BELLINGHAM - Employees at the Pacific Rim Outpatient Surgery Center will be back to work on Monday, Feb. 13, after what two officials there referred to as an "illness" - contrary to rumors of worker unrest.

Twelve employees called in sick Thursday morning, said Dr. Joseph Deck, president of the surgery center's board. He said he had no indication the sickness was an expression of worker discontent, but he acknowledged employees at the center had grievances.

"Those are issues that in some way, shape or form are inherent in any business," Deck said. "We are aware of those issues and are working to be as functional an organization as we can be."

Rachelle Barrett, nurse supervisor in the center's post-anesthesia care unit, was fully confident nurses were returning to work.

"Right now, 100 percent of my staff is planning on being at work on Monday for a very busy day," Barrett said, noting that she checked on them and could report that "most have improved completely."

The surgeries that had to be canceled Thursday and Friday will be "rescheduled for as soon as possible," Deck said. He said he didn't know how many surgeries had been delayed.

Pacific Rim, with more than 50 employees and about 40 doctors who operate there regularly, is a multispecialty surgery center that performs orthopedic; ear, nose and throat; nerve and spine; plastic and general surgeries, Deck said.

The surgery center is unrelated to Pacific Rim Orthopaedic Surgeons. The two offices are near each other on Squalicum Parkway.