It’s a difficult time for hiring and retention in senior care. More than half of the providers OnShift surveyed in their 2021 Workforce 360 Survey Report said that employee turnover is a top workforce challenge, and nearly a third said the same about finding and hiring qualified job candidates. Competition for talent is high, with many healthcare workers leaving the industry entirely. High turnover and low staffing can lead to suboptimal care, fewer admissions, and a lower quality rating. One of the most effective ways providers can combat this is by offering meaningful perks to their employees.
What makes a perk meaningful? The benefits you offer your employees should have a positive impact on their lives, recognize their contributions to your organization, and make them feel heard. Senior care workers OnShift surveyed most often cited better communication, more appreciation, and a better work-life balance as things that would make their jobs more satisfying. Of course, better pay is a big driver of employee satisfaction, but it’s important to note that it is not the only factor employees care about.
Below you’ll find ideas for celebrating and supporting your staff through meaningful perks. These are not one-time efforts. To truly see a shift in employee engagement and job applicant interest, providers need to make a commitment to consistently and fairly offering employee benefits. While this is a great starting point, don’t forget to ask your employees for their opinions to see if certain perks resonate more than others. And remember – OnShift is here to help you navigate the ever-shifting senior care landscape and to help you strategize an employee engagement plan that fits your organization’s unique needs.
Promote Financial Wellness
About 40% of survey respondents say that a lack of financial savings is a top personal challenge facing their employees. We can see evidence of this in the $67 million in early wages accessed last year through OnShift’s financial wellness software.
What’s more, financial stress contributes to poor work performance and can impact employee retention. A PwC survey found that a third of employees say that finances are a distraction at work. Two-thirds say they would be attracted to another company that cares more about financial well-being than their current company. Investing in your employees’ financial wellness is a crucial step towards improving your organization’s culture and retention.
Celebrate Your Staff
Gratitude goes a long way to make your staff feel appreciated, valued, and respected. Rewarding those who go above and beyond can encourage others to do the same, improving your staff and residents’ spirits. Use these perks to applaud your employees’ hard work and boost morale.
Encourage Healthy Lifestyles
Leading a healthy lifestyle is much more than just eating well and getting regular exercise. Companies should opt for a holistic approach that encompasses mental wellness as well, especially since 86% of senior care workers report experiencing burnout or stress. As employees face burnout, financial stress, and compassion fatigue, placing a focus on mental wellbeing is more important than ever.
Support Work-Life Balance
The Corporate Executive Board, which represents 80% of the Fortune 500 companies, found that those employees who report having a strong work-life balance work 21% harder than those who don’t, and they tend to stay with their organization long term. Additionally, HR professionals reported that offering staff more flexibility in their schedules increases employee retention rates. This can be a bit challenging, especially when providers are struggling to properly staff each shift, but a concerted effort to give employees ample time away benefits everyone in the long run.
Show Your Commitment to Learning and Growth
LinkedIn data shows that companies with internal mobility retain employees almost 2x longer. What’s more, 70% of U.S. workers said they were at least “somewhat likely to leave their current company” to work somewhere with a bigger focus on employee learning. Simply put, if you are not offering employees tangible career paths, you’re likely to experience higher turnover.
Bring Teams Together
Bringing your employees together in a fun, engaging way can build morale, deepen personal and working relationships, and create a workplace everyone can enjoy. In fact, Gallup research consistently finds that having a best friend at work leads to better performance. Plus, encouraging interaction among staff gives them a chance to build bonds of solidarity.
Looking for specific ideas to support and celebrate your staff? Check out our guide, The 2022 Biggest Book of Perks for Senior Care with more than 50 suggestions of easy-to-implement perks.
