On July 16, 2020, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf announced a hazard pay grant program to help employers provide additional pay for employees engaged in life-sustaining occupations during the COVID-19 pandemic.  This hazard pay is funded by $50 million from the CARES Act and is intended to recognize and reward frontline workers and to help eligible employers retain employees.

Businesses, healthcare non-profit organizations, public transportation agencies, and certified economic development organizations may apply for funding if they are employers located and operating in Pennsylvania within the following eligible industries:  Healthcare and Social Assistance, Food Manufacturing, Food Retail Facilities, Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation, Janitorial Services to Buildings and Dwellings, and Security Services.  Specific examples of qualifying positions within these eligible industries can be found here.

Grant funds may be used for direct, full-time and part-time employees earning less than $20/hour, excluding fringe benefits and overtime, for the 10-week period from August 16, 2020 through October 24, 2020 as a $3/hour hazard pay increase to employees’ regular pay rate.  Each eligible employee may receive up to $1,200 in total hazard pay.

Employers may apply for hazard pay for up to 500 eligible employees per location.  Grant funding is capped at $600,000 per location and $3 million total per employer.

Employers can access and file their application for hazard pay via Pennsylvania’s Keystone Login system.  The deadline for grant applications is July 31, 2020.