The Cleveland Clinic is the latest health system to state it will raise the minimum wage for employees to $15 by 2020, according to cleveland.com.
A Cleveland Clinic spokesperson told the publication the hourly rate for an estimated 1,900 employees will increase to $14 per hour in January 2019. By 2020, the hourly minimum wage will increase to $15 per hour.
"This is targeted for employees who make less than $15 per hour," the spokesperson said, adding that those in entry-level positions include environmental services workers and patient care nursing assistants, among other employees.
Cleveland Clinic Chief Human Resource Officer Linda McHugh told cleveland.com exceptions to the pay increase will include subcontractors and some employees at Dover, Ohio-based Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital.
Tom Mihaljevic, MD, president and CEO of Cleveland Clinic, announced the wage increase in a Dec. 11 op-ed on cleveland.com.
"As the largest employer in Northeast Ohio and the second largest employer in the state of Ohio, Cleveland Clinic has a responsibility to lead the way and help shape the future of healthcare and the healthcare workforce," he wrote. Healthcare can be a difficult, stressful profession. It's important that we value all of our caregivers, providing them with pay and benefits that are not just competitive but also set the tone for Northeast Ohio."
In 2015, the health system raised its minimum wage to $12 per hour, which is higher than the federal $7.25 per hour minimum wage, the report states.
To access the full report, click here.