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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Monday, July 20, 2020

NorCo Workers Vacationing in Covid Hot Spots Might Get Another Vacation ... Unpaid

I received this anonymous comment on Friday: "Heard numerous caseworkers were walked out of the Human Service Building and told not to return for 14 days because they traveled out of state recently. Has McClure implemented this policy for county workers because this is news to me." I've asked Executive Lamont McClure about this, and he tells me that last Sunday, two employees at Human Services were told to stay home. This is because they recently visited or vacationed at one of 18 states identified by the Pa. Dep't of Health Covid-19 hotspots. The state recommends anyone visiting any of these hotspots to self-isolate for 14 days after return.

On Monday, two caseworkers who recently visited a Covid-19 hotspot were asked to leave, and did. To McClure's knowledge, none was "walked out."

Ironically, it is these very caseworkers who complained loudly at several Council meetings that the county was risking their lives when it made them leave their homes and return to work on May 18. Yet they are perfectly willing to risk the lives of everyone else.

"Many of our employees are taking vacations in what are designated as Covid-19 hotspots," McClure told County Council at their July 16 meeting. "If you go, you have to stay at home for 14 days when you come back. I just cannot roll infectious hand grenades into these [county] buildings."

If they can obtain a negative test and remain symptom free for five days, they can return.

Council member Kerry Myers asked whether employees were told in advance this could happen.

"No, they weren't," responded McClure, who added there will be a published policy. "I understand that it feels unfair, but it would be more unfair to the people they're working with if they come back from Myrtle Beach and get 20 people sick. I'll take the weight of that perceived feeling of unfairness."

The 18 states identified as Covid-19 hotspots are Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Utah.

32 comments:

Anonymous said...

" I'll take the weight of that perceived feeling of unfairness."

What weight? With you covering his ass and demonizing any who question he and his regime, he can breeze on by.

Anonymous said...

this made me happy

Anonymous said...

BS THEY ARE GETTING FULL PAY! So now 1 week vacation is 3 weeks paid vacation

Anonymous said...

BS They are getting paid. Now 1 week vacation is 3 weeks paid vacation.

Anonymous said...

Bernie please tell us that they are not getting paid. Our tax dollars paying for this?

Bernie O'Hare said...

Perhaps the four individuals in question are getting paid bc there was no advance notice. If that ius so, that is extremely fair. But those who go on vacation to a hot spot now will be forced to use up vacation or personal days or simply be unpaid.

Kyle said...

I work at the prison and im also a union official.This is the 1st time I'm hearing about this. I might agree w/ McClures actions but you need to inform the employees 1st. At this point a week later the correction officers have still not bin informed of possible no pay actions by McClure. An email should of went out by now. That would be fair.

Anonymous said...

Take the money they are getting paid for the two weeks out of McClure or Kelly's salary for not putting a policy into place NOT TAXPAYER MONEY! ONE TERM McCLURE!

Anonymous said...

Everyone is aware of the two week quarantine upon return from certain hot spots. Again accountability for actions should have consequences. A policy is good to have but common sense tells you they needed to quarantine. So now they get a long summer vacation at the expense of their co-workers and the taxpayers. They get tons of vacation. It should be a no pay policy. Only down side is then they keep the two weeks vacation for another trip!

Bernie O'Hare said...

So far as I know, those who visit a hit spot will be unable to return for 14 days unless they get a negative test and are symptom free for five days. They will have to use vacation or personal time or be unpaid. The workers sent home may or may not be getting paid. I do not know. It would make sense to do so bc no policy was formulated.

Anonymous said...

I doubt it's no pay unless they have completely run out of vacation and personal time to use up. Maybe the county would allow the use of sick time as well. Either way the employee has earned this time. It makes me wonder though since enhanced unemployment would pay more than some county jobs.

Anonymous said...

They earned vacation time and can use according to policy and approval. Imagine if the nurses took there time in a hot spot and can't come back to work and the next set of nurses have those weeks off. Who is left to care for the residents? Commitment to jobs should come first right now. Nurses can't normally take three weeks off in the summer.

Anonymous said...

10 a.m., you make a good point about the mandatory quarantine. I have no sympathy if an employee pleads ignorance because this rule has been well-publicized for at least a few weeks. Frankly, the last thing on my mind at the moment is going on vacation (and imagine if one of the county employees headed to Disney).

