Employee Engagement

Healthcare employees often experience personal satisfaction from their work — helping people is a great motivator. But sustaining happiness over time can be a challenge, and the high-pressure environment can put employees at risk for stress and burnout.

Every organization has its own success factors. Whether it is from its shared goals and vision or its strategic focus, there is no “one size fits all” solution. Today, employees must feel safe and supported by company leadership, and leaders must establish a culture where employees feel like they can thrive and grow. When workers see no room for development or have no understanding on how they can contribute, they will take the first opportunity from a competitor.

Employee engagement in healthcare settings can bring enviable returns: A hospital that worked with Gallup to improve engagement decreased turnover costs by $1.7 million in three years and increased its operating margins.

What do improving employee engagement, increasing motivation and boosting morale all have in common? They are all formulated to help employees perform their best and achieve their highest career goals. Today, even the most inspired can reach a stage of burnout and become less productive.

Probably one of the most critical processes for healthcare HR professionals is the onboarding process for new team members. Although retention can begin as early as the recruitment stage, a well-crafted onboarding process can make a big difference in shifting the discouraging statistics in the industry. According to a survey by BambooHR, more than 15 percent of new hires leave within the first three months.

One of the largest growing concerns among employers across all industries is retaining high-performing and high-potential employees. In fact, 46 percent of HR professionals cite employee retention/turnover as the top workforce management challenge in 2016, an increase from 25 percent in 2012.

It’s not just your organization — turnover is rampant across healthcare employers. According to Leaders for Today, a hospital management staffing firm, 37 percent of respondents plan to leave their current employer in the next two years, and more than 68 percent plan to leave within five years.

Employee engagement is a topic that is often discussed among healthcare HR professionals. In fact, it was last year’s theme for the American Society for Healthcare Human Resources Administration’s (ASHHRA) Annual Conference. According to the latest joint research by PwC and ASHHRA, healthcare organizations are underperforming compared to other industries, with nearly 30 percent of employees leaving within the first year of service.

It can often be said that we don’t reflect enough on things we should be grateful for in our life. Whether it’s your friends and family or health and career, practicing gratitude can have a significant impact on both your mental and physical health. For instance, if you can effectively foster a culture of gratitude and appreciation—such as with a simple handwritten “thank you” note or a compliment for a job well done—you can expect to notice a boost in morale, increase in patient satisfaction, decrease in turnover and burnout, and much more.