NJ Health Commissioner to Visit MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper University Hospital to Highlight New Minimum Wage Law

CAMDEN – New Jersey Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Shereef Elnahal will join Cooper University Health Care Co-President Kevin O’Dowd, Chairman George E. Norcross III and Congressman Donald Norcross in Camden April 8 as part of a series of hospital visits to highlight the impacts of Gov. Phil Murphy’s signing of the $15 minimum wage law.
According to a release, in November 2018, Cooper Healthcare became the first health system in New Jersey to commit to raising its minimum wage to $15 an hour for full-time, part-time and per-diem employees.
This policy was implemented in January. The raise benefits approximately 16 percent of Cooper’s 7,500 employees, more than 450 of whom are Camden County residents.
“Cooper University Health Care is a leader in embracing higher wages because they know this results in a thriving, more productive workforce,” Elnahal stated. “Not only does this investment help employees, it also produces better, higher-quality care.”
During his visit, Elnahal will also meet with Cooper employees who have benefited from their new minimum wage policy.
Earlier this year, Murphy signed legislation that will raise New Jersey’s minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2024.
Under the law, the base minimum wage for New Jersey workers will increase to $10 per hour on July 1, 2019.
By Jan. 1, 2020, the statewide minimum wage will increase to $11 per hour, and then will increase by $1 per hour every Jan. 1 until it reaches $15 per hour Jan. 1, 2024, impacting more than 1 million New Jersey workers.
“It is important that health systems lead the way on this issue given all that we know about the connection between financial security and long-term health outcomes, which is why we knew we had to take steps to raise wages for Cooper’s staff,” stated George E. Norcross III, chairman of the Board of Trustees at Cooper University Health Care.
“At Cooper, we have taken a leading role in supporting the revitalization of Camden and supporting its residents, and as the largest employer in Camden city — we recently moved hundreds of new employees into the city under the Grow New Jersey program — we knew that we have to lead by example, and raising wages is just one way we are doing that.”
Last month, Elnahal visited RWJ Barnabas Health Jersey City Medical Center to discuss the positive impact raising the minimum wage in New Jersey would have on health outcomes, turnover rates, job performance and overall mortality rates.