WellSpan Health, South Central Pennsylvania’s largest locally governed health system, will grant a special financial award to nearly all team members, later this month, in recognition of their incredible contributions to WellSpan’s mission throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The Working as One system award of approximately $700 after-tax will be paid in full to WellSpan team members on a pro-rated basis.
This special financial award is in addition to WellSpan’s new $15/hour minimum wage which went into effect on July 4, 2021. This increase in minimum wage, which directly or indirectly benefits nearly 7,000 of the health system’s team members, is part of a multi-year strategy to position WellSpan as the employer of choice in southcentral Pennsylvania.
“We are deeply grateful to our 20,000 team members for their sacrifice and selfless service to our communities throughout the past year,” said Roxanna Gapstur, Ph.D., R.N., president and CEO of WellSpan Health. “Because of their tireless efforts and unwavering commitment, WellSpan was able to deliver essential medical care to friends and neighbors across our region, provide heartfelt comfort and support to many patients and their families, and promote important health safety measures, including administration of over 366,000 vaccines.
In addition to the Working as One award and increase in minimum wage, WellSpan implemented a number of other financial programs during the past year to support team members. For example, the organization offered temporary financial assistance for new, and often more expensive, dependent care options when daycares closed; allowed team members whose positions had temporary decreases in patient volumes to borrow against earnings they had not yet accrued to sustain their income; and helped financially strained households pay their bills through a dedicated Family COVID-19 Assistance Program that was partially funded by a contribution from temporary reductions in executive pay.
WellSpan Health System also conducted outreach and provided mental health support to more than 6,000 team members through its WellSpan Philhaven behavioral health affiliate and WellSpan Employee Assistance Program.
“Our mission starts with the words ‘Working as One’ – and that is exactly what we have done over the past year,” said Bob Batory, senior vice president and chief human resources officer for WellSpan. “While our team worked as one for our patients and communities, WellSpan leadership has worked as one for our teams. The pandemic has been both a test of and a testament to our culture, and as a result, this organization is now stronger and better positioned to deliver on our mission of providing care for all.”
WellSpan continues to recruit new team members to join its nonprofit mission of service – one patient, one community, one unique health care need at a time. As a leading regional health system serving south central Pennsylvania and northern Maryland, WellSpan offers competitive salary and benefits; a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion; support for career aspirations and professional growth; and the opportunity to give back to local communities.
For job listings impacted by WellSpan’s increase to its minimum wage, all open positions, and more on the benefits of a rewarding career with WellSpan Health, visit JoinWellSpan.org.
