Bay Area Hospital decides to temporarily furlough employees on volunteer basis
COOS BAY, Ore. — Bay Area hospital in Coos Bay is temporarily furloughing employees on a voluntary basis. According to the hospital, 71 employees have been furloughed for 45 days.
Kelli Dion with Bay Area Hospital says more employees volunteered than they had the availability to provide.
Those not granted a furlough, have been put on a waitlist, which will be enacted if more furloughs need to happen.
Many health care facilities around the country have reduced patient volume for safety.
"That's how we stay in business is by taking care of patients and when those patients aren't there, we don't need as many staff and quite frankly can't support as many staff,” Dion said.
Dion says those who are furloughed will keep their seniority and benefits. This isn't the only action taken at Bay Area Hospital.
Dion says some departments have chosen to enact workshare or a 15% reduction in hours.
“It's really been cool to see how the hospital has pulled together,” Dion said. “Like we have one department that everybody took one day off a week instead of having to furlough somebody entirely."
If the hospital needs to bring back more employees before the 45 day period is up, they can call that person back with 72-hours notice.
Dion says Bay Area Hospital is still open for care and will continue providing the same level of care as always.
