Some Columbus city workers will get time off for ‘hazardous duty’ during coronavirus

Some city employees will receive compensatory time off for working with the public during the coronavirus pandemic.

Columbus Council approved a resolution Tuesday that will provide 24 hours of “hazardous duty time off” to employees identified by their supervisor as having duties that required ongoing contact with the public daily or direct ongoing supervision of inmates during the period of March 14 to May 17.

That includes law enforcement, public safety and other Columbus Consolidated Government employees, as well as public works and parks and recreation, who continued their duties uninterrupted.

Full-time employees and part-time bus drivers as well as specific reserve deputies will be eligible to receive the time off.

Department heads and elected officials are not eligible for time off.

METRA Transit bus operators and 911 responders in the police and fire departments will also receive an additional 16 hours time off. The time off will be granted by the director of public safety or the city manager as applicable, the resolution states.

The time off must be used within 12 months.

Mayor Skip Henderson said the time off was given to show appreciation for the employees’ service while keeping in mind the financial impact the pandemic has had on the city.

“We spoke with the public safety chiefs, we spoke with some department heads and we spoke with a few of the employees on the front line, and it became clear in those discussions that because of taxes and other items that are pulled out of bonuses or short term pay, that time off held the greatest value for them,” Henderson said.

“We don’t expect it’s going to make everybody happy, but it is by far in our opinion the best way for us to show our employees just how much we appreciate the work that they did during these really trying times.”