Addressing the Unique Needs of Hourly
Wage Workers and Employers

 

Wednesday, April 4, 2007

Preparing for a public health emergency can be particularly difficult for hourly wage workers, especially those who earn less than $30,000 per year. These individuals are less likely to be able to provide for themselves or their families if their place of employment shuts down because of a public health emergency. The American Public Health Association (APHA) recently conducted a preparedness poll that found that of the 71 percent of employers who stated they would encourage employees to stay home during a national public health crisis, only 18 percent would continue to pay all employees if there were an interruption in operations for a period of two months. Furthermore, 29 percent of hourly wage workers responded they are currently uncertain if they would continue to be paid.

Unsurprisingly, low hourly wage earners have little or no money saved for a public health emergency. Only 15 percent report they have any dollars set aside for such an event; in addition, few people who earn low hourly wages report any emergency resources for a disaster. For example, only 31 percent of these same workers report having stocked up on non-perishable foods for a public health emergency, only 22 percent report having sufficient amounts of water set aside to last for three days and more than three-quarters (77 percent) of low hourly wage earners state they are unprepared for an emergency because they do not have money to spend on things they may never use.

It is important that hourly wage workers prepare for a public health emergency. For example, employees should know if their employer will allow them to work at an alternate location if their workplace is closed for an extended period of time. If possible, employees should also try to save at least $10 out of every paycheck or have a credit card with available funds in case they are unable to work because of an emergency. And individuals should have a plan to carpool with co-workers in case public transportation is unavailable during a crisis.

In This Issue
  • What’s Happening Today
  • Take Action Today!
  • NPHW in the News
  • American Legacy Foundation Preparedness Plan
  • NPHW Blog Series
  • Resources

What’s Happening Today

  • Genesee County Health Department’s Public Health Week Conference, Flint, Mich.
  • Public Health Preparedness: Do You Have a Plan?, Orlando, Fla.
  • Kane County Hidden Heroes of Public Health Celebration, Aurora, Ill.
  • Welcome to the Dental Clinic, Brookline, Mass.
  • Univ. of S. Florida College of Public Health Undergraduate Open House, Tampa, Fla.
  • Families With Children: Disaster Preparedness for the Household, Chicago, Ill.
  • Continuity of Operations Plans for Small Business and Their Employees, New Haven, Ct.

Other events may be accessed at www.apha.org/nphw/calendar. There is also a list of government agencies, health organizations, resources for teachers and other tools available at http://www.nphw.org/2007/pg_resources.htm.

Take Action Today!

WEDNESDAY: Meeting the needs of hourly wageworkers and their employers
Support S.163, Senator John Kerry’s (D-MA) “Small Business Disaster Response and Loan Improvements Act of 20007” which creates a loan program to aid small businesses in disaster-hit areas.  Click here to contact Congress.

Support H.R.751, Representative Ginny Brown-Waite’s (R-FL) “Disaster Recovery Act of 2007”, which requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to pay an eligible disaster relief applicant 50% of the federal share of assistance for which the applicant is eligible within 60 days after the applicant files a claim for such assistance.  Click here to contact Congress.

The following is a list of legislative policies, programs and initiatives that correspond with APHA’s National Public Health Week campaign to address the issue of preparedness for public health threats and emergencies.  Click on the links below to contact your elected officials in support of these bills and programs. 

Policy Asks to Improve Overall Preparedness:

  1. Invest in the public health infrastructure.  Fully fund comprehensive public health programs and infrastructure, which ensure access to basic primary health services for millions of Americans on both a day-to-day and emergency basis - addressing the diverse needs of urban, rural and underserved areas; and training health care personnel to provide needed services.   Click here to contact Congress.


  2. Develop Trauma Care Planning Systems for States and Localities.   Support H.R. 727, Rep. Gene Green’s (D-TX) ‘‘Trauma Care Systems Planning and Development Act’’, which directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop systems of care through sharing information among agencies and individuals involved in the study and provision of trauma care; and provide to State and local agencies technical assistance to develop, implement, and sustain emergency medical services.  Click here to contact Congress.


  3. Help first-responders communicate with one another.  Support S.385, Senator Inouye’s (D-HI) “Interoperable Emergency Communications Act”, which provides the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) with guidance as it awards $1 billion in interoperable emergency communications grants to police, firemen, and emergency medical personnel.  This bill would establish technology reserves to assist emergency response agencies in pre-positioning communications equipment in states or regional facilities. These reserves can be activated quickly in the event of a major emergency or natural disaster. Click here to contact Congress.

National Public Health Week in the News

National Public Health Week Blog Series

In conjunction with APHA's Get Ready for Flu Campaign we will be featuring daily entries related to the daily themes and focuses of National Public Health Week on our Get Ready for Flu blog.  Click here to read today's! 

Click here to sign up to receive Get Ready for Flu blog entries delivered right to your e-mail inbox.

NPHW Resources

Resources

APHA would especially like to thank our financial supporters who helped make this week possible.