Anonymous said...

Infectious hand grenades lives matter.

Anonymous said...

"Many of our employees are taking vacations in what are designated as Covid-19 hotspots," McClure told County Council-

Has McClure revealed how he knows this? I would think the county would be required to prove such an allegation. Unless "This isn't a trial", he's not the employee's lawyer, but as a boss, he is now willing to submit an employee to abuse.

So how does the county know where their employees vacation? What mechanism allows McClure to know and subsequently prove the travels plans and destinations of county employees on private time?

Anonymous said...

Hillary Clinton on September 9, 2016, -Basket of deplorables

Lamont McClure on July 16, 2020, -Infectious hand grenades

The dehumanization continues ...

Anonymous said...

Recommended or Required by the state ? To "BIG" different things. Politicians playing games once again. Good to be the Dictator. lol

Anonymous said...

"Ironically, it is these very caseworkers who complained loudly at several Council meetings that the county was risking their lives when it made them leave their homes and return to work on May 18"

What's ironic is that Northampton county was a "hot spot" on May 18th and the county WAS risking their lives albeit necessarily, that is unless it's all a hoax. Now that the employees in question have been through the cubicle it's understandable they feel annealed when it comes to personal time. If you now order them home you must pay them just as limiting where they can travel should entail compensation.

It's seems hypocritical to order someone into danger, while at the same time restricting their choice to travel because it presents the same risk of danger as their order.


Bernie O'Hare said...

"Hillary Clinton on September 9, 2016, -Basket of deplorables

Lamont McClure on July 16, 2020, -Infectious hand grenades

The dehumanization continues ..."


Quite the reverse. McClure is actually demonstrating a concern for employees who have not been selfish.

Bernie O'Hare said...

3:45, It would be but there was no danger. There was not a single infection. Not one. The county has a right to insist that our children and seniors are kept safe, something that apparently does not concern you. And top think there are people who actually think you are an alternative to police. The truth is that police have to respond to calls that you turn down.

Bernie O'Hare said...

"Has McClure revealed how he knows this? I would think the county would be required to prove such an allegation" He would but it appears the employees involved admitted it.

Anonymous said...

This was sprung on people and not enforced uniformly. You are well know as a King McClure apologist so you are far from objective. This was handled poorly as has been many of his angry outburst policies. Like the bridge opening ceremony at the bridge that did not open.

Bernie O'Hare said...

I never claimed to be objective, but do claim to be honest. You can't make that claim since you can't even say who you are. Also, I'm sure the public will be outraged, just outraged, that he insists that you entitled and selfish people work. They will be furious when they learn he protected other employees from selfish assholes who wanted to visit hotspots and spread their germs wherever they please. Good luck with that, asshole!

Anonymous said...

Those employees had to know the quarantine mandate before they took vacation. It had be publicized all over tv. They take it without pay! Not fair to employees or taxpayers! If not, this opens up lawsuits against the County when you lawyers suppose to be running the place.

Anonymous said...

You don't have to be very aware, or smart, to appreciate that travel to areas of high infection is problematic. It's good to see restrictions being given some teeth.

Anonymous said...

You should have replied anonymously! Social media can and will be used against you.

Anonymous said...

Should have replied anonymously! Social media can and will be used against you. Just some info

Anonymous said...

The entire country needs to quarantine for at least 3 weeks so we can get a handle on this and return to some semblance of normalcy. Look at where countries who actually took this seriously from the start are now...South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Canada. Contract tracing has shown us that this piecemeal, every state/county for themselves "approach" is ineffective for exactly this reason; people travel!

I personally wouldn't travel to these states at this time but people are going to make the decisions they feel are best for their families. I don't care if it's "fair" to pay them to stay home for 2 weeks but I'm glad it's being done!

Kyle said...

As a union official you are allowed to speak on the unions behalf

Bernie O'Hare said...

You certainly do, and any attempt to interfere with that right would be an unfair labor practice as well as a violation of the First Amendment. Social media cannot and won't be used against you.

Anonymous said...

Might want to see if all employees being treated the same

Anonymous said...

Then how are employers allowed to have social media policies? Just wondering