Westchester Medical Center to Cut Jobs

When it comes to hospitals most of us have a hard time telling one of them from another. So before we talk about the layoffs that are to come lets begin by talking about the facility that is going to be making the cuts. Today the job cuts are coming to the workers at the Westchester Medical Center in New York. For those of you who are not familiar here is a look at how they have chosen to describe themselves, “With more than 900 attending physicians and 3,300 healthcare professionals, Westchester Medical Center delivers industry-leading advanced medical care in specialties and services ranging from, but not limited to: cardiovascular diagnostics, cardiothoracic surgery, vascular surgery, vein treatment, neurosciences, neurosurgery, neuro-psychology, neurovascular intervention, heart, liver and kidney transplants, advanced obstetrics and gynecology, robotic surgery.  We are a Level I Trauma & Burn Center; are a nationally recognized bariatric surgery center. Westchester Medical Center is also home to one of the most technologically and clinically proficient advanced imaging centers in the region.”

Many workers in the field, which has a reputation for stability even in the bad economy, may be surprised when workers come their way. But in this case the mass layoff action to come will be impacting 124 workers in an attempt to make their bottom line a little bit better and their monthly expenses a little bit less then they were before.

These job cuts, which do not have a set date at this moment, are more than enough to qualify as a mass layoff action under the current federal guidelines. For those of you who are not familiar with the idea of a mass layoff action here is a look at how the federal government defines the term, “The Mass Layoff Statistics (MLS) program collects reports on mass layoff actions that result in workers being separated from their jobs. Monthly mass layoff numbers are from establishments which have at least 50 initial claims for unemployment insurance (UI) filed against them during a 5-week period. Extended mass layoff numbers (issued quarterly) are from a subset of such establishments—where private sector nonfarm employers indicate that 50 or more workers were separated from their jobs for at least 31 days.”

The company has not said much about what kind of severance is going to be given to the workers who are currently filling the jobs are going to be cut by the layoffs, but they have given a breakdown of the jobs that they are cutting back. The facility will be losing six aides, 83 clerks and one assistant supervisor.

Interestingly enough the company did not put out a release about the job cuts, but they instead chose to put out a release about their charity efforts instead, “WHAT: Miracle Treat Day at Dairy Queen is a national effort to raise funds and awareness for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.  For every Blizzard Treat sold on Miracle Treat Day, Dairy Queen will make a $1 donation to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital at Westchester Medical Center is a member of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and the children’s hospital for the Hudson Valley and Fairfield County, Connecticut.  Since all donations to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals stay local, proceeds for each Blizzard Treat sold Miracle Treat Day at local, participating Dairy Queens* will benefit Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital at Westchester Medical Center.”