Atrium Health Implements Minimum Wage Increase

As the new year sets in, many Atrium Health teammates will be seeing a larger paycheck. The health system will increase base pay for the bulk of its workforce by a minimum of 3%, with its hourly minimum wage increasing to $15 per hour at Atrium Health Floyd and Atrium Health Navicent in its Georgia and Alabama markets. The current minimum is $14 per hour. Atrium Health Floyd’s increase is effective Jan. 14.

In total, Atrium Health’s parent organization, Charlotte-based Advocate Health, will be investing an additional $328.4 million into its teammates’ compensation beginning this month.

“Every day, our teammates deliver exceptional care for our patients and communities, so it is essential that we prioritize taking care of them too,” said Ken Haynes, president of the Southeast Region of Advocate Health. “That’s why we continually make these types of investments into our workforce, to make sure we are attracting and retaining the best talent. It’s because of our teammates that Atrium Health is the most trusted and preferred health care provider.”

The 3% across-the-board base pay increase amounts to an additional $117 million in salaries spread among more than 64,000 Atrium Health teammates across the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama.

The increased minimum wage will result in higher wages for 31,700 hourly workers in roles such as nursing aides, medical assistants, pharmacy techs and environmental services technicians.

In total, the increased minimum wage represents an added $45.5 million investment into Atrium Health’s hourly teammates, including compression adjustments designed to lift wages for those previously making just above their respective new market minimum. Also, recalibration of pay ranges for jobs within the organization is resulting in another $40.9 million in additional salary investments.

Atrium Health also is expected to provide more than $125 million in added funding as part of other compensation programs it offers its teammates.

“Creating and sustaining a great workplace culture is key to providing high-quality health care for our patients,” said Gina Keadle chief human resources officer for Atrium Health’s Georgia region. “It’s important our teammates receive market-competitive compensation and know they are appreciated for the excellent health care they provide each and every day. This added investment helps demonstrate Atrium Health’s commitment to our teammates and the value they provide to the communities we serve.”

In recent months, Atrium Health has been recognized by Newsweek as a “Top 100 Most Loved Workplace,” by Forbes as a “Best Employer” in both North Carolina and Georgia, as a “Best Place to Work for Veterans” and a “Best Employers for Diversity,” as well as by Diversity MBA Magazine as a “Best Place to Work for Women and Diverse Managers.” Atrium Health was also named to Becker’s Healthcare’s “150 Top Places to Work in Healthcare.”

As the health care industry continues to face a shortage of qualified clinical staff, Atrium Health is currently hiring, with a special emphasis on nurses. Whether an experienced nurse looking for a change or someone just entering the profession, Atrium Health and Advocate Health offer endless opportunities to start or enhance a career. Visit our careers website for a listing of available positions.