Now...The Truth

PAY FOR VOLUNTEERS?

Posted by Dick Brunner on Aug. 10, 2009

An article in the May 1 issue of the Business Journal  about hospital volunteers has prompted me to write this. There has been an increase in interest in volunteering from newly unemployed workers. How about hospitals paying volunteers? On its face, this sounds like a real contradiction doesn't it? Why not? Hospitals, in spite of their complaints of financial losses and charity care are becoming money machines with a few exceptions like St. Michael hospital. The largest for-profit hospital chain in the country has over 600 hospitals. You can bet they're not losing money. I wonder if they hire unpaid volunteers? Let's look at the local hospitals. As far as I know, they are so-called tax exempt non profits.In their case, non profit  means they have no shareholders and don't pay out dividents but can keep all the money left after the expenses are paid. Of course, they have long-term debt like we all do.However, they don't  have to divulge how much cash they have on hand.  They have CEO's whose  annual salaries are in the seven figure bracket (miillions). They have layers of highly professional staff that are very well paid. My point is, why do hospitals need to pump up their bottom lines on the backs of  minimum wage level unpaid volunteers. The idea of volunteer hospital workers goes back prior to the 20th century when hospitals were run almonst exclusively by religious orders whose members took no salary except  for a small stipend and food and shelter. This custom of unpaid hospital volunteers in our current economic system is seriously outdated.  Yes this will raise the cost of our health care!  But  in our society a person's worth and stature is determined by their contribution to this society. A fair wage for everyone who works is only fair.