Layoffs are never easy, but the ripple effects are often felt far and wide. Recently, 178 workers in South Florida hospitals were let go following a vendor change in food and nutrition services. The layoffs occurred in December, as stated in a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) letter filed by Morrison Healthcare, an Atlanta-based company specializing in healthcare food service.
Here’s what we know about this significant change and what it means for the affected employees and hospitals involved.
Layoffs Across Five Hospitals
The layoffs affected employees at five South Florida hospitals previously owned by a health system that went bankrupt. These hospitals, now operated by an affiliate of American Healthcare Systems, include:
- Palmetto General Hospital (Hialeah): 50 hourly non-union employees and eight salaried staff.
- Florida Medical Center (Lauderdale Lakes): 28 hourly non-union employees and five salaried staff.
- Hialeah Hospital (Hialeah): 26 hourly non-union employees and five salaried staff.
- Northshore Medical Center (Miami): 23 union employees, five hourly non-union employees, and three salaried staff.
- Coral Gables Hospital (Coral Gables): 17 union workers, six hourly non-union employees, and two salaried staff.