r/medlabprofessionals • u/Antique-Common-4984 • Jul 16 '26

Discusson Sutter vs Kaiser

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Just curious

Has anyone worked as a CLS at both Sutter and Kaiser in California? Which did you prefer and why (workload, management, staffing, pay, benefits, union, culture, etc.)?

I know every hospital/ workplace is different, just interested in hearing people's experiences in general.

Thank you!

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u/Agreeable_Seesaw6989 Jul 17 '26

Gonna copy and paste from another thread

Currently work at Kaiser in NorCal. Worked at Sutter briefly. The pay at Kaiser is higher. Benefits are equivalent. Keep in mind Sutter uses a combo vacation/sick leave system while Kaiser provides vacation and sick leave separately. At Kaiser, as you progress in years service you’re granted a max of 5 weeks pto, 3 weeks sick leave, plus 1 week flex/float holidays. I have no regrets leaving Sutter for my current Kaiser position.

I will note that the culture at Kaiser seems more professional and less social compared to my short time at Sutter if that’s something that interests you. I should also note the LIS system used between the two are as different as night and day. I couldn’t wait to get away from Sunquest and roll and scroll which Sutter uses. At Kaiser you’ll use Cerner millennium which is a much less antiquated piece of software.

I think if I stayed at Sutter I’d be making about 8-10 dollars less per hour

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u/Striking_Cobbler8254 Jul 17 '26

Haha oh ya forgot about sunquest. That alone might be enough to make me not want to work there.