[US] Johns Hopkins Health System hastens $15 minimum wage implementation

This week Johns Hopkins Health System has raised its minimum wage to $15 and increased employees’ base pay by 3 per cent, Baltimore Fishbowl reports.

The changes went into effect on September 26 for non-union employees, Health system officials said changes to pay for employees who are represented by a union will be addressed during the renewal cycle for collective bargaining agreements.

Emails were sent to Johns Hopkins Health System managers and nursing staff on Friday in which the system’s leaders announced the early implementation of the changes, these messages were obtained by Baltimore Fishbowl.

“Investment in our incredible JHHS staff is a top priority for Johns Hopkins Medicine and JHHS leadership,” the leaders wrote. “The last two years have been profoundly challenging for those of us working in health care. Through it all, we have watched you and your teams rise to the occasion, consistently providing exceptional patient care, supporting our operations and advancing the Johns Hopkins Medicine mission. It is important to us and to all Johns Hopkins leaders that we recognize your efforts.”

Johns Hopkins Health System had originally intended to increase its minimum wage and base pay in January 2022, after they first announced the changes in May 2021.

“We are excited to be able to make this $15 minimum wage increase happen sooner than originally planned for this critically important group of entry-level employees,” Johns Hopkins Health System spokesperson Kim Hoppe said.

System officials did not comment about why the changes were happening sooner.

The University of Maryland Medical System and the University of Maryland Faculty Physicians, Inc. announced on September 10 that they would raise their own minimum wage to $15, it went into effect on September 12.

Currently, Maryland’s hourly minimum wage is $11.75 for businesses with 15 or more employees, and it is scheduled to increase to $12.50 on January 1, 2022. The statewide minimum wage is scheduled to reach $15 at the start of 2025.

Many hospitals and health facilities across Maryland are experiencing nursing staff shortages under the weight of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Officials at the Johns Hopkins Health System hope that the changes in pay will help the system recruit and retain staff.

“This increase in compensation for your teams, in combination with efforts to improve our hiring practices, is designed to strengthen talent recruitment and retention efforts,” officials wrote in their September 24 email to managers.

Hopkins’ nurses “are critical to the work we do every day,” Ms Hoppe said.

“They work tirelessly and selflessly in normal times, and the pandemic has only amplified that dedication and devotion.”

Ms Hoppe added that in addition to increasing base pay, the health system is also taking additional measures to ensure that nurses’ salaries are competitive in the regional market.

The health system has reportedly hired Mercer, an outside compensation firm, to conduct a market analysis of registered nurses’ pay across the region, which will guide the system’s planning for additional investments in nurses’ compensation, according to the September 24 email to Hopkins’ nursing staff.

Source: Baltimore Fishbowl

(Link via original reporting)

This week Johns Hopkins Health System has raised its minimum wage to $15 and increased employees’ base pay by 3 per cent, Baltimore Fishbowl reports.

The changes went into effect on September 26 for non-union employees, Health system officials said changes to pay for employees who are represented by a union will be addressed during the renewal cycle for collective bargaining agreements.

Emails were sent to Johns Hopkins Health System managers and nursing staff on Friday in which the system’s leaders announced the early implementation of the changes, these messages were obtained by Baltimore Fishbowl.

“Investment in our incredible JHHS staff is a top priority for Johns Hopkins Medicine and JHHS leadership,” the leaders wrote. “The last two years have been profoundly challenging for those of us working in health care. Through it all, we have watched you and your teams rise to the occasion, consistently providing exceptional patient care, supporting our operations and advancing the Johns Hopkins Medicine mission. It is important to us and to all Johns Hopkins leaders that we recognize your efforts.”

Johns Hopkins Health System had originally intended to increase its minimum wage and base pay in January 2022, after they first announced the changes in May 2021.

“We are excited to be able to make this $15 minimum wage increase happen sooner than originally planned for this critically important group of entry-level employees,” Johns Hopkins Health System spokesperson Kim Hoppe said.

System officials did not comment about why the changes were happening sooner.

The University of Maryland Medical System and the University of Maryland Faculty Physicians, Inc. announced on September 10 that they would raise their own minimum wage to $15, it went into effect on September 12.

Currently, Maryland’s hourly minimum wage is $11.75 for businesses with 15 or more employees, and it is scheduled to increase to $12.50 on January 1, 2022. The statewide minimum wage is scheduled to reach $15 at the start of 2025.

Many hospitals and health facilities across Maryland are experiencing nursing staff shortages under the weight of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Officials at the Johns Hopkins Health System hope that the changes in pay will help the system recruit and retain staff.

“This increase in compensation for your teams, in combination with efforts to improve our hiring practices, is designed to strengthen talent recruitment and retention efforts,” officials wrote in their September 24 email to managers.

Hopkins’ nurses “are critical to the work we do every day,” Ms Hoppe said.

“They work tirelessly and selflessly in normal times, and the pandemic has only amplified that dedication and devotion.”

Ms Hoppe added that in addition to increasing base pay, the health system is also taking additional measures to ensure that nurses’ salaries are competitive in the regional market.

The health system has reportedly hired Mercer, an outside compensation firm, to conduct a market analysis of registered nurses’ pay across the region, which will guide the system’s planning for additional investments in nurses’ compensation, according to the September 24 email to Hopkins’ nursing staff.

Source: Baltimore Fishbowl

(Link via original reporting)