X. Benefits

Caregiver Employment Levels

There are 4 employment levels to be achieved as a caregiver at SARA Companion Home Care Services. They are Level C, Level B, Level A and Level Elite. Each caregiver has an equal opportunity to reach each level.

LEVEL C

All newly hired caregivers begin at LEVEL C. That signifies that based on the information presented to SARA, we will give you the opportunity to care for our patients on a probationary basis.

Probation is 6 months from the date you first work on an assignment. During this 6-month probationary period, you must work a minimum of 480 hours of home health service with SARA Companion Home Care Services.

During this time, we will also evaluate your performance and overall interaction with patients, clients, family members, staff, and other professional you interact with during the patient’s care.  

If you complete 480 hours of service prior to the end of the 6-month probationary period, and your performance exceeds average standards, then you can advance to LEVEL B prior to the end of the 6 months.

Should your performance/interaction during the 6 months be unsatisfactory, then your employment with SARA will be terminated.

Once you have successfully completed your 6 months’ probation, then you will advance to LEVEL B where you will have earned the title of a CERTIFIED SARA and an increase to the pay rate and benefits offered at LEVEL B.

LEVEL B

Who is a CERTIFIED SARA?  A CERTIFIED SARA is a Skilled Attentive Reliable Assistant who:

• ~ adheres to the rule and regulations outlined in the employee handbook
• ~ demonstrates the necessary/required skills to effectively and efficiently perform his/her duties as indicated on the patient’s plan of care
• ~ is available to work and accepts assignments offered by the staffing coordinators
• ~ is prompt to his/her assignments
• ~ properly records time worked and tasks completed for each assignment
• ~ communicates with the agency RN regarding his/her patients’ condition
• ~ maintains client confidentiality/privacy is respectful and professional when interacting with the clients, family members/responsible party, SARA agency staff
• ~ demonstrates a general understanding of the policy and procedures of SARA Companion Home Care Services

As a CERTIFIED SARA, you will receive:

• ~ Pay rate increase of 5% above Level C
• ~ Receive holiday pay at time and a half for 6 holidays.  Those holidays are outlined ABOVE under Holidays.
• ~ Eligible to participate in AFLAC Supplement Benefits
• ~ A uniform bearing the company logo if assigned to a facility where it is required
• ~ Vacation Days: earned after 960 hours of accrued work; up to 30 hours maximum per calendar year.  Refer to the vacation policy, Appendix E

LEVEL A

An “A” CERTIFIED SARA caregiver is a Home Health Aide (Level A is not an opportunity for Personal Care Aides):

• ~ continues to display the attributes of a CERTIFIED SARA
• ~ consistently demonstrates above average performance
• ~ is proactive with regard to care, comfort and safety of the client, while working within his/her scope of care
• ~ effectively anticipates the needs of the client and responds accordingly
• ~ works independently, while still adhering to the plan of care
• ~ proficient in specialized care, such as caring for patients with various forms of dementia, catheter care, colostomy, Hoyer lift, etc.

As an “A” CERTIFIED SARA, you will receive:

• ~ Pay rate increase of 10% above Level C
• ~ Receive holiday pay at time and a half for 6 holidays. Those holidays are outlined ABOVE under Holidays.
• ~ Eligible to participate in AFLAC Supplement Benefits
• ~ Personal Days: up to 16 hours maximum per calendar year
• ~ A uniform bearing the company logo and your “A” CERTIFIED SARA status
• ~ Vacation Days: earned after 960 hours of accrued work; up to 40 hours maximum per calendar year.

LEVEL ELITE

An ELITE SARA caregiver (Level Elite is not an opportunity for Personal Care Aides):

• ~ continues to display the attributes of an “A” CERTIFIED SARA
• + Performs well in all work environments
• + Handles him/herself well challenging situations
• + One of the key points of contact between the patients/clients and office, updating office personnel as required

As an ELITE SARA, you will receive:

• ~ Pay rate increase of 15% above Level C
• ~ A uniform bearing the company logo and your ELITE SARA status
• ~ Receive holiday pay at time and a half for 6 holidays. Those holidays are outlined ABOVE under Holidays.
• ~ Personal Days: up to 24 hours maximum per calendar year
• ~ Vacation Days: earned after 960 hours of accrued work; up to 40 hours maximum per calendar year.
• ~ Eligible to participate in AFLAC Supplement Benefits
• ~ Health Benefits

Health Plan

Employees may obtain additional information regarding health plans and employee share of premium from the Human Resource Manager.

Personal and Vacation Paid Time Off

Caregivers are eligible to receive payment for taking time off.  The guidelines are as follows:

• ~ Are still employed with SARA Companion Home Care Services; and
• ~ The request for vacation paid time off is submitted 3 weeks prior to your requested date on the Time Off Request form (Level B or higher) and the hours requested must be accrued by the request date; OR
• ~ The request for personal paid time off is submitted 3 weeks prior to requested date on the Time Off Request form (Level A or higher) and the hours requested must be accrued by the request date; AND

• ~ The Caregiver received an approval from the Director of Patient Services (DPS).

Please note: Vacation and Personal Days must be used when available and cannot be carried over to the next year.

See Appendix J for Time Off Accrual.

Employee Referral Bonus

Employees may be eligible for an employee referral bonus of $100. Applicants must identify the name of the employee who referred them. See Appendix B- Employee Referral Bonus Program Guidelines in this handout for details.

Temporary Disability Insurance

Employees are eligible to apply to Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) in accordance with the law. Employees must file directly for TDI.

Leaves of Absence

Please submit all requests to the Human Resource Manager with as much advance notice as possible. When requesting a leave due to a disability, employees must submit the following:

1. A doctor’s statement the length of recuperation.
2. A statement verifying the employee’s ability to return to work and any restrictions.

Family Medical Leave Act

The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) allows employees to balance their work and family life by taking paid leave for certain family and medical reasons. SARA Companion Home Care Services and its employees are covered under FMLA insurance.

For complete details of FMLA, employees can learn more at: https://paidfamilyleave.ny.gov/.

Workers Compensation

If an employee is injured on the job, the HR Manager must be notified and a first report of injury must be filed immediately. In cases where medical attention is required, the employee will be treated at the nearest Hospital Emergency Department or be referred to an outside physician.

It is important to remember that an Incident Report must be made on all accidents, as Workers’ Compensation benefits depend on this report. The Agency cannot and will not be responsible for conditions which may arise after a time lapse from the accident date unless a report has been made initially.

If an employee is determined eligible for Workers’ Compensation, benefits will be provided to cover medical expenses and a percentage of lost wages while the employee is injured and disabled unable to perform their work duties.

Jury Duty

If an employee is called to jury duty, he/she must notify the Administrator and submit a copy of the Notice to Serve.  Employees will not be paid while on jury duty.

Military

Members of the Armed Forces: A military leave of absence will be granted to employees who are absent from work because of service in the U.S. uniformed services in accordance with the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). Advance notice of military service is required, unless military necessity prevents such notice or it is otherwise impossible or unreasonable. The leave will be unpaid.

Please note, SARA Companion Home Care Services at its option, may change, delete, suspend or discontinue parts or the Pay Practice Policy in its entirety, at any time without prior notice. In the event of a program change, employees will be notified. Any such action shall apply to existing as well as to future employees on the date the action becomes effective.