Crazy4Disney72
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2006
- Messages
- 1,057
Here's my situation.....I'm a new grad (2019) COTA (certified occupational therapy assistant). The job market in therapy wasn't the greatest right now since the 10/1/2019 Medicare changes took effect mandating more group therapy, so I haven't been able to find a full-time job. I started in January as a PRN/contingent employee with a major hospital system in the Detroit area. The beauty of contingent is a higher hourly rate because they aren't offering any benefits, and you get to tell them when you want to work. You are only required to do 2 weekend days a month and one holiday a year. I had been working about 4-5 days a week, which worked out well for me.
Fast forward to the covid-19 crisis. Since all elective surgeries have been canceled, and as of now, OT and PT are not seeing the covid patients, the need for therapists has greatly decreased. They have shut down the inpatient rehab wing, and are only utilizing 3 OTs in acute care, and are scrambling to find things for the regular rehab services employees to do to keep them working. Obviously, in this situation, they do not need the contingent employees. First they sent me a text 3/24 saying they didn't need me that day or for the rest of the month, then a few days later, sent all the contingents a group text and said they are not scheduling us at all for April (my last day I worked was 3/22), if anything changes they will let us know, but I'm thinking I will be lucky if I'm back in June, more likely it will be July or maybe even later before things are back to any semblance of normal that they need me again.
Here's my question, am I able to file for unemployment? Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't have been eligible. First of all, I don't think PRN/contingent workers were eligible, and I definitely haven't worked enough to qualify, as prior to starting at this hospital 1/20/20, I hadn't worked since 2015 because I was a full time student. However, I'm reading that under the CARES act, 'gig' workers, self-employed, contractors, those with limited work history, ARE eligible....basically if you've lost income due to covid-19, you are eligible. I can find nothing that directly speaks to contingent healthcare workers though. I'm in Michigan if that makes a difference.
I guess I can try, the worst that can happen is I get denied, but I was just wondering if the vast knowledge pool of the DIS had any actual insight into PRN/contingent healthcare workers and unemployment. Thanks!
Fast forward to the covid-19 crisis. Since all elective surgeries have been canceled, and as of now, OT and PT are not seeing the covid patients, the need for therapists has greatly decreased. They have shut down the inpatient rehab wing, and are only utilizing 3 OTs in acute care, and are scrambling to find things for the regular rehab services employees to do to keep them working. Obviously, in this situation, they do not need the contingent employees. First they sent me a text 3/24 saying they didn't need me that day or for the rest of the month, then a few days later, sent all the contingents a group text and said they are not scheduling us at all for April (my last day I worked was 3/22), if anything changes they will let us know, but I'm thinking I will be lucky if I'm back in June, more likely it will be July or maybe even later before things are back to any semblance of normal that they need me again.
Here's my question, am I able to file for unemployment? Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't have been eligible. First of all, I don't think PRN/contingent workers were eligible, and I definitely haven't worked enough to qualify, as prior to starting at this hospital 1/20/20, I hadn't worked since 2015 because I was a full time student. However, I'm reading that under the CARES act, 'gig' workers, self-employed, contractors, those with limited work history, ARE eligible....basically if you've lost income due to covid-19, you are eligible. I can find nothing that directly speaks to contingent healthcare workers though. I'm in Michigan if that makes a difference.
I guess I can try, the worst that can happen is I get denied, but I was just wondering if the vast knowledge pool of the DIS had any actual insight into PRN/contingent healthcare workers and unemployment. Thanks!
