In a memo to employees Monday, Providence Health & Services Southwest Washington Region announced it will be reducing its workforce by 250 full time equivalent employees. The region includes the Providence Medical Group and Providence Centralia Hospital. The layoffs constitute eight percent of the Southwest Regions workforce.
The impact to Providence Centralia is not yet known, according to Public Relations Director Deborah Shawver.
“It will be a couple more weeks before they figure out where all the moving pieces are going,” Shawver told The Chronicle.
In an effort to lessen the impact of involuntary staff reductions, Providence offered incentives to people who might be in a position to voluntarily resign. Approximately 115 people will be leaving as a result of the voluntary separation program, according to a memo to employees from Medrice Coluccio, Southwest Washington Region chief executive officer. Reductions will also be attained by not filling vacant positions. But that won’t cover all of the necessary reductions.
“While these efforts were helpful, there is still a need to implement an involuntary reduction,” Coluccio wrote. “We are committed to a respectful and compassionate process. We will offer severance pay as well as many other support resources to help with career and life transitions.
Notification of layoffs will begin the week of August 22.
