Hi all,
We currently have 5 caregivers doing 12-hour DAY and 12-hour NIGHT shifts. We are trying to come up with an incentive/bonus structure for when caregivers call out sick/have emergencies and we need to find coverage.
If caregivers are getting paid $25 an hour but are called in last minute to cover, this is the financial incentive we came up with to get other caregivers to cover shifts in ADDITION to hourly pay…
—FULL SHIFT COVERAGE (within 24 hours of shift): If a caregiver cancels and we schedule you within 24 hours of that full 12-hour shift, you get $100 extra.
—FULL SHIFT COVERAGE SECOND NIGHT (within 24 hours of shift): If a caregivers cancels and we schedule you within 24 hours of that full 12-hour shift BUT it’s the second night you’re covering for a caregiver cancellation, you get $50 extra.
—LESS THAN FULL SHIFT COVERAGE (within 24 hours of shift): If a caregiver cancels and we schedule you within 24 hours of a shift but it’s not a full shift (it’s less than 12 hours), you get an extra $10 per hour for that shift you’re covering.
—SCHEDULING FAR OUT (when we’re down a caregiver or for specific reasons and 1+ weeks out of shift): If we are scheduling shift coverage 1 or more weeks out, you get $50 for the shift you cover.
Thoughts? What works for you?
We had one person who called out more than the other 7 people combined. Clearly this person
was a problem employee. She quit on her own.
The older caregivers seem to call out less. A lot of ours have never called once and have worked for us for years.
This is net after taxes. We pay the taxes on the bonus. Attendance and loyalty is better with the large holiday bonuses. This summer we gave a $750 covid bonus to each.
Most of our caregivers have other jobs so there are really not any available to fill in for call outs.
We make them find their own substitute for call outs.
If you have a caregiver supervisor it helps if they are somewhat on the mean side. That will equal less call outs.
I'm running 12 hour shifts 7 days a week. One person on overnight and two during the day. I figure if one calls out during the day the other can get by on their own.
Mom has a very complicated medically required diet that requires a lot of work. Thus two during the day.
Our people generally don't want to fill in for short notice call outs. I tell them up front that they need to show up unless family is in the hospital.
Your standard rate of pay seems very generous. We are starting at $20 per hour, legal. We have a few making $25 who have worked for us 7 years.
I'm currently down a caregiver and two will be working more hours for probably the next 6 weeks until I can find someone else. We pay time and a half over 40 hours but that is about it for extra pay.
If so is it slightly possible that they could "arrange between themselves" that (this might sound convoluted but that's how my mind works sometimes)
Sue calls Amy and says "I can cover a shift for you, I would get an extra $100 and I will split it with you, then next month you can do the same for me" "we will make a few extra dollars and it will be easy"
Maybe this would not happen but it is a thought that popped into my head as I was reading this.
I think giving loyal, on time caregivers first choice of holidays off.
Or if they need the extra pay if they get get a call first to fill in.
And at Holidays a little extra bonus.