Saint Luke’s Health System will raise its minimum wage to $17.50 an hour and pay employees a $2,000 thank-you bonus for their work during the pandemic, hospital administrators announced Tuesday.

“There is no question 2020 and 2021 have not been what any of us expected or wanted,” president and CEO Dr. Melinda L. Estes said in a statement. “But in this time of hardship and crisis, our employees continue to do all they can to ensure our patients and community are cared for and protected.”

The $2,000 bonus will go to everyone on staff as of Dec. 1.

Read the full Kansas City Star article: Employees to get $17.50 minimum wage and $2,000 COVID bonus at Kansas City hospital