FAYETTEVILLE -- Washington Regional Medical System is reducing the salaries of some employees and placing hundreds of others on furloughs because of a drop in the number of patients and hospital revenues during the coronavirus pandemic.

Effective Sunday, 305 full-time workers will be furloughed for sixty days, according to a news release from Larry Shackelford, president and chief executive officer of the system.

In addition, the pay of all salaried employees has been reduced by 10%. Members of the system's senior management have seen their salaries drop up to 25%, according to the release.

Directives by government authorities that limited nonurgent procedures in hospitals across the state and the country have lead to the decrease in patients and revenue, according to the release.

"It is not a layoff," Shackelford said in the statement. "It is our expectation that our team members who are furloughed will be able to return to work once the public health emergency and its consequences come to an end."

Furloughed employees will still have access to health and related benefits, according to the statement.

NW News on 04/18/2020