Advocate Aurora Health — the health system formed through the recent merger of Downers Grove, Ill.-based Advocate Health Care and Milwaukee-based Aurora Health — will incrementally increase its minimum wage to $15 per hour, according to a letter to team members from Kevin Brady, system chief human resources officer.
Advocate Aurora Health plans to lift the minimum wage to $13 per hour in mid-2019, $14 in early 2020 and ultimately $15 by early 2021. The wage hike will affect 10,000 to 15,000 employees, the health system estimated.
"As one of the largest not-for-profit employers in Illinois and Wisconsin, this decision aligns with our longstanding commitment to be market competitive and remain a place that attracts and retains top talent. Our goal is to be a destination employer where our team members feel valued, have opportunities for growth and connect with our values and purpose-driven culture," Mr. Brady wrote.
"While we continue to face shrinking reimbursements and soaring pharmaceutical costs, we see this as a critical investment in our most valued resource," he added.
More details about the minimum wage increase are anticipated next spring.