In this May 8 photo, registered nurse Katie Hammond looks up as she talks on the phone in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit at Harborview Medical Center, which is part of Seattle-area health care system UW Medicine, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)

In this May 8 photo, registered nurse Katie Hammond looks up as she talks on the phone in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit at Harborview Medical Center, which is part of Seattle-area health care system UW Medicine, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)

Coronavirus outbreak

UW Medicine to furlough about 4,000 workers

Officials said it was necessary to address a $500 million financial impact from COVID-19.

Associated Press

SEATTLE — UW Medicine announced furloughs of about 4,000 members of its unionized workforce in spite of the healthcare-system’s position at the forefront of COVID-19 response efforts both locally and globally.

KOMO-TV reports the decision comes a week after the healthcare-system announced that it was furloughing 1,500 professional staff and classified non-union staff to help address the financial challenges caused by COVID-19.

In a statement, officials said it was necessary to address a $500 million financial impact COVID-19 has placed on UW Medicine.

The healthcare-system says the financial situation is the result of lost revenue at clinics due to the cancellation of elective and non-urgent procedures and surgeries as well as the high cost of treating COVID-19 patients, which includes testing and personal protective equipment.

“This has been a very difficult, but necessary, decision to address the financial challenges facing UW Medicine and all healthcare organizations responding to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Lisa Brandenburg, president of UW Medicine Hospitals & Clinics.

The healthcare-system has taken steps to ensure that patient care is not impacted by the decrease in staffing and that they are equipped to deal with possible future surges of patients with COVID-19, Brandenburg said.

Employees will be furloughed for one to eight weeks and will be able to keep their health insurance during this time, according to a press release from UW Medicine.

Harborview Medical Center, both University of Washington Medical Center campuses, UW Neighborhood Clinics, Faculty Practice Plan Services, UW Medicine shared services, and Airlift Northwest are all being affected by the furlough.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Northwest

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson, left, shakes hands with Cowlitz Indian Tribe Chairman Bill Iyall after signing an executive order to improve the state’s relations with tribal governments on Oct. 22, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Washington governor’s office)
Washington tribes could get more say in management of state logging lands

A bill to add two tribal representatives to the Board of Natural Resources is awaiting a Senate vote. Supporters say the change could add valuable perspective to the panel.

A view of the Washington state Capitol building in Olympia, obscured by a slight mist, Jan. 27, 2025. (Photo by Bill Lucia/Washington State Standard)
The bills that didn’t survive the WA Legislature’s first major deadline

A 60-day legislative session can be a cruel thing if you’re hoping… Continue reading

Washington State Capitol building in Olympia. (Courtesy photo)
Ferguson rejects WA lawmakers’ initial crack at income tax legislation

The Democratic proposal targets household earnings over $1 million.

Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle, during Senate floor debate on Jan. 28, 2026. (Photo by Bill Lucia/Washington State Standard)
WA Senate leader explains dim outlook for a new tax on big businesses

Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen previously backed the payroll tax, but suggests there’s no political path for it. He and others are forging ahead with an income tax proposal.

State Sen. John Lovick, D-Mill Creek, looks on toward the end of the roll call vote for his Senate Bill 5067, which would lower the blood alcohol limit for drunk driving to 0.05% from 0.08% in Washington. The bill passed the Senate on a 26-23 vote on Jan. 28, 2026. (Photo by Bill Lucia/Washington State Standard)
Lower drunk driving limit approved by WA Senate

The bill drops it to 0.05%, and the state would join Utah with the toughest standard in the nation. It still needs House approval.

Washington state Supreme Court Justice Colleen Melody is sworn in Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, in Olympia, Washington. (Photo by Jake Goldstein-Street/Washington State Standard)
Washington’s newest Supreme Court justice is sworn in

Colleen Melody is officially the Washington state Supreme Court’s newest justice. Melody… Continue reading

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson at his State of the State address on Jan. 13, 2026. Ferguson did not discuss the budget cuts he’s proposing in his speech but they’ve stoked plenty of testimony in the first days of the 2026 legislative session. (Photo by Bill Lucia/Washington State Standard)
An icy reception for Gov. Bob Ferguson’s proposed budget cuts

Advocates for schools, public universities, and climate programs are among those unhappy with the raft of cuts the governor relies on to close a $2.3 billion shortfall.

The log-in page of Instagram’s website. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)
Push for youth social media safeguards revived in WA Legislature

A proposal would prohibit addictive feeds and push notifications at certain times for minors. Opponents believe it’s unconstitutional.

State lawmakers are considering bills requiring AI detection tools and disclosures to address deepfakes and to establish new safeguards for children using the technology. (Stock photo)
How Washington state lawmakers want to regulate AI

Reining in chatbots, protecting kids from harmful content, and requiring disclosure of AI-generated material are among the ideas under discussion in Olympia.

Bill Lucia / Washington State Standard State Sen. Yasmin Trudeau, D-Tacoma, makes floor remarks on Feb. 4, 2026 about Senate Bill 6002, which would set state regulations for license plate readers. The bill passed 40-9, with only Republicans opposed.
WA Senate OKs guardrails for license plate readers

The legislation passed Wednesday mandates that reader data be deleted after 21 days and says it can’t be shared except in court proceedings.

House Bill 1608 seeks to build on a 2024 law banning octopus farming in Washington. (File photo)
Washington may ban sales of farmed octopus

Octopus is back on the policy menu for Washington state lawmakers. A… Continue reading

Gov. Bob Ferguson delivers his State of the State address on Tuesday in the House chamber at the Washington state Capitol. (Photo by Bill Lucia/Washington State Standard)
What Gov. Bob Ferguson said in State of the State address

The speech drew a more positive reaction from fellow Democrats than last year’s inaugural address. He touched on flood recovery, taxes and immigration enforcement.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.