SB 525 $25 Minimum Wage for Healthcare Jobs

SB 525 would establish a $25 per hour minimum wage for all healthcare workers in California to help retain existing workers and attract additional workers. 

California is facing a healthcare workforce crisis. Even prior to the pandemic, California was facing a shortage of 500,000 healthcare workers to care for our aging population. Now, after facing the trauma and dangerous working conditions of the pandemic, many are struggling with low pay and poor working conditions. Hug numbers of healthcare workers are leaving the field and many others are thinking about it, in fact 31% report that they are considering leaving the profession altogether. 

Staffing shortages have an impact on patient care. Clinics are seeing high turnover rates significantly higher than previous years. If we want to retain healthcare workers, we must pay them fair wages, so they can pay their bills and live near their work.