County of Maui THP Arbitration FAQ

The first round of THP payments began on December 30, 2022. The county has since completed payments to all eligible employees.

Your department will should have notified you via email 30 days prior to your expected pay date with information regarding deferred compensation and tax withholdings. Please note that there are specific deadlines for these changes to take effect for pay periods. Contact your department if you have any concerns about timing your payment as it relates to deferred compensation or tax withholdings.

The County and HGEA have mutually agreed upon a form for those who are in the hybrid class. This form will include the County’s calculations for your award and the total amount. To accept your award, you must sign the form and return to your department for processing. If you do not agree with the calculations of your award, you have 20 working days to provide supporting documents to your Departmental Personnel Officer. If you experience any issues contesting, you can contact HGEA for assistance.

You will be notified of your THP amount from your department as your expected pay date approaches. 

For those who are in the hybrid category, you will be notified via a statement from your department.

If you’ve retired or left your County position, you will also receive a notice of payment.

The total amount of THP you receive will be calculated by the County. The THP percentage you will receive is specified in the arbitration decision. Your THP differential is based on the basic hourly rate of the minimum step of your salary range and is prorated by the THP percentage. That THP differential is then multiplied by the number of hours you worked while exposed to COVID-19 while you were at your physical worksite or assigned to work in the field or other off-site locations, not including telework.

See the Temporary Hazard Pay article in your bargaining unit contract for more detail.

No. THP is based on the time that you were exposed to COVID-19 while you were at your physical worksite or assigned to work in the field or other off-site locations, not including telework.

The arbitration decision covers the period of March 4, 2020 to March 25, 2022.

The County will calculate the number days and/or hours during this period that you qualified for THP.

At this time, we understand that the THP percentage you receive as well as the total amount of payout you can expect to receive will be presented to you by your department, no later than 30 days before your expected pay date.

The THP percentage is just one part of the equation and the County must do calculations on an individual basis factoring in hours worked while exposed to COVID-19 at the worksite, along with sick leave, vacation, administrative days, telework, etc.

The Temporary Hazard Pay article in your bargaining unit contract identifies two levels of THP differential:
– Most Severe – 25%
– Severe – 15%

HGEA worked with the arbitrator and the County to determine the THP percentage for each job classification depending on the level of exposure to COVID-19 that each classification was generally subject to. From there, your individual work situation was examined to determine your specific THP percentage.

The County will calculate the number of hours you were exposed to COVID-19 while you were at your physical worksite or assigned to work in the field or other off-site locations, not including telework.

In accordance with the Temporary Hazard Pay article in your bargaining unit contract, THP differential is based on the basic hourly rate of the minimum step of your salary range and shall be prorated by the THP percentage.

When you receive your THP payment or form and feel the amount you are owed is not correct, you can contest the amount by providing supporting documents to your Departmental Personnel Officer within 20 working days of the payment or date of the form.  If supporting documentation is not returned within 20 working days of payment or date of the form, the amount will be considered final. Should you experience any issues contesting payment with your Departmental Personnel Officer, you can reach out to HGEA.  

You will need to provide detailed information to be able to validate your claim. Please keep in mind that entering a challenge or pursuing the grievance process may delay your payout.

HGEA was made aware that the County did not include overtime hours in the THP calculations. HGEA took immediate action and filed a class grievance stating that all bargaining units should receive hazard pay for all hours, including overtime hours, in which employees were exposed to COVID-19 while at a physical worksite or assigned to work in the field or off-site locations. The only exclusions being telework.

On May 8, 2023, the County agreed to include overtime hours in the THP calculation for eligible employees.  

Per 88-21.5 HRS:

If you were hired before July 1, 2012, compensation used in the calculation of your retirement benefit will include any THP differential received.

If you were hired after June 30, 2012, compensation included in the calculation of your retirement benefit will not include any THP differential received.

Yes. Your deduction will be (.008 x THP differential amount)

The arbitration decision is the result of a class grievance filed on behalf of all employees in an HGEA bargaining unit employed by the County of Maui during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, non-members included in any applicable HGEA bargaining unit will receive THP. If you know of non-members in your workplace, take this opportunity to tell them why you support your union and why they should too!