WOONSOCKET, R.I., March 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In recognition of
the essential role CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) employees are playing as
the country faces the COVID-19 pandemic, the company is awarding
bonuses to employees who are required to be at CVS facilities to
assist patients and customers in this time of unprecedented need.
Bonuses will range from $150 to
$500 and will be awarded to
pharmacists and certain other health care professionals on the
frontlines, store associates and managers, and other site-based
hourly employees.
"Our colleagues have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to
providing essential goods and services at a time when they're
needed most," said Larry J. Merlo,
President and CEO, CVS Health. "As they continue to be there for
the individuals and families we serve, we're taking extra steps to
provide some peace of mind and help them navigate these uncertain
times."
CVS Health is also embarking on the most ambitious hiring drive
in the company's history, with plans to immediately fill 50,000
full-time, part-time and temporary roles across the country. Roles
include store associates, home delivery drivers, distribution
center employees and member/customer service professionals. The
company will utilize a technology-enabled hiring process that
includes virtual job fairs, virtual interviews and virtual job
tryouts. Many roles will be filled by existing CVS Health clients
who have had to furlough workers, including Hilton and
Marriott.
An influx of talent will help manage capacity for existing
employees, who will also benefit from the following changes:
- CVS Health will launch a new offering to help employees with
both child and elder or adult dependent care needs. Working with
the Bright Horizons network of national in-home and center-based
daycare providers, employees will be able to take advantage of up
to 25 fully covered days of backup care. This benefit will begin in
early April for both full- and part-time employees.
- Full-time CVS Health employees have always had access to paid
sick leave. Effective March 22, CVS
Health has made 24 hours of paid sick leave available to part-time
employees for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. This paid sick
leave is in addition to the 14-day paid leave the company is
providing for any employee who tests positive for COVID-19 or needs
to be quarantined as a result of potential exposure.
Employee safety has been a focus for CVS Health from the start,
and the company has been prioritizing distribution of protective
gear to the hardest-hit areas.
"The health and wellbeing of our colleagues has always come
first. We've been working around the clock to increase availability
of supplies and update protocols to ensure our stores are safe for
colleagues and customers alike," Merlo stated.
In addition to the measures announced today, CVS Health
employees have several resources available to help address
financial hardships in times of crisis. This includes access to the
Employee Relief Fund, which provides short-term, immediate
financial relief in the form of tax-exempt grants.
More information on steps CVS Health has already taken to
address the COVID-19 pandemic — including waiving charges for home
delivery of prescription medications and making diagnostic testing
and Aetna-covered telemedicine visits available with no co-pay — is
available at the company's frequently updated COVID-19 resource
center.
About CVS Health
CVS Health employees are united
around a common goal of becoming the most consumer-centric health
company in the world. We're evolving based on changing consumer
needs and meeting people where they are, whether that's in the
community at one of our nearly 10,000 local touchpoints, in the
home, or in the palm of their hand. Our newest offerings – from
HealthHUB® locations that are redefining what a pharmacy can be, to
innovative programs that help manage chronic conditions – are
designed to create a higher-quality, simpler and more affordable
experience. Learn more about how we're transforming health at
http://www.cvshealth.com.
Media Contact
T.J. Crawford
212-457-0583
CrawfordT2@aetna.com
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SOURCE CVS Health