“Spanish for Medical Personnel” classes and medical interpreter training at UNM Hospitals help boost hourly workers’ marketable skills.

Promoting women is a no-brainer for this academic medical center, where an impressive 90% of managers and supervisors are female. Working an hourly position doesn’t preclude future advancement: In fact, the vast majority of those workers moving into staff management jobs previously held such schedules. Hourly employees (nurses, respiratory therapists) can boost their salaries and improve their chances for professional success by signing up for the Clinical Advancement program, which adds $1.50 to $5 per hour to their base pay when they meet career and educational requirements. Moms who work at least 20 hours per week are eligible for tuition reimbursements that cover 18 to 24 college credits annually (and the courses do not have to be job-related). Hourly workers can also take up to six hours off each week to attend classes without impacting their benefits. If they need to renew a professional license, certification or registration, they may request 20 to 40 hours off each year with pay to do so. Impressively, 80% of the organization’s training and development budget goes to hourly employees, with leadership retreats for those in top roles. Health insurance, pretax dependent-care accounts, ten paid vacation days and 13 paid sick days are all available each year to those meeting the 20-hour minimum. Hourly workers can also access the discounts offered by seven child-care companies in the area (many of whom waive registration fees). Mothers-to-be can take 12 unpaid job-guaranteed weeks off once the baby comes and rely on free vaccinations for their little one when they return.

Hourly Workers 92%

HSC VP Hospital Operations Steve McKernan

HR Administrator Jim Pendergast

Hourly workers that are female 78%

Work hours required for family health insurance 20

Job skills training for hourly employees Yes

Average paid sick leave taken by hourly workers 4 days

Average paid vacation leave taken by hourly workers 15 days

Job-guaranteed maternity leave for hourly workers 12 weeks

Paid maternity leave for hourly workers None