Wage Structure in Hospitals

병원의 임금체계 실태 - 부산시내 병원을 중심으로 -

This study was carried out to assess the current status of hospital wage structure and to find out the characteristics and problems in the current hospital wage structure. so as to provide empirical data for establishing a rational wage structure. The data were collected from administrative personnels in charge of wage management in 31 hospitals by using a structured questionnaire through direct visiting and mailing in Pusan Metropolitan City. The major findings in this study were as follows: First, the hospital wage structure applied differently to the basic wages between doctors and the other employees. The wage structure for doctors included performance rate of 51.6%, followed by a synthesis rate of 29.0%, while the wage for the other employees had the synthesis rate of 74.2%, followed by the seniority rate of 12.9%. Second, the wage consisted of a basic wage for 57.5%. the allowance for 21.1% and monthly installed bonus for 21.4%, and the basic wage comprised 68.3% of the total wage for doctors, as compared to 51.9% for nurses and medical technicians and 52.4% for administrative and managerial personnel. The annual rate of the bonus was average 460%, and 96.8% of the hospital did not consider personnel preformance appraisal when paying the bonus. Third, 80.6% of the hospitals applied the legal rate to the retirement allowance while 19.4% applying cumulative rates more than the legal rate, and all of university hospitals applied cumulative rates. Retirement reserves were practiced only in 54.9% of the hospitals. Forth, many hospitals seemed to be interested in applying graded wage system according to performance, by showing that 42.9% of the hospitals were planning to apply it in the future, despite only 9.7% practicing it. Fifth, the wage structure appeared to be complicated due to various kinds of allowances. The kind of the allowances varied among hospitals, ranging from 2 to 26 kinds, and increased as the size of hospital was larger. Sixth, the opinions leading to improve the basic wage structure favored the seniority rate for 51.6% either to maintain the present seniority rate(16.1%) or to apply the incentive pay in addition to the senior rate(35.5%). and also favored the performance rate for 35.5%, followed by the job rate for 12.9%. In conclusion, the current hospital wage structure seemed to be too complicated to reflect personal ability, contribution and performance and to become a big barrier to inducing worker's motivation and to strengthening in competitveness. Therefore it is suggested that the current wage structure should be revised to the one emphasizing on job and ability base with considering characteristics and situation of the hospital, rather than seniority factors.