Information for Staff Home > Information for Staff A A A This page contains important information for our workforce. Please choose: Jump to Covid-19 Info | Jump to OPWDD Healthcare Workforce Incentive Info | Jump to Direct Service Retention Bonus Info | Jump to 2025 Wage Info Elevating Caring Professionals In March 2025, we raised our wages to $20.50 per hour for direct support professionals working full-time in our residential and community habilitation. Day habilitation employees start at $19.50. This is the fourth time since May 2021 that we have raised the base rate for our direct support professionals. There are also ways for residential and respite staff to earn more, with bonuses of 50 cents per hour for working on Saturday and Sunday, 75 cents per hour for working overnight (11 p.m. – 8 a.m.), and $1 per hour for working at a location that houses people with more complex needs. 2025 Starting Minimum Wages FAQ DID YOU KNOW..? The direct care workforce expanded rapidly over the last decade. It grew from 3.1 million workers in 2010 to 4.6 million in 2020, and is projected to continue growing from 2019 to 2029 by an estimated 1.3 million jobs to meet rising demand. Long-term care employers will face even more difficulty with recruiting and retaining workers, especially with the industry’s high turnover rates. It’s estimated that long-term care employers will need to fill 7.4 million job openings in direct care from 2019 to 2029, when including positions that must be filled when existing workers transfer out. We believe moving the wage of our frontline professionals is a social justice issue, and more specifically an equity initiative. Caring professions across our county are staffed predominately by women, with a growing population being women of color. 2025 Direct Service Retention Bonus Direct Service Retention Bonus Distribution Plan Frequently Asked Questions OPWDD Workforce Incentive Payment information FAQs Related to OPWDD Workforce Incentive Payments COVID-19 Information Tips for a healthy holiday I'm interested in Covid-19 vaccine information. How do I make an appointment for Covid-19 vaccine? Visit Vaccines.gov How can I access free testing for Covid-19? Request free Covid home tests. I want to know more about exposure, symptoms and testing positive for Covid-19. Covid-19 potential exposure defined: Proximity – close contact – within six feet Duration – 15 minutes total over a 24-hour period (does not have to be 15 consecutive minutes). Please note social distancing and proper use of masks and shields will reduce the risk of contracting the virus, with people who you support and your co-workers and family and friends. Vaccinated people are not required to quarantine if no symptoms are present, call the hotline regarding your exposure I have symptoms, exposure or have tested positive for Covid-19. What now? Please contact your supervisor. Click here for additional information. Report all symptoms of illness including but not limited to: congestion, runny nose, feeling feverish or having a fever of 100 degrees or higher, chills or shaking, cough, sore throat, body aches, shortness of breath, headache, fatigue, new loss of taste or smell, nausea, diarrhea or vomiting. Quite often people initially attribute early symptoms to other potential illnesses or chronic conditions (i.e. migraines or allergies). It is important to report ALL symptoms to your supervisor for review. Let your supervisor know if you have had any close contact with someone who has been diagnosed with Covid-19. Please contact the HCS Covid-19 reporting line at (585) 340-2050 if you have tested positive for Covid-19. I receive health care benefits through HCS. How can I access the telemedicine (HealthiestYou) benefit? To get started, click here for HealthiestYou general information, or here for the HealthiestYou Covid-19 FAQs. To speak with a doctor 24/7, call 866-703-1259 or visit HealthiestYou.com. I'm facing challenges outside of work. Do you need support from a success coach? Click here to learn more about how the HCS success coach can assist you. What are ways that I can practice self-care and focus on my mental health? As Heritage Christian Services employee you have access to an employee assistance program through NexGen EAP. To access your Total Wellbeing Services: Call 1-800-EAP-CALL or log on at www.nexgeneap.com and enter company ID 8516 (the company ID is only needed to create an account on the website). Your EAP counselor will take you through an intake process to assess your situation and determine the best level of care. Jump to Covid-19 Info | Jump to OPWDD Healthcare Workforce Incentive Info | Jump to Direct Service Retention Bonus Info | Jump to 2025 Wage Info