Employment and Retention in the Healthcare Field

Finding great employees can be a challenge; however, the battle does not end once great team members are onboarded. Retention is a topic that is often overlooked when understanding how to enhance the overall experience of your employees. New ideations of how to improve internal retention rates through challenging times are constantly being shared. But, how do leaders learn what has the best odds of working for their organizations?

Last month, Empower Florida Founder, Chairman, and CEO Gary T. Hartfield discussed his experiences ensuring employees are well cared for during challenging times. Overall, the discussion returned to the concept of care and thoughtfulness. Below, is a breakdown of key actions to consider when supporting your team and improving retention.

Check In Regularly

Consistent and effective communication has been challenged in the widespread adoption of remote work. However, many organizations have thrived in the less traditional realm of work-from-home culture. What started as a safety measure during the height of COVID-19 has seemingly become the new norm. Of course, in healthcare, some positions simply cannot work from home. So, how are we collaborating with teammates in varying locations?

Hartfield’s answer to this is communication, communication, and more communication. Scheduling regular and recurring touch bases has been vital in ensuring teams are in the know. “Before transitioning to remote work, our teams would meet bi-weekly or even monthly. However, following the transition, teams meet weekly to provide updates and address areas of concern,” states Hartfield. This simple adjustment can help lessen the perceived divide due to distance.

Set Your Team Up For Success

Though often overlooked, onboarding has a large impact on retention rates. According to Okta, “Great employee onboarding can improve employee retention by 82 percent.” This statistic shows the importance of setting your new teammates up for success. Aspects to consider during onboarding include organizational cultural fit, long-term goals, and work style.

“During onboarding, I provide plenty of communication,” says Hartfield. “It is important to set the expectation that I am available for any questions or concerns. New teammates especially should never feel out of the know.”

“One Bad Apple Can Spoil the Bunch”

Oftentimes, retention rates are negatively impacted by a perceived toxic work environment. As a leader, it is important to maintain a keen gauge of the atmosphere. Topics such as gossip, bad attitudes, or inability to complete roles can cause frustration that can quickly trickle down to all employees.

“One symptom of a toxic environment that leaders must watch for is disengagement by employees. When there’s no engagement, passion, or interest in the work it becomes apparent that a form of toxicity may have infiltrated your team,” Hartfield shares. “In my experience, this tends to happen when something or someone is negatively influencing the desire to work or team morale.”

Be Genuine

Most importantly, be genuine in your attempts to connect with your team members. Take a personal interest in learning about their work styles, what makes them feel most supported, and how they prefer to be recognized. Sometimes, it is easy to forget the importance of genuine connections in the workplace. “Whenever leaders can show care and compassion in a way that is out of the norm it can lead to a stronger, more positive work environment,” states Hartfield.

Resting in Celebration of Labor Day

Oftentimes we prioritize our days by measuring how many tasks have been completed by bedtime. Laborious tasks are regular and expected in many professions. Labor Day, celebrated on the first Monday of September, provides a long weekend to celebrate the hard work of employees nationwide. However, we as workers should prioritize rest in our day-to-day lives.