U.S. in Recession

HCMC announces layoffs

by Steven John, Minnesota Public Radio

Minneapolis — Hennepin County Medical Center said today it is eliminating up to 100 full-time equivalent positions.

The Minneapolis medical facility will also require administrators and supervisory personnel to take two days off without pay in 2009.

The job cuts are in addition to 100 positions that were eliminated in February. The layoffs follow a pay freeze implemented earlier this year.

The medical center also said today it was delaying the acquisition of property downtown that was part of a long-term master facility plan.

HCMC says the moves are necessary because of cuts in state funding since 2008, and a drop in inpatient volume this year that has resulted in a loss of approximately $10 million on operations.