The Berrien County Board of Commissioners has approved $1,000 in hazard pay for all county employees. During Thursday’s meeting, Chair Mac Elliott noted sheriff’s department employees received hazard pay in 2020, but not other employees. Commissioner Jim Curran said it’s time to pay them all.
“I think all our employees are essential, from the person who mows the lawn and empties the trash to the secretaries, everyone,” Curran said. “So, when they try to separate out law enforcement – and I get law enforcement, I’m not opposed to that – but there are a lot of other essential people that you have to put in that category.”
There were actually two hazard pay items on the agenda, one to give the $1,000 to juvenile center employees, and one for everyone else. Elliott noted it was a bit of an oversight the juvenile center employees didn’t get hazard pay in 2020. Commissioner Teri Freehling.
“I think that this resolution rights a wrong as it relates to having that hazard pay offered to those who were working during the pandemic,” Freehling said.
Elliott said with so many counties granting hazard pay to their workers, Berrien needed to do the same to be competitive. The vote on the hazard pay was unanimous. The pay will not go to elected officials, including county commissioners.
