Carilion Clinic furloughs workers, reduces hours

With its regular ambulatory and inpatient care declining by 40% to 70% during the COVID-19 crisis,  Roanoke-based Carilion Clinic announced Tuesday it is furloughing employees to reduce expenses. 

It follows similar measures taken by other health care systems operating in Virginia including Bon Secours Mercy Health and Ballad Health.

The number of employees who will be impacted is still being determined, according to Carilion. Some workers will have their hours reduced to 32 hours per week while others will be furloughed. There’s no anticipated end date for the furloughs, and Carilion says the furloughs will be assessed on an ongoing basis.

For the next six weeks, Agee and Carilion’s executive vice presidents are taking a 20% pay cut, and all senior vice presidents and vice presidents will take a 10% pay cut.

The $300 million expansion plan for Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital that was announced last spring will also be paused until later this year. The planned expansion will build a tower to care for emergency and heart patients, a behavioral health hospital across Jefferson Street and a parking garage and pedestrian skyway to connect the buildings.

All new contracts, renewals and vendor relationships are being reviewed to see if they can be delayed until the COVID-19 crisis subsides.

“We’re making these difficult choices now so that we can come through the other side of this pandemic stronger, and ready to address the pent-up medical needs of our community,” Nancy Howell Agee, president and CEO of Carilion Clinic, said in a statement. “I’m certain that as our community rebounds from this situation, we will need all of our dedicated employees, and my goal is to welcome them back to work as soon as possible and as soon as it is safe to do so.”

Some employees who had a reduction in hours during the past six weeks had taken on new roles such as screeners, protection safety officers, referral testing staff or call center attendants. Other employees will continue to be reassigned. Those who weren’t reassigned have had the option to use their paid time off or borrow from future paid time off up to 80 hours. During that time, they were allowed to continue receiving pay and benefits.

Furloughed employees are eligible for state unemployment benefits, and Carilion will pay their premiums for medical, dental and vision insurance during the furlough.