The labor shortage has put huge constraints on medical practices. Healthcare staff are pushed beyond their limits and facing extreme burnout. Meanwhile, more patients are dissatisfied during their visits. They’re waiting longer to see their physicians and receiving lower-quality care.
These circumstances have put immense pressure on medical practices to rebuild their workforces. But it’s a difficult task as the hiring market becomes more competitive — and not every practice can afford to offer higher financial incentives.
However, it’s not only about money for healthcare candidates. Keep reading to learn what healthcare workers are looking for in their jobs. They told us what it takes to keep them at their current job – and what would convince them to join another company.
Positive work environment
From our State of Shift Work report, ninety percent of healthcare workers say it’s important for them to work in a positive working environment. For them, this includes employee well-being and a culture of trust and openness.
To see where your practice lands when it comes to culture, distribute engagement surveys to get a better idea of how your staff feels about morale. Uncover areas where you can improve and make changes as needed. Invite more trust and openness by checking in on your staff’s satisfaction and engagement.
If you notice that there are areas for change, use these tips and resources to improve staff experiences. Consider providing wellness and mental health resources to minimize stress in your clinics. Incorporate mindfulness into your practices to prevent stress and help staff recharge.
Benefits that stand out
The most desired perks healthcare workers want are related to family, wellness, and work environment, according to 1,035 respondents.
For new hires with children, consider providing child care help as a family perk. You can even offer stipends for babysitters or daycare centers. Employees will also appreciate more time off to spend special moments with their loved ones.
Your practice can extend relaxation stipends or gym passes. You can also supply healthy snacks and drinks to encourage healthy choices. You can offer apps like Calm to help staff get more rest and relaxation during breaks or when they’re off work.
To improve the office environment, your practice can add more break rooms so staff can have more areas to rest and unwind.
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Healthy work-life balance
Almost half of healthcare workers shared that their work-life balance has been affected in the past year. Ongoing staff shortages and the COVID-19 pandemic have only blurred the lines between work and home.
You can show new hires that your practice supports work-life balance by offering rotating schedules — with this option, staff can spread out longer shifts or weekend shifts. You can impress candidates further by showing that you even give staff the autonomy to control their own schedules using a mobile app.
Your practice can also encourage more breaks or offer wellness days so staff has more time to gain respite. Consider providing time off for employees to celebrate special occasions with loved ones.
Jessica W. from Erko Dental shared that having a scheduling app has helped her team easily request shift swaps and not miss big moments in their lives. “It’s made staff a lot happier because they can easily submit leave or swap shifts – it gives them the convenience to know when they’re on and helps them work out their own lives around that.”
Take note of what new hires want
The need for healthcare workers is more essential than ever before. And remember that candidates evaluate beyond compensation numbers. To hire the best talent, ensure your practice provides a healthy working culture and supports work-life balance.
For more tips on hiring and retaining staff in a competitive market, download our free ebook on Overcoming Staff Shortages in Healthcare.
