Salem VA Medical Center making staff changes

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SALEM (WSLS 10) - Changes are coming for some Salem VA Medical Center employees. Employees have been told they will be moving into different positions or changing schedules.

Spokesman Brian Sipp said they are not at full staff right now and rather than hire people to fill open positions they are moving people around.

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"There are certain jobs that didn't need to be filled because the jobs are less relevant," said Sipp.

About 80 positions will be affected over the next six to nine months. We do know some nurses are part of the moves.

"They are a mix of clinical and administrative positions some of which will be accomplished through attrition," said spokeswoman Ann Benois.

The VA says everyone affected has been notified and no one is being laid off.

The VA emailed us the following statement:

"The Salem VAMC is not instituting lay-offs or reductions in force.  We have begun identifying employees who will be reassigned into currently vacant positions in order to increase efficiency and to respond to changes in workload.  As we approach these moves, we are doing so in a very systematic and structured manner and are mindful of the impact to affected employees.  We have been working closely with the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) to  ensure that employees who will be transitioning to different positions have sufficient time to make alternative arrangements with childcare, school schedules and other family and personal obligations.

While change is never easy, these moves are necessary to ensure that the access and quality treatment that we provide our Veterans will not be negatively affected by increases in demand for services.  We are unaware of any nationwide mandate or initiative to change our staffing requirements; our decision on the most efficient way to operate is Salem VAMC-specific and is simply what we have determined works best for us at this time."


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