HENRY COUNTY, GA. – April 8, 2020 –Henry County Manager Cheri Hobson-Matthews gave an update to the Board of Commissioners at yesterday morning’s video-conference meeting, where she discussed the need for hazard pay for front-line employees.
 
Board members quickly amended the agenda to approve a two-tier approach to compensating employees on the front line amid the COVID-19 coronavirus crisis.
 
Hobson-Matthews said that some employees will receive hazard pay at a tier1 pay scale of $2.50 extra an hour; and some will receive tier 2 pay at $1.50 extra an hour. She said funds for the hazard pay will come from fund balance not to exceed $800,000.
 
Level 1 employees include some individuals from E911, Fire, Police, Sheriff, Animal Control, Code Enforcement, Transit, Building inspectors, Facility Maintenance, those who deliver Meals on Wheels, Risk Management, Stormwater, DOT, Tech Services and Parks and Recreation grounds crews.
 
Level 2 employees include Human Resources, Building, Courts, Finance, Airport, Communications, Facility grounds crews, Elections, Tax Commissioner, Tax Assessor, Senior Services, Community Development and Parks and Recreation Administration.
 
Hobson-Matthews noted that not all employees from all of the departments listed will be compensated with hazard pay. She said that those employees who are on the front lines and taking risks to continue providing necessary services to the citizens will be compensated.
 
Employees who have been out working in public and those who have had to work in the office will be eligible for hazard pay. She said the pay will be retroactive from March 17, when county buildings closed, through April 21 which is the expected date for the county’s Shelter in Place to be lifted.
 
She also provided a comprehensive update regarding the work status of Henry County employees including that many are teleworking, and several are in-office performing necessary functions. She detailed that the Building and Plan Review Department is currently conducting inspections twice week and processing permits through the week. Transit drivers are providing trips necessary to medically fragile patients for needed treatments and Senior Service employees continue to provide Meals on Wheels to seniors in need.