This page has important information and links for PCAs. Information and links for the PCA New Hire Orientation, PCA Union (1199SEIU), Paid Time Off (PTO), and more are all available here. Please use the links or download the forms to get more information.
The PCA New Hire Orientation is a 4-hour program. Starting February 1, 2021, the Workers' Rights section of the orientation is being moved from the consumer led portion of the orientation to the 1199SEIU Training and Upgrading Fund (TUF) portion along side the Infection Control training that started on October 1, 2020 (Infection Control Training Flyer). Any PCA completing the orientation with their consumer on or after February 1, 2021, will need to complete the final 2-hours of the orientation with TUF within 30 days of completing the orientation with their consumer. PCAs will be paid 4-hours for completing the orientation only after completing both portions of the orientation. A memo from MassHealth about this change can be found here.
Please make sure your timesheet is submitted to Stavros FI no later than 12PM Tuesday on the week it is due. This will help avoid any delay in receiving your pay. The payday for PCAs is Friday the week the timesheet is due.
The current rate of pay for PCAs is $15.75 per hour. The holiday rate of pay is $23.63 per hour. The 4 holidays are New Year's Day (January 1), Independence Day (July 4), Thanksgiving (the 4th Thursday in November), and Christmas Day (December 25).
The PCA wage increased effective July 1, 2020, as provided in the collective bargaining agreement. The temporary emergency increase to the PCA wage due to the COVID-19 emergency is effective through the end of July, but will no longer be effective starting August 1, 2020. Please see below for the PCA wage effective on the following dates of service:
MassHealth has created a letter explaining the rate changes for July 1, 2020 and August 1, 2020. The letter is in both English and Spanish.
The Paid Family and Medical Leave Act took effect on January 1, 2021. For more information on qualified reasons for taking these benefits and how to apply for them, please read this notice.
PCAs Key to Independent Living
PCAs Key to Independent Living (Spanish)
Starting February 1, 2021, the Workers' Rights section of the orientation is being moved from the consumer led portion of the orientation to the 1199SEIU Training and Upgrading Fund portion along side the Infection Control training that started on October 1, 2020 . Any PCA completing the orientation with their consumer on or after February 1, 2021, will need to complete the final 2-hours of the orientation with the Homecare Training Benefit within 30 days of completing the orientation with their consumer. PCAs will be paid 4-hours for completing the orientation only after completing both portions of the orientation. Memos regarding these changes are below.
New Hire Orientation Workers' Rights Update Memo
Infection Control Training Memo
The U.S. Department of Labor issued a Final Rule revising the Fair Labor and Standards Act (FLSA). This ruling will grant PCAs, who work over 40 hours per week, overtime pay starting January 1, 2016.
Overtime will be paid separately from a PCAs normal paycheck and be mailed directly to the PCA. Please make sure that we have an up to date address on file for all PCAs to avoid delays in receiving this check.
PCAs may also be eligible for Travel Time pay for same day commutes between consumers' homes. Travel Time paychecks will also be sent directly to a PCAs address. We recommend that PCAs set up Direct Deposit to receive both their paycheck and overtime/travel times check. Please review the MassHealth notice to Consumers and PCAs for more information.
Starting September 1, 2016 MassHealth began a new overtime management program for PCAs. PCAs are no longer allowed to work over 50 hours per week for one or more MassHealth members unless their consumer(s) receive special authorization from MassHealth to do so. Please review the bulletin issued by MassHealth for the new overtime regulations and the letters sent to consumers by MassHealth.
MassHealth also sent notifications to PCAs regarding overtime management. The letters sent by MassHealth can be found here.