Ingham County boosts pay for nurses reassigned during pandemic

Craig Lyons
Lansing State Journal

LANSING – A group of Ingham County Health Department nurses are getting a pay bump after taking on new duties during the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Board of Commissioners' County Services Committee Tuesday agreed to increase the pay of the county's immunization nurses after the Health Department moved them into contact tracing positions and handling some duties of a disease control nurse. The pay increase would range from $1,400 to $1,700 per employee for time in that role since March 17.

During the COVID-19 outbreak, nurses at the immunization clinic were reassigned to do contract tracing work since the clinic was closed. The Michigan Nurses Association, which represents the immunization nurses, has argued the temporary reassignment moved them to a higher pay grade and required additional compensation and filed a grievance with the county.

“I think these nurses were doing some of the hardest and most critical work during this crisis,” Commissioner Emily Stivers said. “I feel like this is not that much that they are asking for.” 

The Ingham County Health Department, 5303 Cedar St., Lansing.

Julia Smith-Heck, of the Michigan Nurses Association, said the immunization nurses took on job duties of disease control nurses, which are at a higher pay grade.

“We think the contract is clear,” Smith-Heck said. “They are doing work in a different pay grade.”

Courtney Gabbara, an attorney representing Ingham County, said human resources denied the request, saying the change was not a reclassification of any employee and the duties were consistent with their existing job responsibilities.

The description includes language that “during a public health emergency, the employee may be required to perform duties similar but not limited to those in his/ her job description.”

The county has said the contact tracing duties allowed the nurses to continue working during the outbreak and is within the functions of their jobs.

“As a result, the work performed does not constitute a temporary assignment to a higher pay grade and there in no violation of the collective bargaining agreement,” a memo to the committee said.

Smith-Heck said the nurses know it is a public health emergency but that doesn't change the fact they did work of another job classification.

"They should be paid the difference in back wage," she said.

Contact reporter Craig Lyons at 517-377-1047 or calyons@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @craigalyons.