Sudden departure of two LHSC executives might cost $750,000 in severance
The sudden departure of two more top-executives from the London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) is raising new questions tonight about executive compensation at public hospitals.
Neil Johnson, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, as well as Susan Nickle, Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Chief People Officer are no longer employed by the hospital.
The hospital notified staff of the departures on Wednesday.
Johnson worked at the hospital in various leadership roles over 33 years, and recently oversaw the mass vaccination clinic at the Western Fair District Agriplex.
Nickles was hired in 2013.
The London Health Coalition’s Peter Bergmanis questions if three departures among the hospital’s top brass in just the last six months risks creating a leadership gap.
“This is a very disconcerting distraction again, at a time of pandemic when all resources should be focussed on struggling COVID-19 to the ground,” says Bergmanis.
In January, former CEO Dr. Paul Woods had his contract terminated by LHSC after the public learned he had travelled to the United States during the pandemic.
On Thursday, a request to interview both Interim CEO Jackie Schleifer Taylor and Board Chair Phyllis Retty were declined by the hospital’s communications department.
Instead, a three-sentence statement was emailed to CTV News which confirmed the departures, wished Johnson and Nickle the best in their future endeavours, and expressed the hospital’s ongoing commitment to deliver high quality healthcare.
Subsequent questions emailed from CTV News did not receive a response.
Those questions included:
- Were the contract terminations the decision of the Interim CEO, the hospital board, or both?
- Were the contract terminations ‘with cause’ or ‘without cause’?
If severance is paid according to Johnson and Nickles’ employment contracts, is that the best use of more than $750,000 of health care dollars?
CTV News has yet to receive a reply.
According to their most recent contracts, and based on the public disclosure of their 2020 salaries:
- Termination without cause would see Susan Nickle owed 40 weeks of severance, totalling $189,288.
- Termination without cause would see Neil Johnson receive 104 weeks of severance totalling $576,576.
“This is a lot of money not going to any (healthcare) service,” says Bergmanis. “We have to cap the top wage scales, especially in public hospitals.”
Earlier this year, former CEO Paul Woods filed a $3.5 million dollar lawsuit against the hospital following his contract’s termination.
CTV News attempted to reach both Johnson and Nickle for comment, but has not yet receive responses.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.