Marshfield Clinic Health System announces furloughs

By Neal Hogden

The Marshfield Clinic Health System announced in an interview with the Tribune-Phonograph on Tuesday that it will be furloughing three percent of its employees in the near future.

Senior Media Relations Specialist Jeff Starck said the furloughs are a result of a few factors.

“Providing healthcare in our rural geography comes with challenges and it’s imperative we think differently,” Starck said on behalf of the health system. “Managing rising supply and labor costs are key to continuing to meet the needs of our patients across the region.”

Starck mentioned that the health system spans more than 45,000 square miles. He said due to the space the system covers, the system needs to be more efficient with their resources.

“Our health system spans more than 45,000 square miles, and we’re the leading care provider in many of the communities we serve,” Starck said in the statement. “That makes it vital that we use our staffing resources as efficiently and effectively as possible to make sure resources are used where they are needed most and where they can have the greatest impact on patients.”

The Marshfield Clinic website states there are 12,000 employees across the health system. Three percent of the 12,000 employees equates to 360 employees that are to be furloughed. The statement given by Starck said the furloughs will largely be for non-patient-seeing departments.

“This includes furloughs for approximately 3% of Marshfield Clinic Health System employees in largely non-patientseeing departments, including leadership roles,” the statement said.

Starck said MCHS would not be commenting on additional details about who will be experiencing furloughs, when they are expected to be complete or what other measures the system might be taking to cut costs. He did however say the system would be working with employees during the furloughs.

“We are committed to supporting our employees during this challenging time and working collaboratively during their transition to furlough.”

The furloughs were first reported by multiple news outlets throughout the day on Monday as an executive at MCHS had reportedly emailed staff about impending furloughs.

CHANGE ON THE HORIZON - Marshfield Clinic announced the furloughs of approximately 360 staff in the near future. It is unclear whether that will affect staff at the Colby Marshfield Clinic location at this time.

STAFF PHOTO/NEAL HOGDEN