Rep. Williams urges governor to issue executive order protecting frontline workers and essential personnel during pandemic

STATE HOUSE – Rep. Anastasia P. Williams (D-Dist. 9, Providence) is urging Governor Gina Raimondo to issue an executive order which would state that any COVID-19 infection suffered by a frontline worker or essential personnel shall be considered work-related, providing the worker with labor protections resulting from the work-related infection.

“We are truly living in scary and unsettling times, yet those who are still working, protecting us, caring for us, and making sure that we are all supplied with the necessary goods and services, these individuals are serving the rest of us despite their well-founded fears of getting sick.  These selfless workers deserve to know that if the worst should happen and they become infected with COVID-19, that we recognize their sacrifice for our greater good, and their infection and recuperation should be deemed work-related. While most of us are safely tucked away in our homes, these employees have earned and are rightfully deserving of these significant and crucial worker protections for themselves and their families that are in immediate danger.  This is not only fair, but most importantly, the right and moral thing to do, recognizing the importance of their work and sacrifices during this pandemic,” said Representative Williams.

Rep. Evan P. Shanley (D-Dist. 24, Warwick) is supportive of Representative Williams’ efforts.

“The federal and state government has done a great job stepping in to help those who are out of work as a result of COVID-19 but has not taken adequate measure to protect those who are still working. Rhode Island must act now to protect our essential workers who are making sure our basic needs are being met during these unprecedented times. Immediate action is required to support these courageous workers by affording them the basic protections afforded to injured workers under the Rhode Island Workers Compensation Act. The least we can do is tell these workers that their medical bills and families will be taken care of in the event they contract COVID-19,” said Representative Shanley.

The executive order would apply to first responders and anyone designated by the Director of the Department of Labor and Training and the Director of the Department of Administration as an essential employee.  This would include any public safety official, including but not limited to, police, fire, EMS, medical facility workers, correctional officers, dispatchers, paramedics, pharmacists, and pharmaceutical technicians.  The order would also apply to grocery or retail workers, essential state and municipal employees, janitorial staff, public transportation employees, parcel and freight delivery employees, truck drivers and utility workers, whether the workers are citizens, documented or undocumented immigrants.  Any worker who contracts, has symptoms of or otherwise becomes affected with COVID-19, during the time period in which the state, federal government or any municipality declared a state of emergency because of the COVID-19 pandemic, that results in a period of hospitalization, quarantine, or require self-quarantine measures as a result of being infected or coming into contact with someone who is infected with the COVID-19, shall have their medical condition or incapacity to work presumed to be work-related.

The amount of time any public safety official or employee is incapacitated or unable to perform their duties as a result of the COVID-19 infection or exposure and the required time of hospitalization, time of quarantine or time of self-quarantine shall be considered as on duty time, and said public safety official shall not be required to use their sick time, vacation time, or personal time or any other contractual time-off to cover said period of incapacitation or inability to perform regular duty work. The time of incapacitation or inability to perform their duties shall be considered as emergency hazard health duty.

No claim or report of injuries, or the identity of the claimant, relative to any claim filed pursuant to the workers’ compensation laws of this state shall be reported by any state agency or employer to any federal law enforcement authority, including but not limited to the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

If the governor refuses to protect and safeguard our essential employees and chooses not to issue this crucial executive order, Representative Williams plans to introduce legislation protecting Rhode Island’s essential workers once the General Assembly reconvenes. 

“Everyone who is in danger of becoming infected with COVID-19 and still working to ensure our society does not come to a complete stop deserves the slight peace of mind that if they do become sick, their sacrifice will not be tossed aside, or even dismissed, and be left to fend for themselves.  This is the only moral action to take to assist the people that are unselfishly putting themselves in harm’s way to benefit the rest of us.  I urge the governor to do the right thing and take immediate action to show our often underappreciated and underpaid essential workers how invaluable their contributions clearly and obviously are to our society, especially during these times of crisis,” concluded Representative Williams.