Rochester health industry both loses and gains jobs

The University of Rochester Medical Center has announced that it must furlough 20 percent of its workforce, approximately 3,474 of its 17,785 employees, because the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has resulted in $130 million in clinical revenue losses each month from suspended non-essential elective surgeries and patient care. In March and April, CARES Act grant funds only offset less than half of the losses.

Strong Memorial Hospital will see the highest number of furloughs at 1,517 employees. Faculty members (546) and health sciences division workers (711) will also make up part of the total. Selected employees will remain furloughed for at least three to four months.

Yet, there is good news for Rochester workers. Even as New York state runs out of funds to cover unemployment benefits, CNN reports that the federal government guarantees that it can provide funds through federal loan programs to New York and other cash-strapped states to distribute to unemployed workers.

In the meantime, New York is currently hiring 17,000 workers to serve as work-from-home contact tracers. The New York State Department of Health and Local Health Departments will provide training. Details about how Rochester workers can apply are available at here.

Sources:

Democrat & Chronicle

CNN

Rochester First