UPMC: Employees will be paid at current rate through May 9

UPMC employees will be paid at their current rate for their normally scheduled hours even if they are assigned to a different job during the covid-19 pandemic, officials said Monday.

UPMC said it is implementing a staffing and pay protection program so that staff who may be assigned to do alternative work are paid at their current rate. The health care giant has 89,000 employees.

“I want to express my sincerest appreciation to our dedicated UPMC staff who are focused on the life-changing work of caring for our patients, each other and our communities,” Jeffrey A. Romoff, UPMC’s president and CEO said in a statement. “This pay protection program is our commitment to our valued staff.”

Some staffers may be transferred to other areas to help the health care system deal with the pandemic. Others may be asked not to report to work, but they will continue to be paid, UPMC said.

The program is effective through May 9.

UPMC has annual revenues of $21 billion and has 40 hospitals, 700 medical offices and more and 3.7 million users of its medical insurance in the region, according to its website.