Associated Press | A Chicago hospital is ending a salary freeze
with a big thaw. Swedish Covenant Hospital froze salaries to save jobs
last year. At the same time, the hospital promised employees to give
their money back if they helped the institution meet its financial
goals.

Employees responded, helping the hospital make a nearly $4 million operating profit. Now the hospital plans to give employees retroactive pay increases in their April 16 paychecks, a total of $1.5 million.

That means some nurses will get about $1,500 extra in their next paychecks.

Savings were achieved throughout the hospital, from food service to nursing to the pharmacy. One example of a cost-saving idea? Nursing units put “turn off the lights” reminders by every light switch to save electricity costs.