Houston-area employees at Woodlands Specialty Hospital report going weeks without pay, forcing some to sell personal belongings and search for new jobs. The hospital blames the issue on redirected insurance payments.
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Employees at Woodlands Specialty Hospital report not receiving their pay for over a month. This situation has forced some staff members in the Houston area to sell personal items and struggle to meet their financial obligations, as the facility attributes the delay to insurance-related cash-flow issues.
Last week, FOX 26 broke the story regarding payroll issues when an employee revealed he could no longer afford to work without compensation. Additional staff members have stepped forward, including a nurse who chose to remain anonymous due to concerns about potential retaliation. He informed the station that he has now gone without two paychecks.
To manage his finances, the nurse stated that he recently sold his car. He discovered that his wife is expecting, which has heightened his financial pressures. “ It’s challenging. “Nobody wants to do it,” he remarked when questioned about the experience of continuing to work without compensation. “Simultaneously, I sense a duty to fulfill my role as a nurse, as there are patients who rely on my care.” "I refuse to leave any patients behind."
He characterized the last few weeks as a whirlwind of emotions. “It has been incredibly frustrating,” he remarked. The holiday season has arrived, and it presents its challenges. At this point, I have not received two paychecks. He expressed that the most challenging aspect has been the absence of updates from hospital leadership: “Just not receiving any answers.” Lack of transparency.
If the hospital is unable to resolve the matter, he intends to file a wage claim with the Texas Workforce Commission.
Woodlands Specialty Hospital has issued a statement indicating that the recent payroll issues are due to insurance providers redirecting payments to lenders “without prior notice.” The hospital reported that it has maintained communication with its lenders; however, the unforeseen garnishments resulted in two missed payrolls. Officials characterized the situation as a “cash flow problem.”
Workers report that the clarification does not alleviate their concerns. “If it were a cash flow issue, they had ample opportunity to communicate with employees about the situation,” the nurse stated. “We found ourselves completely uninformed.”
Additional employees reported to FOX 26 that they are struggling to keep up with rent and bills. Several individuals have begun exploring new employment opportunities in the Houston medical sector while maintaining their commitment to managing this search alongside their duties to current patients.
Representatives from the hospital issued an apology, stating that they expect payroll to be reinstated before the holiday season. However, many employees express that they won't feel relieved until the funds appear in their accounts.
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