I want to start by thanking you from the bottom of my heart for being in the front line of this COVID-19 epidemic and caring for those who need us the most. During these trying times of fear and anxiety, I want to share some words of wisdom that have helped me in the past and has been a great guiding principle.
“Our human compassion binds us the one to the other – not in pity or patronizingly, but as human beings who have learnt how to turn our common suffering into hope for the future.” – Nelson Mandela
“Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today.” – Thich Nhat Hanh
“May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.” -Nelson Mandela
I share these quotes with you as a powerful reminder that we do have the power to make positive and hopeful choices. From the time I started TLC Nursing Associates as a nurse, I have had to weigh options and make decisions varying from simple to highly complex. These quotes I have shared above come to mind nearly every time I am at crossroads where a decision will lead us into the unknown. During those difficult times, I have relied on our Mission with the utmost faith and hope, and every time we have come out on top.
We are taking this pandemic situation seriously but must uphold our duty to our society and to our healthcare coworkers. In accordance with TLC’s Mission, I ask you to join me in being mindful of how we continue to Cultivate Meaningful Relationships, delivering the best people, providing peace of mind and dignity through trusted care. On behalf of the entire leadership team, I promise you that we will support one another every step of the way forward.
We want to reassure you that when we say you are our work family, we truly do mean it. As many of our RNs, LPNs, and LNAs are working in healthcare facilities and are at higher risk for exposure to flu and or COVID-19 virus, we want to reassure you that we have your back. Many of you are traveling away from home and family to help this community. For that, I am truly grateful and forever indebted to you. Some of our nurses and aids have been sent home if they are displaying any symptoms of the flu or being quarantined due to an exposure to COVID-19. You are missing work and thus your paycheck. TLC is putting multiple measures in place to assist you during these trying times.
If you are exposed to COVID-19 or the flu as a result of your work and are quarantined, TLC has implemented these procedures to compensate for missed time:
- You will be paid your base hourly pay for 80 hours by TLC’s Workers’ Compensation provider.
- Your medical bills will be covered by TLC’s Workers’ Compensation provider.
- If you have housing through TLC, TLC will continue to pay for accommodation while you are quarantined. You will need only to reimburse TLC once you are fully paid by our Workers’ Compensation provider.
- If you get housing allowance as part of your pay, TLC’s Workers’ Compensation provider will provide you that payment.
- Due to the expected slight delay in immediate payment to you from the Workers’ Compensation insurance company, TLC is highly encouraging you to apply for “Furlough” unemployment payment with the State of Vermont or New Hampshire. Please make sure you notify the respective state that this short-term inability to return to work is due to COVID-19 epidemic and you are mandated to be quarantine.
- TLC will order groceries and meals to be delivered to your room or apartment where possible for your two-week containment.
If your quarantine is not work-related, we are implementing the following procedure:
- Apply for “Furlough” unemployment payment with the State of Vermont or New Hampshire. Please make sure you notify the respective state that this short-term inability to return to work is due to COVID-19 epidemic.
- If you contract the flu and are prescribed medications for it and your insurance does not cover it or you are unable to afford it, please contact the office and speak with Katelynn or myself. We will help in any way possible so that you get your antiviral drugs.
- TLC will order groceries and meals to be delivered to your room or apartment where possible for your two-week containment.
- If you have housing through TLC, TLC will continue to pay for accommodation while you are quarantined. You will NOT need to reimburse TLC for this period.
A gentle reminder for myself, and you are that this is after all the flu season. I highly encourage you to drink plenty of fluids, get enough rest, eat a healthy diet rich in Vitamins C and E, exercise regularly, listen to your body, last but not least, wash your hands frequently. Lastly, this goes without saying, if you are feeling sick or have had any exposure to people diagnosed with COVID-19 please notify your supervisor immediately and stay home.
TLC is implementing strict scheduling measure for the next 8 weeks for our staff who work in multiple facilities. We have implemented a strict facility exposure rule for anyone working in-home care or staffing. All TLC staff who work in facilities can only work in one facility. To reduce the possibility of cross contamination, our staff are not to go to work in multiple facilities for the next 8 weeks. If a scheduler mistakenly asks you to cover a shift at a different facility that you are not regularly scheduled or contracted with, please remind her that you are committed to one facility and cannot cover shifts at other facilities at this time.
As stated in my opening remarks to this email, I sincerely hope that you can see we are making choices that really do reflect hope… not fear.
Sincerely,
Mohamed Basha, RN & Your TLC Work Family.
CEO
