs. Reach out to them for details.

What if I’m older?

A high dose vaccine is available for older caregivers over the age of 65, but it’s optional.

How effective is this year’s influenza vaccine?

We won’t know until we’re two thirds of the way through the flu season. Each year the flu vaccine is created with the experts’ best guess of the flu viruses that will be around this year, based on which ones are around during the summer in the southern hemisphere.

Is UMass Memorial the only hospital in Massachusetts mandating that caregivers get the flu vaccine?

SHARE leaders asked which hospitals in Massachusetts have made the decision to require flu vaccine among their employees.

In addition to Partners, management listed Children’s Hospital, Lahey and Tufts. We have also heard that Reliant and St. V’s are moving that direction, too. In 2018, MNA nurses at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston challenged their hospital's flu vaccine mandate; a superior court judge denied the nurses' request. Management says UMass Memorial is one of the last systems in the state to require the vaccine.

In addition, Governor Baker has mandated flu vaccines for public school students, and for workers in long-term care facilities.

What about medical exemptions?

A very small number of people react strongly to the flu vaccine. Employees seeking a medical exception should submit a letter from their doctor to Employee Health describing their prior reaction to a flu vaccine. There is also an exemption form to make this process easier that can be obtained from Employee Health.

How would we handle a new COVID vaccine in the future?

Some SHARE members who are reassured by the decades of research showing the flu vaccine to be safe and effective nevertheless worry that this new policy will mean that a new COVID vaccine will be made mandatory down the road. Everyone is concerned that any new COVID vaccine be fully tested and safe. SHARE leaders told UMass Memorial that it’s important to SHARE members that we agree to a thorough discussion, joint research, transparency and negotiation about making any new COVID vaccine mandatory in the future. (Stay tuned.)

UMass Memorial leaders made it clear that they would have to know a lot more about any possible new COVID vaccine before having any opinion about this. They worry about the opposite problem: When there is an effective vaccine, there won’t be enough doses for everyone who wants to be vaccinated against COVID-19, and that we’ll face hard decisions about who should get it first.

What about all my other questions, such as whether this applies to those who are working from home?

SHARE is still working with HR around a number of these issues – stay tuned, and if you have a question or concern, please reach out and let us know!

Stop the Spread: Free Community COVID Testing Available, and Volunteers Needed!

UMass Memorial is staffing free COVID testing at locations in the community. SHARE has offered to help spread the word that they need volunteers to help run the events: providers to swab and people to register. Training is provided, and so is PPE, water and snacks. People who have volunteered say that they personally found it very rewarding work. Get a free COVID test while you are there!

• For more information about when and where the COVID testing is offered, click here.

• Anyone with a clinical background (PCAs, LPNs, Respiratory Therapists, Rad Techs, etc) are encouraged to sign up in a provider slot. These are 2-hour shifts, plus arriving 15 minutes early to get trained. For the provider sign-up schedule, click here.

• Everyone is welcome to volunteer as a registrar! The shifts are 4-hours each, plus a 1 hour training beforehand for the first time you do it, and they ask you to arrive 30 minutes early for shifts after that. For the registration sign-up schedule, click here.

Face Shields Available for SHARE Members

Donated by Worcester Face Shield Project 

Donations made it possible for these high quality face shields to be donated free to first responders and healthcare workers in Worcester, including SHARE members. On Friday, October 23rd, organizers will distribute the 500 shields SHARE received at the SHARE office. If you or your department needs face shields please send us an email to make arrangements to pick them up that day, or to make other arrangements.  

Learn more about the local artisans at The Worcester Face Shield Project who found a way to help during the COVID crisis: 

WCVB 5 news clip 

Boston 25 News clip  

Worcester Telegram article 

UMass Memorial Changes Employee Assistance Provider

UMass Memorial has decided to change who provides Employees Assistance to employees. In the past, the Medical School EAP also served hospital employees. Now, the hospital will be contracting with an outside company to provide the service.  

The hospital did not ask for SHARE’s input before this change. SHARE organizers have worked closely with the counselors at the Medical School EAP to make sure that SHARE members who were having a tough time got the help that they needed, and we trust them. 

The EASE fund will continue to be available for SHARE members to apply for financial help, though it will no longer be administered by the Medical School EAP. 

What Do You Think about the Change?

Did you ever use the services at EAP? If so, we’d love to know what you thought of the help you got. All answers are anonymous.  

[Really Quick SHARE Survey about EAP] 

We would also be very interested to hear about your experiences with the new EAP service. We recognize and respect that staff sometimes work through very personal and private issues with EAP counselors, and, at the same time, want to be sure that SHARE members are well-supported. If you’re willing to share, we would appreciate your help understanding how the new system is working.

The New EAP

Optum is the new company – they are a national company, serving employers all over. We are told they have local counselors available. You can scroll down to the hospital’s announcement for a summary of their services, and find all of the services they offer on their website. Here’s their contact information:  

Online: www.LiveandWorkWell.com, Company Code: umassmemorial 

Mobile device: Visit the above website for instructions on downloading the app.  

By telephone: 866-263-3525 

UMass Memorial’s Announcement

In case you missed it, here’s the memo from the hospital to staff announcing the new Employee Assistance Program:

TO:                  All Caregivers at UMass Memorial Health Care

FROM:            Eric Dickson, MD, President and CEO, UMass Memorial Health Care

DATE:             September 16, 2020

SUBJECT:      Introducing Our New Employee Assistance Program, Powered by Optum 

Now more than ever, it is a top priority at UMass Memorial Health Care to have resources in place to care for our caregivers. From the residual stress of the COVID-19 crisis, to heavy workloads caused by our recovery efforts, from dramatic changes to our home lives caused by the pandemic, to general uncertainty about what the future might hold, we all are dealing with a most unusually challenging time. Fortunately, we have the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) in place to offer a wide variety of services to support all of our caregivers in their times of need.

Starting October 1, we will be partnering with a new EAP provider that will be delivered by Optum and will take the place of our existing EAP providers for all UMass Memorial entities, bringing all EAP services under one partner for consistency across the system. Remember that EAP services are provided free to all UMass Memorial caregivers and their family members, with complete confidentiality, just as you’ve experienced with our other EAP services.

Through the EAP, employees can easily connect with benefits, which include:

One-on-One Counseling. You’ll have access to up to five face-to-face sessions per incident per year with a counselor within the Optum network of over 215,000 providers nationwide — in person, over the phone or via virtual visits. Optum also provides free access to Talkspace, which allows you to video chat with one of over 5,000 providers. With Talkspace, you can access therapy within hours of choosing your provider and receive support via messages 24/7.Support in Times of Need. Contact the Optum EAP for assistance in finding legal and financial support or resources and information to help you care for a child or adult dependent. They can also help with parenting advice or assist with getting you a discount on your night on the town to unwind.Helpful Resources at Your Fingertips. Unlimited access to online information, articles and other tools through the Optum Live and Work Well website or app.

Below are more details about how you and your family members can access all the great resources from the EAP. I hope you will take advantage of all that Optum EAP has to offer, especially if you find yourself navigating a personal or health crisis. We all need help sometimes. Together, we can take care of ourselves so we can better care for the people who depend on us.

Access the EAP Today

Online: www.LiveandWorkWell.com, Company Code: umassmemorial

Mobile device: Visit the above website for instructions on downloading the app.

By telephone: 866-263-3525

TDD: 866-216-9926

Questions? For questions or more information about the EAP, email  myhealthmatters@umassmemorial.org.