This article is reprinted from the Speak Out Now healthcare newsletter at Kaiser and Highland Hospitals in Oakland, CA.
Working at Kaiser Oakland means being prepared to deal with the effects of chronic short staffing, never-ending workloads, and long hours. It’s no surprise that so many of us end up facing physical and mental health issues. And how ironic is it that we often have to turn to our own doctors just to get signed off for a health break—simply to recover from the job that’s supposed to be about healing others?
The number of people experiencing mental or physical health crises, or needing to go on stress-related health leave, should be a clear warning sign to the Kaiser administration that workplace conditions need to improve. The ongoing staffing shortages and the introduction of new pilot programs, that only increase our workload, shows that Kaiser does not truly have our health and well-being in mind. It’s clear where Kaiser management’s priorities lie: not with caregivers, but with profit.
Click here to read the article printed in the 05-05-25 Healthcare Newsletter
