CalHR Agrees to ACSS’ Proposal for COVID Testing Administrator/Observer Pay Differential for Excluded Employees

In 2021, the Newsom Administration called for the weekly testing of unvaccinated state employees. Departments were encouraged to have supervisory and managerial employees organize and conduct the testing. Utilizing the meet and confer provisions of the Excluded Employee Bill of Rights, ACSS met with CalHR and formally proposed a $250 per month pay differential for excluded employees performing Testing Administrator Duties.

CalHR has accepted the ACSS proposal and has approved a new “Testing Observer Pay Differential” for excluded employees. Effective the first day of a department’s testing program, but no earlier than July 1, 2021, excluded employees are eligible to receive a $250 per month pay differential after completing the vendor-required training to become a “Test Administrator” and performing any of the following COVID testing duties:

• Check in test participants
• Supervise nasal swab sample collection
• Dispose of cards and test materials
• Package test samples for shipping
• Perform and read tests

ACSS is pleased the Administration has agreed to recognize the supervisors, managers and other excluded employees who stepped up to perform these duties. At $250 per month for the 15-month duration of the COVID-19 testing program, excluded employees performing testing duties for the full duration of the testing program will receive $3,750.

Departments will need to key in the request for retroactive payments, which may take some time. Pay Differential 459 – Testing Observer Pay Differential – Excluded Employees can be read here.

Please reach out to your ACSS Labor Representative with questions or issues regarding this Testing Observer Pay Differential.