fbpx
Connect with us

Mississippi News

Maximus workers in Hattiesburg strike again

Published

on

Maximus workers in Hattiesburg strike again, calling out timed bathroom breaks and COVID-19 policies

Federally contracted call center workers are striking in Hattiesburg for the third time this year โ€” this time, taking aim at bathroom breaks and time off policies related to .ย 

Maximus call center workers, who are tasked with handling customer service calls for Medicare, the Affordable Care Act marketplace and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, have been vocal for months in their union efforts and calls for workplace reforms.ย 

Some of the latest criticisms come from workers who take CDC information calls and say the call center isn’t giving workers the proper time off if they test positive for COVID-19.ย 

โ€œRight now, some of us only get one day of paid leave when we test positive for COVID-19, even though the CDC recommends that anyone who tests positive for COVID quarantine for at least five days,โ€ Hattiesburg worker Jennifer Dundit said in a statement. โ€œTherefore, if we don’t have any accrued time off, we might be unable to properly quarantine to recover and prevent community spread.โ€ย 

In a statement, Maximus said it follows the CDC’s workplace guidelines. Workers, the company says, have โ€œ24 hours of paid administrative leave,” which equates to three eight-hour shifts, if they test positive. But call center workers told Mississippi Today they only get one day off before to dip into their earned time off โ€“ and that’s if they’ve accrued it. Often, they say, workers have to take unpaid time off while isolating โ€“ something they usually cannot afford.ย 

Call center workers in Bogalusa, La. also protested outside a Maximus call center Monday. Both groups have been calling for better wages since in-person protests began in March. Workers make about $15 an hour โ€“ย  $31,000 to $35,000 a year before taxes.ย 

Maximus’ Hattiesburg workers are about 80% female, according to union group Call Center Workers United. Despite the largely female workforce, workers say in addition to poor time-off policies they’re also given strict six-minute bathroom break rules outside of their allotted 15-minute breaks and 30-minute lunches.ย After the story published, Maximus clarified that “bathroom breaks are allowed for everyone and can be longer than 6 minutes if needed.”

READ MORE: Starbucks employees and others trying to unionize in Mississippi face decades-old hardships

โ€œWe need more than six minutes to use the bathroom,โ€ Dundit said, โ€œand should not have to risk discipline or shame for doing so.โ€ย 

Maximus did not respond directly to the bathroom-break allegations, instead pointing out workers get two short breaks and one long lunch break during an 8-hour workday.

Since March, workers have called out Maximus for exorbitant insurance costs. Workers have told Mississippi Today they struggle to stretch their paychecks to food, bills and basic medical costs.

Call Center Workers United recently announced a new โ€œsolidarity fundโ€ to help workers who choose to walk off the job in protest of working conditions.ย 

Maximus cut health insurance deductibles from $4,500 to $2,500 since workers began speaking out. Maximus has said it meets regularly with employees to address issues and has a hotline where workers can complaints anonymously.ย 

โ€œWe welcome the to work directly with our employees and discuss and hopefully resolve their concerns,โ€ Maximus told Mississippi Today after May’s protest. โ€œWe respect our employees’ legal right to attempt to organize, and any information we is designed to help them make an informed decision about union representation.โ€

Clarification 8/8/22: This story was updated with more detail about Maximus’ COVID-19 leave and bathroom break policies.

This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

Mississippi News

Dollar General vehicle theft leads to two arrests in Tupelo

Published

on

www.wcbi.com – Aundrea Self – 2024-11-04 16:10:00

SUMMARY: In , Mississippi, 19-year-old Joshua James and a juvenile face charges related to a pursuit and the of a police car. James is charged with Directing a Felony to Be Committed by a Person Under Seventeen, Grand Larceny, and Felony Fleeing, with a bond set at $100,000. The incident began on November 1 when police responded to a of a stolen vehicle. After a chase that ended when the stolen truck crashed south of Verona, James was apprehended, while his juvenile passenger fled in a police car, which was later found wrecked. The juvenile’s case will be handled in Youth Court.

For 24/7 and updates, follow us onย Facebookย andย X.

Categories: Crime, Local News


Read the full article

The post Dollar General vehicle theft leads to two arrests in Tupelo appeared first on www.wcbi.com

Continue Reading

Mississippi News

Lowndes Co. Supervisors talk storm safety for certain areas

Published

on

www.wcbi.com – Marcus Hunter – 2024-11-04 15:59:00

SUMMARY: The Lowndes County Board of Supervisors has secured to construct storm shelters in Crawford, Artesia, and Plum Grove, lacking local shelter during severe weather. Each community will four FEMA-funded shelters, accommodating up to 20 people each, on property at a total cost of $103,692, with FEMA contributing $93,000. The supervisors anticipate these shelters will significantly enhance safety for during storms. Vice President Jeff Smith highlighted their importance, expressing relief for community members who have long awaited a secure refuge. While installation timelines remain unclear, the is expected to proceed soon.

Read the full article

The post Lowndes Co. Supervisors talk storm safety for certain areas appeared first on www.wcbi.com

Continue Reading

Mississippi News

News anchor dropped after social media post telling Trump-haters supporting Harris: ‘Stay home, donโ€™t vote’

Published

on

www.foxnews.com – – 2024-11-04 11:51:00

SUMMARY: David “Dave” Elliott, a local anchor for in for nearly 40 years, was fired after expressing political views on social . He revealed on Facebook that his termination was due to his political opinions, specifically mentioning a where he advised people not to vote out of hatred for Donald Trump. Elliott characterized his social media posts as satire, distinguishing them from his professional work. He noted that the discussion with his station’s general about his dismissal was brief, and the topic of social media was raised. WLOX’s management declined to comment on the matter.

Read the full article

The post News anchor dropped after social media post telling Trump-haters supporting Harris: ‘Stay home, don’t vote’ appeared first on www.foxnews.com

Continue Reading

Trending