Heroes Need Hazard Pay

April 7th was World Health Day, and it seems the world has never been more conscious of the work our nurses, doctors, and healthcare workers do. Amid the chaos of the coronavirus, millions of healthcare workers brave the harrowing halls of hospitals and emergency rooms across the country every day. They suit up with whatever personal protective equipment (PPE) they can find, but shortages around the globe means health care workers are forced to reuse the same PPE over several days and use makeshift alternatives, like trash bags. Our healthcare workers are ill-equipped, overworked, and know full well that they are likely to get sick themselves. Still, they go in. 
 
That’s why they’re heroes. That’s why they’re warriors. That’s why they’re applauded. Rightly so, the rhetoric around the nurses, doctors, and health care workers on the front lines of the coronavirus is inspiring. Here’s the thing, rhetoric is not enough. While many of these healthcare workers are compassionate, brave, and dedicated to their field, they’re doing their jobs. Jobs that have gotten significantly riskier (dare I say, hazardous) than ever before. At the same time, their jobs aren’t ones that can be moved to the living room (in fact, their jobs are actually keeping some out of their homes). These healthcare workers deserve just compensation for the increased dangers of their jobs; jobs that are critical to responding to the coronavirus pandemic. Our healthcare workers are putting their lives at risk to protect and save others, and there should be some kind of fair compensation for their added responsibilities and risks. Our healthcare workers have become (and I argue always have been) the backbone of our society through the pandemic, and they should be paid accordingly. 

I am not alone in my beliefs. Earlier today, Senate Democrats proposed to give doctors, nurses and other essential workers up to $25,000 in hazard pay. Dubbed “The Heroes Fund” by Senate Democrats, this hazard pay is a step in the right direction for the heroes and warriors that must go to work every day. We can’t wait for private businesses to take the initiative to extend hazard pay to their essential employees (because, surprise, they won’t). Therefore, this provision is absolutely essential for any forthcoming stimulus package that comes out of Congress. I encourage all readers to take some time to contact their representatives to express support for such a provision, and take some time to look at the numerous petitions advocating a hazard pay for many essential employees. While our healthcare workers are heroes, they are also humans who deserve a fair wage for their immense contributions.