The Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions on Monday said it reached an agreement with the health care giant to ensure its 80,000 members will have assistance with child care, temporary shelter after long shifts and extra paid leave for those diagnosed with COVID-19. In the Valley region, nonprofit Kaiser Permanente has major operations in Woodland Hills, Panorama City, Santa Clarita and Lancaster. The measures apply to full-time, part-time and per-diem employees. Kaiser is working with several hotel chains to provide alternative shelter for employees who: test positive for COVID-19; work a double shift; work multiple 12-hour shifts; have fewer than 8 hours between shifts; or have a household member with coronavirus or in a CDC-defined vulnerable group. “Eligibility applies to all employees working at least 20 hours per week (including per-diem employees) at a KP facility between April 13 and May 31,” the Kaiser union said in a statement. The agreement also grants employees 80 additional hours of sick leave for those who test positive for the coronavirus, so long as they work more than 20 hours per week.
