Op-Ed by: Tina Benner

The WFMZ story March 3, “Northampton County officials paint bleak picture of  Gracedale’s staffing, outlook” and the February 3rd “Gracedale Nursing Home faces most critical time in history” and an article on the Valley Ledger March 1, Lamont McClure states how 100% of Healthcare workers are vaccinated. He stated that “Our staff at Gracedale have been true heroes throughout the pandemic, taking care of the county’s most vulnerable residents under Difficult conditions” What they fail to mention is how they got to that 100% because on February 28th they denied EVERYONE’S RELIGIOUS EXEMPTIONS AND TERMINATED THE UNVACCINATED! Approximately 20 people. The CMS guidelines state to allow for medical and religious exemptions yet they didn’t approve anyone and speaking for myself I currently have an open case with the EEOC. The employees were called down and terminated and the employees that were off that day they called and terminated them over the phone, myself included. I got called on February 28th on my day off to be told I was terminated effective March 1. They only talked about the employees they lost in December over the mandate because those employees chose to leave. They declined to talk about the employees they terminated after denying all our exemptions at the last minute! The same day they denied our exemptions they terminated us on the spot.

So, they were already critical short that these residents are not getting the care they should but they denied everyone’s exemptions so they could be 100% vaccinated. In my option so they could get a kick back. It’s not about keeping residents safe it’s about the kick back they get. We have been working throughout the whole pandemic and now it’s not safe, but they allow employees who test positive to continue to work while the unvaccinated all got terminated. And residents are being neglected because not enough staff. They are not always able to get out of bed, they are not getting showered, their bed sheets are not getting changed as they should but let’s fire more people so they can get their kickback! They assign employees that are on light duty with a resident on a 1 on 1 when they shouldn’t be. Even vaccinated employees are quitting because they are tired of the working conditions. And some are retiring earlier than they would have. And I’m talking about employees with a lot of years in. And yes, there are staffing issues everywhere but talking to people who have      already left and got jobs elsewhere they are nowhere as bad as Gracedale. On top of us working in unsafe conditions they treat their employees poorly. But to the media act like they appreciate us. Or blaming the staff for the staffing shortages claiming they were due to all the call outs. But what do you expect when we are so overworked and underpaid? Or the article that had to mention the unvaccinated resident that passed but when they gave the total of 45 residents that were positive failed to mention they were all vaccinated! Let’s tell the truth and not just partial truths and eliminate certain parts!

They are illegally trying to mandate people. They went as far as illegally taking disciplinary action for refusing their illegal mandates. So, they bully their employees harassing them to work extra shifts, then they illegally mandate and then they illegally take disciplinary action which is a violation of Act 102. I also have a complaint open with department of labor on their violation of Act 102. I was also previously subpoenaed along with others to testify on a previous violation as to which they ended up settling and the case was closed with a administrative penalty against the facility. Even still they continue to violate Act 102. Under Act 102 you cannot mandate for chronically short staffing issues which they are doing! One week I was mandated every single day that I worked. (4 days in a row) Most of the times for l call out sometimes up to 3 call outs. As they tell you when they call to mandate you how many call outs they have because they are able to mandate for unforeseen circumstances which includes call outs but for 1 to 3 call outs when you previously had 12-14 open shifts that is chronic short staff. Then let’s talk about calling everyone down to write them up for their illegal mandates which retaliation is also a violation. Yes, employees are getting burned out and tired of the harassment. Not to mention you are taking an aide off the floor when you are only working with 2 aides leaving 1 aide to cover the floor so you can go down to get written up. But they appreciate us by getting pizza and donuts once a year! And administration on the floors helping is another joke! First the DOH seems to always be on vacation and the administrator I only heard of her working on a floor once and that was sitting with a 1-1 not picking up a section and working with only 2 aides and having 20-25 residents to care for.

Employees constantly work on units with 35-50 residents with only 2 aides and at times with only l aide or 1 aide for 1/2 a shift. Employees our getting hurt and while on light duty assign them to 1 on l with a resident. Which a light duty person should not be assigned to! l day prior to my termination I was going to be the only aide on my floor as they pulled the other staff aide to another floor. Then said one of the LPNs had to work as an aide. So, my charge nurse volunteered, and she ended up getting hurt and bad to be taken out by ambulance.

Let’s talk about McClure’s comment on how the union rejected a contract that would have raised wages more than 11% over 3 years. Well, that’s a slap in the face! It was a total of 11.5% over 3 years which is under a $1.00 a year. Which on top of our already low base rate for how we are working in such conditions is not just a slap in the face but a punch in the face! So yes Mr. McClure it is about the money!

Some Coworkers: Hourly Base Rate Wages:

CNA

• New Hire CNA: $14.61
• CNA with 9 years of service: $15.13
• CNA with 16 years of service: $16.21
• CNA with 18 years of service: $16.78
• CNA with 21 years of service: $17.97

LPNs

From $20.83 to $26.51 for maximum depending on years of service

RNs

From 1 RN (RNs have different contract) but get idea of the low base rate compared to other places: $28.98

Google average hourly wage in Northampton County for RN and it’s between $32.97 and $36.62

This is why the answer to county council questions were avoided on March 3 because it’s pathetic!

 

Information provided to TVL by:
Tina Benner
CNA terminated on March 1^st