Cookeville hospital confirms approximately 400 layoffs amid coronavirus pandemic
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — Cookeville Regional Medical Center confirmed reports of layoffs to approximately 400 employees on Monday.
"Cookeville Regional Medical Center has made the difficult decision to temporarily reduce staffing in response to a decrease in patient volume from the COVID-19 situation," the hospital said in an official statement released to FOX 17 News late Monday night. "The pandemic created by COVID-19 has had a devastating impact not only in our community and state but across our entire country and the world that has required each of us to make sacrifices."
On Monday, News Talk 94.1 reported Cookeville Regional Medical Center planned to layoff 400 employees due to a decrease in patient volume.
"The adjustments include a temporary lay-off, or furlough, and a reduction of hours for many employees," the hospital said in the statement. Approximately 400 of the medical center’s 2,400 employees will be furloughed and several hundred employees will see a temporary reduction in hours. Furloughed employees will continue to receive full healthcare benefits with CRMC paying 100% of premiums for medical insurance.
Cookeville Regional Medical Center CEO Paul Korth said employees who are furloughed will receive state unemployment along with unemployment pay from the federal government each week as part of the stimulus package passed by the federal government.
"We do not expect this to be long-term," Korth added. "We’re all in this together, and as a community and nation, we must all do what we need to do stop the spread of COVID-19.”
