Ohio Health is raising its minimum wage from $12 an hour to $15.
The hospital says 9,600 employees will benefit from the pay bump. Ohio Health's previous minimum wage was set just last year.
Johnni Beckel, head of human resources for Ohio Health, says the move makes good business sense.
"In today’s strong labor market, competitive pay really helps us attract and retain the best talent, and that talent are the associates that take care of our patients and their families every day," Beckel says.
Ohio Health is the latest health system to raise its minimum wage. Nationwide Children's Hospital began raising its wage to $15 last month, while Mount Carmel Health System says it hopes to raise its wage from $12 to $15 in the next few years.
Beckel says the employees affected support nursing staff, clean hospital rooms and escort patients to different areas of the hospital.
"I deeply believe that our associates drive our culture," Beckel says. "And if we take care of our associates, they can in turn take exceptional care of our patients."
The hospital’s new minimum wage is more than $6 higher than Ohio’s minimum of $8.55 per hour for non-tipped employees.
