We are federally-contracted workers who answer phone calls for the Affordable Care Act Federal Marketplace, 1-800-Medicare and CDC-INFO. We wrote to you in January after our employer, Maximus, laid off hundreds of our co-workers with less than two weeks notice.[1] In March, we spoke out about the lack of opportunities for career advancement in our workplace and the stark racial disparities between frontline workers and top executives at Maximus.[2] On May 12, two days before Mother’s Day, Maximus carried out another massive round of layoffs with only two weeks’ notice.

Your agency’s response to our last letter told us that we play an “essential role” and make an “invaluable contribution” to helping our fellow Americans get access to the information and health coverage they need. We are writing to let you know that while we may be playing an essential role, we do not feel valued in any way. Here are some of the ways that Maximus has chosen to ‘value’ our work:

• Paying many of us the minimum amount allowed by federal law ($16.20 per hour), dramatically less than what workers in similar jobs are paid on average at federal agencies such as the IRS and Social Security (appx. $25 per hour).

• Offering us health coverage with unaffordable out-of-pocket costs.

• Enforcing attendance and bathroom break policies that are deeply unfair to workers with disabilities, chronic health issues, and caregiving responsibilities.

• Failing to offer clear career paths or opportunities for advancement, leaving many of us feeling stuck in the same position for years, while awarding its top executives huge cash bonuses for “diversity and employee engagement.”

• Performing multiple massive layoffs within the first 6 months of this year, with only two weeks of notice, impacting hundreds of our co-workers, including workers with many years of experience.

This is not how you treat people who are “essential” and “invaluable” – instead, this is how you treat people you think are disposable. We are not disposable, and we will not accept being treated this way.

On behalf of the American people who count on you to ensure that the services we provide are available and high-quality, we call on you to:

a) Investigate Maximus’ labor practices immediately to determine whether they are consistent with its responsibilities as an HHS contractor.

b) Tell Maximus to rehire our laid-off coworkers immediately or provide them with no less than two months of guaranteed severance pay and priority for rehiring.

c) Commit to raising pay for HHS, CMS and CDC-contracted call center workers to $25 per hour.

[1] Secretary Becerra; Support Maximus workers fighting for a living wage & those laid off

[2] Joe Davidson, Washington Post, “Coalition urges probe of large federal contractor’s diversity efforts” March 21, 2023; CWA, NAACP, SOC report: Calling for Justice: Racial Inequity At The Largest Federal Call Center Contractor