Senior Care Staffing: Would You Leave Your Long-Term Care Facility?

I recently walked into a DSW (Designer Shoe Warehouse), and while trying on a pair of shoes, I happened to look up and take in what was going on around me. As I watched the people shop, I noticed a common strategy.  First people would pace up and down each aisle until they reached a particular style. They would pause, examine the offering, and pick up one or two shoes for a closer look. This was their predetermined target. Some would find something they love and commit, check out and go home happy. But most would continue the search looking for something better.

It made me think of a recent McKnight’s article written by John O’Connor. In it he detailed a story of a caregiver who left her position at a nursing home for a job selling shoes. This “job-hopping” is a common problem in the industry, with a turnover rate averaging over 50%. And it makes sense, just like shopping for shoes - if what’s in front of you doesn’t meet your expectations, you move on.

So what are the expectations of today’s caregivers? First and foremost staff needs to feel that they are being treated fairly. This means you should be equal and transparent in your operations. John notes it’s important to “not jerk them around especially when it comes to pay and hours”.  I couldn’t agree more. Their job is their livelihood; it’s how they provide for their family. If staff members notice that they aren’t getting the same opportunities as others to pick up shifts, they will leave. If a staff member says, “It’s difficult for me to work Thursday nights”, and you’re consistently scheduling them for that time, they will leave.

The article goes on to share the reaction of the caregiver’s boss who was perplexed that this person could “walk away from doing God’s work, just to work in a shoe store?” I scoffed when I read this because it sounds like this executive might have forgot the Golden Rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do to you.”

This employee might have stayed if they were treated differently … if their hours weren’t constantly played with and they weren’t routinely scheduled on days they’d prefer not to work. Again it goes back to that basic rule.

The difficulty comes when trying to balance these issues for all your staff members - often 50+ employees. That’s where technology can help. OnShift’s mobile app for employees is one way to give staff the voice and control they need to achieve a happy work/home-life balance. With OnShift, staff have 24/7 access to their schedules and can set work availability, submit PTO, and request open shifts. When it comes to employee engagement and satisfaction, these things go a long way in keeping your employees coming back every day. It is what employees expect – and if you provide these things, you might not have to worry about them leaving (even if they get a 10% discount on shoes).

For more tips I suggest checking out: