Some state lawmakers want to know whether hospitals gave medical workers paid time off, if they or family members got sick from COVID — that as legislators debate how to parcel out 250 million dollars in state COVID bonuses to front-line workers. Democratic Representative Cedric Frazier from New Hope:
“…and workers I know it’s always important to know where your employer stands in times of crisis.”
Mary Krinkie with the Minnesota Hospital Association responds:
“This past year and the last year has been very difficult financially for the hospitals, so I think… while many hospitals would like to do more for their front-line workers, it really hasn’t been a possibility.”
Republican Representative Ann Neu Brindley from North Branch says that shouldn’t affect COVID bonuses the state gives front-line workers:
“I would hate to penalize individual employees for policies of the hospital.”
