PRICED OUT O F PA R A D I S E
Companies building their own workforce housing The human infrastructure/work-
other ways to retain workers tired
offices. That has been the norm in
er shortage has become so acute
of paying sky-high rents. Some
recent years.”
that some companies, such as giant
companies are going as far as build-
medical device manufacturer Ar-
ing housing for their employees.
threx Corp., have warned Collier of-
“The problem is too serious to
the hospital shared its plight with
ficials that lack of affordable hous-
wait,” says Joe Trachtenberg, who
the Collier County Commission and
ing makes it extremely difficult to
chairs Collier County’s Affordable
other local government officials.
hire and retain workers.
Housing
Committee.
“We told them anecdotally about
David Bumpous, senior op-
“I’ve suggested to large employers
the people who have accepted posi-
erations director for Arthrex,
that they find existing properties,
tions at the hospital, and when the
told the commissioners in July
such as schools and motels, that
new hires found out how much it
2019 that if they could not fix
they can quickly convert into af-
cost to rent an apartment or con-
fordable housing.”
do, they declined the job,” Holliday
The Florida Hospital Association
says. “They looked at the cost of liv-
and the Safety Net Hospital Alli-
ing here and realized they got more
ance said Lee, Collier, Charlotte,
bang for the buck where they were
Manatee and other Florida coun-
living up north.”
ties were short 11,500 registered
The hospital system is taking
nurses and 5,600 licensed practical
the bull by the horns: It is building
nurses in 2019. The numbers have
affordable apartments of its own
not improved.
that new employees can move into
NCH Healthcare Systems, one of
upon hiring. It purchased a Super
the region’s largest employers, has
8 motel and renovated it for em-
seen too many new hires change
ployee housing.
the problem, the company would
affordable apartment or house.
“NCH Healthcare is building 20 fully furnished studio and efficien-
move some of its billion-dollar
“We have more than 300 open
cy apartments in close proximity
business out of the county, possi-
positions,” says Jennifer Hart, di-
to our hospital,” Hart says. “The
bly to spots in the Carolinas.
rector of talent management for
monthly rental rate will be lower
employers—
NCH. “We’re actively looking to fill
than fair market value, fully fur-
some of whom postpone opening a
positions in administration, nurs-
nished and [with] amenities such
second or third location or reduce
es, respiratory therapists, occupa-
as a pool, community living area, a
their hours of operation to avoid
tional therapists, speech therapists
community kitchen with utensils—
employee shortages—are finding
and clinical workers in physician’s
people can move in right away.”
Many
corporate
G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S
Brian Tietz
Advisory
their minds when they can’t find an
60
Matthew Holliday, director of government relations at NCH, said