Mount Sinai Health Systems is reducing employee hours and pay to plug a financial shortfall caused by the coronavirus crisis.

In an internal memorandum obtained by NY1, Mount Sinai explains to employees that one to two days will be cut from their schedules and the pay reduced proportionately.

"As you probably know, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen a sharp decline in patient volume at many of our outpatient and ambulatory facilities. At the same time, costs have risen substantially for the staffing, supplies, and physical space needed to treat COIVD-19 patients," the memo explains.

Like many hospitals, Mount Sinai had to cancel or postpone medical services to make room for the surge of COVID-19 patients. An executive order prohibits hospitals from performing elective, non-urgent surgeries.

Now, the hospital is taking advantage of the state’s Shared Work Program, which allows the hospital to cut the hours of employees and ask them to apply for state and federal unemployment benefits to make up for lost pay. The benefits are capped at $700 per week.

"After all we’ve been through, to have our time and pay cut, it is really a slap in the face," said one Mount Sinai employee who spoke on the condition of anonymity. He says the hospital should treat employees better.

"Today I heard someone say we go from being heroes to zeroes. Really, it is pretty sad," he said. "I'm not the only one with a one-paycheck household, and every paycheck counts, and yeah, it is devastating, especially to do this so quickly."

The cuts could start as soon as Monday.

A Mount Sinai spokeswoman says employees will maintain full benefits despite the pay cuts and through unemployment payments, employees should maintain near their same salary.

The spokeswoman added, "We hope that these changes are temporary and that our business will come quickly back to normal over the next few months. In the meantime, this program is designed to help cushion and minimize any impacts to staff."

Cutbacks could last until July 31, but the memo, which is also signed by Local 1199, says the reductions could end sooner. The union didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

While it is unclear how many employees will be impacted, and what roles at the hospital they serve, Mount Sinai locations that could start cutting back on employee time include Mount Sinai Manhattan, Mount Sinai Queens, Mount Sinai Brooklyn, Mount Sinai Beth Israel, Mount Sinai Morning Side, Mount Sinai West, and New York Eye and Ear Infirmary.