Aside from looking at raising the pay of nurses, the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. is also looking at petitioning H1B visas for those who have been with the hospital for a long time now.<\/p>\n
According to CHCC chief executive officer Esther Mu\u00f1a, they are considering the option in order to retain staff.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m hoping that they understand that there is value from a CW to H1B and that\u2019s what we want to do,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Mu\u00f1a said part of the discussion in the adjustment of nurses\u2019 salaries is the option to obtain a different immigration status for them.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe feedback that we got is just increase in salary and we\u2019re saying I think we can compromise on the salary and at the same time be able to tell you that you can be here for a certain time and eventually we may petition you to be a U.S. citizen,\u201d Mu\u00f1a said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s an option that we\u2019d like to, kind of, balance it out,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
However, Muna said they may not be able to do it for all the nurses. The hospital currently has 152 nurses, 127 of whom have CW permits.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe already have some recommendations on some staff that should already be H1B,\u201d Mu\u00f1a said, noting also that they have some staff that already hold H1B visas.<\/p>\n
The pay adjustment for nurses to make them salaried instead of hourly workers is still under discussion. Muna said they will have to have follow up meetings with the staff.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s going to take a little while, unfortunately,\u201d Mu\u00f1a said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t want to lose them but we also need to understand that we are obligated to comply with the law and the law is that I stay within my budget,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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