All articles tagged with #understaffing
Tension remains high at a state prison in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, with a second incident occurring and inmates no longer allowed to use tablets for communication. Activities like carpentry and paint shops have been shut down, leading to anger among inmates. Staffing shortages and overworked officers are contributing to the hostile environment, according to a senior corrections officer and a prison reform advocate.
CVS Health will pay Ohio $1.5 million in penalties for understaffing and other pharmacy safety issues at 22 of its pharmacies, with the largest ever imposed by the state board. The settlement includes placing eight stores under "advanced monitoring" for three years and voluntary compliance with upcoming state rules focused on patient safety. Retail chain pharmacies have faced staffing concerns, leading to medication delays and errors, prompting increased hiring and wages. State regulators have fined retail chain pharmacies over understaffing, with Ohio's settlement marking the largest number of pharmacies and biggest monetary fine related to staffing in the state.
A CVS store in Ohio has been fined $250,000 for understaffing, leading to a month-long backlog in filling prescriptions and haphazard medication storage. Inspectors found phones not working, broken AC, and a severely understaffed store. The State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy imposed the fine and mandated proper staffing levels and timely prescription filling. CVS stated that improvements have been made since the inspections during the pandemic and is committed to ensuring appropriate staffing and resources at its pharmacies.
CVS has been fined $250,000 by Ohio regulators for understaffing and improper medicine storage at a store in Canton. Inspectors found prescriptions weren't being filled in a timely manner, medicines were stored haphazardly, and the store was massively understaffed. The pharmacy was more than a month behind in filling prescriptions, and the store has been ordered to pay the fine and ensure appropriate staffing levels and prescription turnaround times. CVS stated that they have made improvements since the inspections in 2021 and are committed to providing high-quality care to patients.
The booming assisted-living industry, valued at $34 billion, is facing deep-rooted problems as senior homes are left dangerously understaffed due to cost-cutting measures by corporate investors. Welltower, a $40 billion investment firm that owns senior homes, prioritizes profitability over resident safety, according to documents and interviews. The lack of adequate staffing and low wages in the industry has resulted in incidents of neglect, missing residents, and avoidable deaths. The problem extends beyond Balfour Senior Living, with a review of state inspection reports revealing a chaotic environment in many assisted-living facilities, where medication errors, falls, abuse, and resident wandering go unnoticed. The industry's focus on profits and a nationwide labor shortage exacerbate the issue, leaving workers exhausted and compromising the quality of care provided to vulnerable seniors.
Starbucks workers in the US are planning to strike on 16 November, known as Red Cup Day, to pressure the company to negotiate a first union contract and address issues such as understaffing. The strike, organized by the Starbucks Workers United union, aims to expand actions to non-unionized stores. Workers are calling for improved staffing and scheduling, the turning off of mobile ordering on high-volume promotion days, and negotiations with the union. Starbucks has faced opposition from the union, with allegations of unfair labor practices and a recent ruling that the company violated labor law. The union has characterized Starbucks as the worst offender of federal labor law in modern US history.
Nurses from Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Jersey testified during a U.S. Senate committee hearing, warning that the hospital is becoming increasingly unsafe due to understaffing. The nurses expressed concerns about insufficient staffing levels and the impact it has on patient care. The testimony took place during a field hearing held by Senator Bernie Sanders.
Over 75,000 Kaiser Permanente workers have ended their 3-day strike over claims of understaffing and pay, returning to their jobs without a contract signed. The Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions expressed their determination to advocate for safe staffing, while Kaiser Permanente stated their commitment to reaching a new agreement that provides market-leading wages and benefits. The next bargaining session is scheduled for October 12th, with the possibility of further walkouts.
Tens of thousands of Kaiser Permanente workers, including nursing assistants, housekeepers, phlebotomists, and medical assistants, have voted to authorize a strike if no agreement is reached with their unions by the end of September. This could potentially be the largest strike by healthcare workers in U.S. history. Union leaders have cited concerns about understaffing and management proposals on wages and workforce development, accusing Kaiser of violating the law and putting patients at risk. Kaiser Permanente expressed disappointment in the strike authorization vote and stated that it is confident in reaching an agreement that ensures high-quality care remains accessible and affordable.
The sheriff of Richmond County, Georgia, Richard Roundtree, is grappling with the arrest of over 30 of his officers in the past three years, primarily for smuggling drugs or assaulting inmates. The situation reflects a larger issue in county jails across the country, which are overcrowded and understaffed, leading to worsened conditions for both detainees and guards. Roundtree is seeking to understand the root causes of the misconduct and is considering enhanced vetting of recruits, increased training, and access to counselors. Low pay is also cited as a factor, but some argue that it is a character flaw in the individuals involved. The majority of the cases are still pending in court, while some officers have been sentenced to probation.
A judge declined to hold St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardner in contempt of court but said her stressed, understaffed office allowed a murder case to "(fall) through the cracks" when a prosecutor went on leave. Jonathon Jones, 18, was set to face trial last week on charges he shot and killed 29-year-old Brandon Scott near the Gateway Arch grounds in 2021, but no one from Gardner's office showed up for the first day of trial. Gardner's office has struggled for years with understaffing, but the issue has become especially dire in recent weeks.