By Stephen T. Watson, Buffalo News - Kaleida Health, which has said it is losing up to $30 million per month as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, is offering voluntary furloughs to its unionized workforce.
The region's largest hospital system negotiated the terms of the temporary unpaid leaves with the 1199SEIU and CWA 1168 unions, which represent about 8,000 of its employees.
Kaleida Health said in a statement Wednesday morning that the furloughs would begin Sunday and last for 30 days. The system did not say how many employees it wants to agree to go on furlough.
"The voluntary furlough program is a temporary but significant move to help us navigate the financial challenges that we are facing," CEO Jody L. Lomeo said in a statement.
The program also is available to nonunion staff. Similar offers were made to employees at Upper Allegheny Health System in Olean and Bradford, Pa., and with the Visiting Nurses Association of Western New York, both Kaleida Health affiliates. Read more HERE.
