Akron Children’s Hospital raising minimum wage to $15

10-03-2019 (Akron, Ohio )

Akron Children’s announced to employees today that its minimum wage will increase to $15.

The change will be in effect as of Nov. 24 for current employees. The increase also applies to all future hires at the independent children’s hospital, which has campuses in Akron and Boardman and primary and specialty care offices throughout the region.

“Our reason for doing this is, quite simply, it is the right thing to do,” said Grace Wakulchik, president and CEO of the hospital. “While we regularly analyze salaries to ensure our compensation is competitive in our region, we recognize our employees see the work they do here as much more than a job. This is an important step in acknowledging how much we appreciate all they do to support the work of Akron Children’s.”

The hospital also is making it a priority to maintain equity for employees who are currently making $15 or slightly more. Pay adjustments for many of these employees will also be made in the weeks ahead.

About 25% of Akron Children’s employees will see bigger paychecks as a result of the increase. These employees work throughout the hospital in food service and environmental services and as medical assistants, secretaries, schedulers, community health workers, home health aides, patient service representatives and dispatchers.