The evaluation of additional payments during COVID-19 in Turkey: A qualitative study

Abstract

Aim: The study aimed to determine healthcare professionals’ perceptions and attitudes towards additional payments made from working capital due to the pandemic. Material and Methods: In the study, focus group interviews were made via snowball sampling method in order to identify the views of the healthcare professionals about the additional payment from the indicated ceiling and to find out what kind of perception developed as a result of this evaluation (injustice, burnout, etc.). Results: When the answers given to these questions were examined, it was seen that the healthcare professionals stated that not enough additional payments were given to them. Additional payments are made to employees by hospitals, but delays have occurred at the point of making additional payments due to the pandemic, and such a perception has emerged as a result of late payment of these additional payments. Discussion: The working capital is not fairly distributed among healthcare professional, and shifts are exceeding 24 hours, which causes unpaid labor, and also, the assignments of healthcare personnel in COVID-19 clinics and intensive care units are not made fairly. Also, a stable additional payment to the wages should be made instead of working capital payments. Finally, the lack of wage peace among healthcare personnel is also a nature that will weaken the fight against the pandemic.