Minnesota Department of Health layoff communications cause chaos and confusion

In a shocking announcement late last month, the Minnesota Dept. of Health (MDH) Commissioner said the federal government was terminating $226 million of COVID-19 and pandemic funding for public health infrastructure. Layoff notices followed, and administrators made several missteps in the rollout, causing a lot of confusion and frustration among members.

MAPE MDH Meet and Confer, stewards and MAPE staff have communicated with all MAPE-represented employees at MDH throughout this process and held many meetings with MDH leadership to try and correct the errors and inaccuracies in the layoff list.

“This whole process has been filled with heartbreak and confusion as MDH continues its poorly executed layoff procedures, so we held a march!” MDH Meet and Confer Chair Lydia Fess said. “On April 10 over 200 members marched in an informational picket with organized media availability to show Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) and our representatives the decimation that is underway at MDH, and what it will cost Minnesotans to stay silent.”

“Do you recall the large Boar's Head cheese outbreak due to Listeria last year? All the norovirus illness in Minnesota this winter? That's what I do at the Minnesota Department of Health - I'm the Listeria and norovirus prevention subject matter expert for Minnesota. I have worked on reducing and responding to these diseases for the last 14 years,” said Amy Saupe, MPH, Senior Epidemiologist, Foodborne Diseases Unit. I worry about the future for Minnesotans without funding for experienced epidemiologists who are fighting to make their food and environment safe.”

Federal courts granted a 14-day temporary restraining order (TRO) on April 3, giving MDH some time to review its mistakes. However, the announcement emphasizes that the order does not resume funding. Funding will only be resumed if the federal administration complies with the order, which has not been a guarantee.

“Leadership informed us that MDH management met again with division directors to re-review the funding situation,” Fess said. “It is likely that a review of funding, along with correction of what would have been contract violations, will change how many and which MDH MAPE employees are affected by the at-risk and layoff notices that will be rescinded and resent on April 21.” MDH will be holding in-person Decision Days where members who have been laid off can find out their final options for bumping into a similar position where they hold seniority.

“HR management sent an updated layoff timeline to employees on the evening of April 14. Current layoff notices will be rescinded and new layoff notices delivered on April 21,“ explained Fess. “Decision Day will now be May 6, with the final day of employment for affected staff May 13. While bargaining units have been told that management has a new list of eliminated positions, leadership, and MMB have declined to share this list with unions for a good faith effort to mitigate errors and avoid the chaos of the last two weeks.”

According to MDH, these are the imminent results of the funding cuts and layoffs: 

• Slower detection and response times to infectious disease outbreaks, such as measles and avian flu.   
• Significantly reduced support for nursing homes, including funding for HVAC upgrades and staff training around disease prevention, as well as support for county jails and other congregate settings.   
• Immediate suspension of partner-led vaccine clinics and emergency preparedness activities.   
• Reduced laboratory support for hospitals and health care systems which could delay lab results and patient care.   
• An inability to upgrade the Minnesota Immunization Information Connection, the state’s immunization information system, which means it will remain outdated.   
• Suspension of the INSPIRE Program, a program to get middle and high school students excited about and interested in public health.   
• Reduced funding for Tribal Public Health.  

“While the loss of federal funds was entirely outside the control of MDH leadership, the chaotic, haphazard and destructive way the agency has chosen to respond to those cuts is an insult to their employees and a tragedy for public health in Minnesota. We will not, however, go gently into that good night. Make sure they hear it,” Fess explained. “We are tired, but fired up!”