Workers’ Matters

As COVID-19 Cases Surge, Federal Call Center Contractor Maximus Sends Directive to Managers Not to Approve COVID-19 Leave Requests

Despite the national surge in COVID-19 cases, the giant federal healthcare contractor Maximus has now directed managers and supervisors to not approve any COVID-19 leave requests, and to not refer employees to human resources for COVID leave, between now and the end of the Open Enrollment Period (OEP) for Medicare (Dec. 7) and the ACA Federally Facilitated Marketplace (Dec. 15). This “COVID-19 leave blackout” applies to the thousands of Maximus employees who respond to Medicare and ACA calls. While some employees are now working remotely, many are also still working out of Maximus’ 11 call centers that handle Medicare and ACA calls. “I feel like I’m putting myself back at risk, and they don’t care,” said Sylvia Walker, who works at the Maximus call center in Bogalusa, La. “COVID is very much alive in this city and in this state where I live. The people you encounter on the phones are already stressed. They’re feeling lonely, they call, they cry, they are distraught and we have to deal with that. The company shouldn’t be adding additional stress on us and putting policies in place that could put us, our families, and our communities at risk of contracting a deadly virus when we are working hard to serve the public.” Maximus also recently informed workers of devastating changes to their individual health coverage that will go into effect next year. The company announced that deductibles will increase to $4,500 next year from the current rate of $2,500, and their maximum out-of-pocket expenses will increase by 20%, to $6,000, in 2021. Under the newly announced plan, workers’ coinsurance will increase from 20% to 30%. This year, employees have a new option to enroll in a “buy-up plan” with a lower deductible and coinsurance, but requires workers to pay nearly $2,000 in premiums per year. Such premium expenses are unaffordable for a workforce that mostly earns between $10 and $15 an hour. “With these changes, almost everything I need currently for my health care is subject to a $4,500 deductible,” said Christopher Thomas, who works at the Maximus call center in Lawrence, Kan. “Now seeing my neurologist will cost me about $500 per visit and my meds that they prescribe are now basically unaffordable to me with this new plan. What kind of employer guts medical coverage in the middle of a global pandemic? p

Unions Wary/

continued from page 1 The measure pending in Albany would offer up to three years’ added pension credit to workers who are at least 55 years old and have logged 25 years of service. Government officials privately predict the move would save the cash-strapped city an estimated $900 million over the next four years, including $250 million the first year, according to a union source familiar with the proposal. The savings are expected to be generated by replacing veteran workers with junior staffers who make less money or by leaving the positions vacant until the city’s pandemicwracked finances improve. City officials expect only about 10% — or 7,500 — of the eligible employees to file for early retirement if the legislation is passed in Albany, said the union official, who asked to remain anonymous. Health workers and some employees whose jobs produce revenue could be shut out. “Early retirement incentives have the potential to save hundreds of millions in revenue and in doing so prevent public worker layoffs and our city’s financial health,” said State Sen. Andrew Gounardes (DBrooklyn), who introduced the measure in his chamber — and is being challenged by Republican Vito Bruno in Tuesday’s election.

Mayor’s Letter of Support

The de Blasio administration has submitted a letter to top state lawmakers supporting the measure, according to Henry Garrido, executive director of District Council 37,

Mayor Bill de Blasio shakes hands with District Council 37 Executive Director Henry Garrido after announcing a contract agreement in 2019. Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office

which represents about 150,000 city workers. The legislation, carried in the Assembly by Peter Abbate (DBrooklyn), would include city workers who are enrolled in the New York City Employees’ Retirement System, the city’s Teachers’ Retirement System and the Board of Education Retirement System. Nurses and EMTs could be excluded from the early-retirement opportunity if their position is “deemed critical to the maintenance of public health and safety,” according to the bill. “This is a concern,” Garrido said. “I understand why, but it is not fair. Many are completely burned out by COVID19.” The bill could also permit city officials to make exceptions for jobs that generate revenue, like traffic enforcement agents, building inspectors and tax assessors. “We’re supporting an [early retirement bill],” city Labor Commissioner Renee Campion told The Chief-Leader last week, declining to elaborate. She did not respond to requests for comment by THE CITY. Garrido said the city could avoid staffing shortages by “backfilling” some critical positions. That would entail hiring younger workers at lower pay to replace veteran employees who earn more money and are entitled to better pensions under state law. But that may present a challenge for difficult-to-staff positions like teachers and ventilator specialists, which are in high demand. The city Department of Education has repeatedly refused to publicly disclose how many teachers it is still trying to hire to fill gaps created by the hybrid online and in-person instruction system. The legislation lays out some projections: The average participant is expected to be 60.8 years old, with 26.3 years of experience and a $91,000 salary.

Layoffs Delayed

DC 37 officials last week agreed to defer city payments to its health-and-welfare and education funds until late next year. In return, the city has promised no layoffs for a year, and possibly until July 2022 if more federal aid is forthcoming. The city is facing an estimated $9 billion tax shortfall this year and another, possibly larger, hole next year, according to the Independent Budget Office. On Aug. 31, de Blasio told reporters that early retirement “is something we have to put into play.” Later that same day, he told NY1’s Errol Louis on “Inside City Hall” that “early retirement won’t be enough” to fix the budget. “Not by a long shot.” Several major city unions seeking to avoid layoffs have agreed to defer either future wage increases or money earmarked for their health benefit funds to generate savings. The proposed legislation doesn’t apply to city firefighters and cops, who are already allowed to retire after only 20 years on the job, with no age restrictions. The city has used early retirement before to generate savings, most recently in 2010, when a statewide incentive cut $681 million over two years. “In times of fiscal stress, measures like this have helped local governments maintain services even as they reduced spending,” Michael Mulgrew, president of the United Federation of Teachers, said in a statement.p

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