MaineHealth changes employee hours and roles, hasn't cut jobs or pay so far
At MaineHealth, fighting the pandemic means that some employee assignments have changed and some staff are logging fewer hours. But all employees are receiving the full pay and benefits they had prior to the outbreak, according to a news release.
MaineHealth, Maine's largest health system and largest private employer, on Thursday released details about how it is redeploying staff amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
“In an effort to provide financial security and assurance to our employees at a time when so much is being demanded of them, we have decided that all MaineHealth employees who are sent home for any COVID-19-related reason will receive their regular pay and benefits and will not be required to use paid time off,” said Judith West, MaineHealth’s chief human resources officer.
In its pandemic response, MaineHealth has postponed elective procedures and non-urgent medical appointments. As a result, some workers have had their hours reduced or eliminated. Across the health care system, which employs 22,000, about 12% of employees have seen a reduction in working hours, according to the release. Fewer than 2% of the employees have lost all their shifts.
But all the affected employees continue to receive the same level of pay and benefits they had prior to the pandemic.
West said the staffing situation is fluid as planning for the pandemic responses develops. MaineHealth continues to evaluate the licenses, certifications and skills of its employees, and where appropriate, is reassigning them to roles in support of the COVID-19 response.
“Our goal is to keep our staff resources intact so that we can meet the challenges that might arise as the outbreak progresses,” said West.
The goal is to leverage existing skills into new functions rather than completely change jobs. For instance, physicians and advanced practice providers previously working in surgery and primary care are instead serving at COVID-19 testing sites and respiratory assessment centers. Doctors and nurses have been redeployed to employee health services. Support staff are helping with community drives to help fill the current shortage of donated blood.
West said MaineHealth’s scale as the largest health system in northern New England has provided flexibility and resources as planning for the pandemic response has progressed.
Staffing policies will be reviewed on roughly a monthly basis, and the next review is scheduled in two weeks.
“This is a very dynamic situation,” West said. “As such, we are constantly evaluating our approach with the goal of supporting our team so they can provide excellent care throughout this crisis.”
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