Front-line employees at Saint Luke’s Health System will start making $17.50 an hour starting next month, and a month later all full-time workers will get a $2,000 “thank you” bonus.

It’s the second time in less than a year that the Kansas City-based system has raised its minimum wage. In November 2020, Saint Luke’s increased hourly employees’ minimum salary to $15 and said then that the change will be permanent. The hospital also said at the time that the raise wouldn’t come with a reduction in work hours or affect eligibility for merit increases.

In announcing the new rate in a Tuesday release, Saint Luke’s said it bumped pay “to express appreciation and reward (employees) for their hard work, dedication and sacrifice” as they cared for patients during the pandemic.

Read the full Kansas City Business Journal article: Saint Luke’s raises minimum wage again, plans $2,000 bonus