OSF HealthCare announces furloughs for some employees, salary cuts for top executive

Peoria-based OSF HealthCare will begin to furlough or require certain employees to take paid time off due to a decline in non-COVID-19 services, the health system announced Tuesday afternoon.

The short-term policy will affect “most non-patient-facing” employees. Those who are furloughed without pay will be able to apply for unemployment benefits and will be able to keep their health insurance and other benefits.

“Inpatient services, surgeries, clinic and OSF Urgo volumes have decreased significantly over the last three weeks as non-essential services have been shut down and our communities are staying home to reduce the spread of the virus,” the system said in a statement. “Our revenue has dropped substantially over that same time period.”

The system is also working to fill additional roles in its digital response program to treat COVID-19 patients either at the health facilities or in their homes. Those positions would be made open to non-clinical staff.

Employees are also being shifted to hospitals where there are a growing number of COVID-19 patients, specifically OSF Little Company of Mary Medical Center in Evergreen Park.

Due to the decline in revenues, the system also said its “top executives” will be taking pay cuts, ranging from five percent to 10 percent of their salaries.

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