photo by: Jennifer Compston-Strough

Employees at East Ohio Regional Hospital in Martins Ferry continue to await the pay they were due to receive on Friday.

East Ohio Regional Hospital is starting voluntary layoffs in a “temporary reduction in workforce” Friday, according to a new memo to employees.

Director of Human Resources Rick Oliver sent the memo and an email out to staff Friday afternoon, which included a letter to be used as documentation for unemployment.

This comes a day after hospital CEO Dr. John Johnson notified staff that the hospital would begin laying off “ancillary services” starting Friday.

Employees of the hospital have now gone a full week since they were supposed to receive their paychecks, some protesting outside of the hospital on Wednesday. Johnson said he would try to disburse paychecks by this past Tuesday but in an update memo to staff that day, he said he was “unsuccessful” in meeting that deadline.

The memo, obtained by the Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register, clarified that some critical services, like the emergency room, will remain in operation to continue meeting patient needs.

The hospital will not be enforcing “bumping rights,” according to the memo, meaning more senior employees will not be able to displace lower-level employees.

“This decision aims to streamline the reduction in workforce while minimizing disruption to services,” the memo stated.

The memo went on to encourage employees to reach out to HR should they need anything.

“We understand that this may be a difficult time, and we are committed to supporting all affected employees through this transition,” the memo read.

In a separate email from Oliver, he provided a letter to be used as a supporting document for employees who will be filing for unemployment.

Oliver noted that there has been confusion about whether Feb. 21 should be used as the starting date for unemployment as that is when employees did not receive their last paycheck. He urged employees to seek clarification with their local unemployment office.

This is the latest issue at the troubled hospital, which informed staff in February that it was closing its long term care and skilled nursing facility in order to streamline services. Employees also had their health insurance discontinued after The Health Plan canceled the hospital’s policy in February. The hospital also has been in discussions with the Belmont County Treasurer to pay $1.2 million in unpaid property taxes.