WEST DES MOINES, Iowa - UnityPoint Health is temporarily reducing hours for some of its workers while it's furloughing others and lowering the salaries of executives.
The move by one of the largest hospital and clinic networks in Iowa comes as the industry faces a decline in services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Starting Sunday, UnityPoint is lowering executive pay by 15 percent, and furloughing or reducing hours of workers in areas operating below capacity or experiencing closures.
The company says it's helping affected workers by continuing their benefits and offering financial assistance.
“The COVID-19 crisis has challenged UnityPoint Health as a care provider and as an employer,” said UnityPoint Health President and CEO Kevin Vermeer. “While we remain focused on providing the best care possible for our patients, it’s critical we conserve our resources wherever possible. These changes in our workforce are needed to ensure we can continue meeting the healthcare needs of our communities into the future.”
UnityPoint Health has 32,000 employees.