NEW ORLEANS – Ochsner Health System recently announced a minimum wage increase from $8.10 per hour to $12 per hour, effective Jan. 20, 2019. This initiative will increase overall annual pay to more than 1,200 employees across the health system. Details were shared in a press release.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor, in 2017 approximately 3.6 percent of hourly workers in Louisiana – nearly 40,000 people – earn at or below the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.* In 2017, Ochsner conducted a comprehensive environmental assessment of employee needs which included data from the larger Louisiana landscape and direct input from our stakeholders. Ochsner is committed to offering competitive compensation and benefits packages.
“People are our most important asset. As the largest private employer in Louisiana, we understand our responsibility to be a great place to work for those who have chosen careers at Ochsner,” said Warner Thomas, the CEO and president of Ochsner Health System. “Although Ochsner was already well above the current Louisiana minimum wage, we wanted to do more. We are committed to growing jobs and to offering new and innovative programs that provide financial wellness, workforce development and lifelong learning opportunities to our own team and to those who want to join us.”
“Over the last five years, we’ve seen the organization grow tremendously to support the healthcare needs of local communities and patients across the Gulf South. It is important to improve the overall financial wellbeing of our employees, and the Board is proud to support this initiative,” said Andy Wisdom, board chairman, Ochsner Health System.
