HSE one time payment for workers during pandemic Covid-19

b.e.s.s.

Hi All!

To admin:

Took me ages to realise I won't find the correct topic as it seems to be there is little to no discussion about the HSE payment for frontline workers during the pick of pandemic. Or perhaps it is merely my lack of experience on this forum. Either way, apologies to the admin if I selected incorrect category.

Issue:

A person I know, works in a hospital on behalf of a private company as a cleaner for the past 2,5 years. She is a hard working lady and a decent person. Her concern is that the hospital personnel has already received the HSE payment. However, management of the cleaning company, at least at the lower tier is shrugging and giving excuses. No formal communication, no official letter explaining the situation.

As far as I understood from online research, the HSE payment is only for the HSE direct employees. Please correct me if I'm mistaken.And I wish I am, because it seems to be very unfair to those who are not directly employed were in constant direct contact with the virus on daily basis supporting hospital staff. But that is not the question at the moment for me.

My question is, whether a company hired by the government agency, and I imagine HSE is one of them, is in fact a direct employee of the HSE in the eyes of law?

I have very little hope it is, but if so, should the cleaning company be entitled to the same payment?

If not, is there any chance such employees can avail of the perk?

Thanks to all participants for the efforts.

KR

Bess

ari101

My understanding is:

Cleaners were listed under eligible HSE/Sect 38 staff so it would be expected that the would be included for non HSE also - further guidance is still due for non HSE workers.

Non HSE employees are definitely eligible where they worked in an eligible environment for a minimum amount of time between the required dates.

I have a non-HSE employed friend, who worked in a hands-on healthcare role during the period and may be eligible, others in her organisation definitely are. No one she works with has yet received their payment - I believe they have been told just recently that it will hopefully arrive within the next two months.

Dempo1

Unfortunately OP this is probably in the wrong forum and probably best moved to current affairs.

But just to take a guess.

No , your friend is not employed by the HSE directly and this is the first issue.

Whilst it was intended to be paid to any front line worker directly exposed at the start of the pandemic to include porters, cleaning and catering staff , there's been so many twists and turns it's hard to make any sense of what is going on.

As of last weekend it is believed up to 70% of those initially eligible, have not received anything. Rules then changed and different rates of payment based on actual exposure, shifts worked and a host of new eligibility criteria thrown into the mix.

This aside , employees of private nursing homes were to be included but there seems to be push back on who actually pays these employees and confusion as to who is included.

Your friends problem is twofold , she's not directly employed by the HSE and is her employer willing to or even obligated to pay , further to this what was her exposure and truthfully I've no answer to give.

There's enormous frustration at how a gesture as been so badly managed , almost leaving a sour taste at this stage.

We're to direct you for advice , I don't honestly know but I believe your friend will need to enquire directly with her employer along with her colleagues who are likely in the same situation. The HSE will not engage with her as a non employee.