Hawaii lawmakers greenlight $449M COVID hazard pay for essential state workers

Hawaii is set to join a growing number of states in recognizing the dedication of its in-person state employees during the COVID-19 crisis by offering hazard pay, nearly a year after the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) declared that the virus was no longer a pandemic-level threat.

Negotiators from the state House and Senate agreed last week to raise more than $449 million to fund an arbitration deal and hazard pay for union and non-union state employees who worked during the pandemic from 2020-2022.

Under the agreement, individuals who physically reported to work for 420 days or more from March 4, 2020, to March 25, 2022, are eligible for a $20,000 compensation package. Employees who reported to work for less than 420 days within the specified timeframe, including remote workers, are entitled to $10,000 in hazard pay.

The deal, expected to be signed by Gov. Josh Green (D), highlights a significant effort to recognize the dedication and sacrifices of essential workers during one of the most demanding health crises in U.S. history.

In addition to hazard pay, the allocation includes funding for a hazard pay arbitration decision made in January that affects approximately 7,800 employees in the Department of Education. This decision represents a significant milestone in labor relations, extending hazard pay provisions beyond union contracts to a broader range of workers.

The settlement received overwhelming support from members of the Hawaii Government Employees Association (HGEA), representing roughly 16,000 state employees across various sectors, including the state executive branch, the University of Hawaii, public charter schools, the state Judiciary, and the Hawaii Health Systems Corp.

The $449 million commitment represents an approximately $150 million increase over previous estimates. Primarily sourced from general funds in fiscal year 2025, the measure is set to undergo consideration in a conference committee, marking one of the final steps in the legislative process.

According to the Hawaii Department of Health, over 418,000 residents have been infected with COVID-19, leading to 2,118 fatalities since the pandemic began in January 2020.

Jeremy Yurow is a politics reporting fellow based in Hawaii for the USA TODAY Network. You can reach him at [email protected] or on X, formerly Twitter @JeremyYurow.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hawaii approves $449M COVID hazard pay for essential state employees