Jackson Brings Back Many Of Its Laid Off Workers
MIAMI (CBS4) - Jackson Memorial Hospital has begun rehiring many of its laid off workers after reports revealed that overtime is costing the troubled, public hospital more than $1.5 million every two weeks.
Five months ago, the hospital had laid off about 400 workers, and on Wednesday a meeting was held with a Public Health Trust committee where the rehiring announcement was made, CBS4 news partner The Miami Herald
Martha Baker, president of the hosptial worker union, said that nearly 97 percent of the 151 union members had been called to return to work.
``How stupid they did those layoffs,'' Baker told the newspaper. ``It was a tremendous waste of resources.''
Laying off employees did cost the hospital money, Baker said, because workers were paid for their unused vacation days.
Jackson's Chief Operating Officer David Small said the staff reduction initially saved the hospital $49.8 million, but, he added, overtime continues to climb.
"We're watching our labor costs closely," Small told the newspaper.
The department that's paid the most in overtime is security, which runs the hospital about $1.6 million a year.
During Wednesday's meeting, executives agreed that the hospital should draft an overtime policy.
Another problem that came to the light during the meeting was the hospital's cash-on-hand. Jackson has about $52.5 million and that's only enough for about 12 days of expenses, executives had suggested that the hospital should have enough to cover expenses for 20 days.
