Non-clinical Advocate Aurora Health employees will continue working remotely until June 2021.
The health system, one of the largest employers in the Milwaukee area, said the decision to extend remote work for non-designated employees affects a small portion of its overall workforce, as the majority report to clinical sites.
Advocate Aurora, which has dual headquarters in Milwaukee and Downers Grove, Illinois, has 75,000 employees. Employees were informed of the remote work extension in September.
“… as we continue to respond to COVID-19 and focus on evolving our work environment of the future, we are taking more of a hybrid approach recognizing team members’ work environment may shift depending on the needs and tasks of their day,” Advocate Aurora said in an emailed statement. “Our strategy is being driven by our guiding principles of ensuring an environment conducive to team member well-being and engagement, personalized work models based on position requirements, broadening our remote access and fostering flexible work schedules and collaboration space.”
The health system said it is providing several offerings to support employees, including family care reimbursement, “flex pool” staffing, and other expanded well-being offerings.
Employers’ approach to remote work has varied across the Milwaukee region since the outset of the pandemic.
According to a recent Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce survey, 30% of businesses said at least half of their company was working remotely, while 36% said a quarter or less of their workforce is working remotely.
More than 60% said they did not expect any change in remote work in the fourth quarter, 9% anticipate an increase in remote work and 12% expect a decrease.
