VCU Health raises minimum wage to $15

Virginia Commonwealth University Health System is raising its minimum wage to $15 per hour in September, the Richmond-based health care system announced Tuesday.

The roughly 1,700 employees and contract workers affected provide food and nutrition services, environmental services, valet services and other services to patients and the system’s operations. The group represents approximately 10% of the system’s workforce.

“Our team members, including these frontline workers, have gone to extraordinary lengths to support our mission and ultimately our patients,” said VCU Health System Chief Human Resources Officer Paula Henderson in a statement. “Every single one of them contributes to a patient’s care experience, whether it’s by providing comfort and kind words behind their masks, a hot meal, clean sheets and so much more.”

Virginia’s minimum wage increased from $7.25 to $9.50 an hour in May. On Jan. 1, 2022, the state minimum wage will increase to $11, rising to $12 in 2023. The state’s further planned increases — to $13.50 in 2025 and $15 in 2026 — depend on future legislative approval.

The University of Virginia raised its minimum wage to $15 per hour on Jan. 1, 2020. In May, Norfolk-based Sentara Healthcare did the same.