Multiple media outlets announced last night that Essentia Health was placing 500 employees who are not involved in direct patient care on a special administrative leave. We have not been given a list of job titles and positions that Essentia has included into that number, but we have been informed by a few of our members that their department supervisors were placed on leave yesterday. Ultimately, the union was extremely surprised that the company made this move last night because the union and the company are still negotiating the specific details of what a special administrative leave would entail. So far we can confirm that Essentia has proposed to cover their share of the health benefits of anyone put on this Special Administrative Leave for through the month of April.
We have been left with many unanswered questions that we hope to get resolved as soon as possible.
We will share any information related to this matter with the membership when it becomes available. Some folks want to know if they can volunteer for this Special Administrative Leave, and if you do, we are recommending that you notify your supervisor via email that you are interested in this possible option.