Portland, Oregon

Aerial of OHSU. (OHSU/Aaron Bieleck)

Oregon Health & Science University is taking steps to strengthen the resilience of its workforce in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Danny Jacobs, M.D., M.P.H., FACS

OHSU President Danny Jacobs, M.D., M.P.H., FACS, announced a set of measures to support the workforce of Oregon’s academic health center.

“Hundreds of thousands of Oregonians rely on the services that our members provide every day,” Jacobs said. “So, if we don’t take care of ourselves, the cascading effect would be detrimental to the entire state.”

The following measures take effect immediately:

Workforce guarantee: OHSU, which also happens to be the largest single employer in the city of Portland, will maintain a full workforce with full pay and benefits for any modification in operations up until at least June 30. This includes all 17,500 employees across OHSU’s health care, research and education missions.

OHSU, which also happens to be the largest single employer in the city of Portland, will maintain a full workforce with full pay and benefits for any modification in operations up until at least June 30. This includes all 17,500 employees across OHSU’s health care, research and education missions. Sick leave assurance: OHSU will provide 14 days of additional sick leave for those who have exhausted their sick time and become ill before June 30.

OHSU will provide 14 days of additional sick leave for those who have exhausted their sick time and become ill before June 30. Hardship fund: OHSU is making available a $1 million fund through July 30 for employees facing extreme fiscal hardship as a result of the pandemic.

The full text of Jacobs’ message to employees follows below: