Employee Assistance Fund Update

April 13, 2020

Dear Penn Medicine Colleagues:

We have been deeply inspired by the way our Penn Medicine team has stepped up throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Our clinical teams have answered the call from patients in need across the health system, researchers have pivoted to search for treatments and a cure, and our administrative staff are ensuring that all our operations continue to run smoothly as our work shifts into new paths.

 We recognize the strain this response has placed upon our workforce, and are committed to exploring every avenue to support you in managing your personal and family responsibilities and your work as a member of the Penn Medicine team during this challenging time.

By the end of this week, the Employee Assistance Fund will have processed more than 6,000 applications, providing emergency grants totaling over $3 million – beyond our initial commitment of $1 million – to assist staff with needs such as childcare, housing, and food. We’ve already supplied these much-needed funds to 1,600 employees. The remaining applications are being processed and will be paid within the next week.

It is clear to us the need is great in this fast-moving and uncertain situation. To ensure that we are best able to support these needs, we have made the decision to pause applications to the Employee Assistance Fund for a brief period while we improve the application and grant payment processes and work with our philanthropic partners to obtain additional support for the fund. We can extend the reach of Penn Medicine’s commitment to helping our staff during these tough times through donations to the fund from faculty, staff and those in the communities we serve.

We will share updates as soon as possible. If you need support during this time, please reach out to your manager or Human Resources business partner for assistance.

Thank you for all that you are doing to care for our patients and support the communities we serve.

J. Larry Jameson, MD, PhD

Executive Vice President of the University of Pennsylvania for the

Health System

Dean of the Perelman School of Medicine

 

Kevin B. Mahoney

CEO, University of Pennsylvania Health System