Leaders of Lancaster (Pa.) General Health System recently received support from an employee after rescinding workers' holiday gift in 2022.
Timothy McBride, a physical therapist with Lancaster General Health Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, expressed his support in a column published Jan. 15 by LNP | Lancaster Online after a newspaper editorial criticized the health system's decision.
"As a Lancaster General Health employee for over 26 years and having worked for five different CEOs and plenty of senior managers, I can tell you that decisions are not made lightly," he wrote.
"I will readily admit that I was at first dismayed when we received this news, but one only has to read the headlines in this newspaper to see how many businesses have had to shutter and lay off their employees. These closures, due to either mismanagement or circumstance, bring perspective to the decisions that leaders have to make."
In his column, Mr. McBride also highlighted efforts leadership has made for employees, including treating workers to an evening at Clipper Magazine Stadium that involved free food, games, entertainment and fireworks. He said employees also were offered up to eight hours of paid time off as an incentive to donate blood, and receive raises and a bonus if the hospital meets its goals.
In December, Lancaster General Health System, part of Philadelphia-based Penn Medicine, said it would cancel previously announced plans for the 2022 employee holiday gift amid "challenging economic times." Employees were set to receive $25 gift cards.