Boosting Retention Through Workplace Culture

As the healthcare industry and this article series continues to deal with the issue of the Great Resignation and a global talent shortage, the focus is constantly turning towards better methods of retaining staff through this crisis.

We know from experience and research that it is significantly less costly – both in terms of time and resources – to retain existing staff than it is to hire new employees. When you put together the cost of writing job adverts, placing them in various locations, sorting candidates, interviewing, and onboarding, it really stacks up and diverts HR staff from performing other essential elements of their role.

One of the main factors which can help boost employee retention is to create and nurture a better workplace culture within your organization.

Workplace Culture

Culture is an umbrella term which encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities, and habits of the individuals in these groups.

In a workplace setting, culture encompasses the values, rules, attitudes, and unspoken routines which dictate how a business flows and operates outside of its core function – healthcare provision in our case. However, just like out in larger society, workplace cultures can be complex and require attention and cooperation to make sure they remain healthy and productive.

And culture is a crucial factor when it comes to people considering their career options. Research by The Academy of Management found that a third of workers would resign from their current role – even their dream job – if the workplace culture was a poor fit, and a massive three-quarters would turn down a job offer for the same reason.

A healthy workplace culture leads to more satisfied employees, reduced churn, and higher levels of staff retention.

Very few people are at work because they want to be, that’s a fact. And, if you are going to spend 40+ hours per week somewhere for most of the days of your life, you need it to be a pleasant environment. High staff turnover, elevated absence rates, depressed and avoidant employees are all signs of a toxic culture at work and will require urgent and concentrated attention to effectively address.

Engagement

One of the most effective steps an organization can take to promote a healthy workplace culture is to engage with its people. Employees who feel engaged with and listened to report higher levels of satisfaction at work and the organizations they work for see lower levels of churn in their workforce.

Making staff feel appreciated will also encourage a healthy culture. Good workplace culture emphasizes reward for going above and beyond, whereas a toxic culture focusses more on punishing bad behavior. Promotion opportunities and recognition for a job well done goes a long way towards creating a better working environment for all. Lack of progression opportunity and feeling disrespected at work are also key reasons people give for resigning, so ensure this is not the case at your organization.

We live in a time of great upheaval and change, and this uncertainty can lead to anxiety and also contribute towards a toxic workplace culture. In this environment, gossip can fill gaps left by opaque and secretive management, with further negatively impacts the atmosphere at work. Managers should be upfront and transparent with regards to communicating and managing change in the workplace. During such periods, staff are looking for reassurance and honesty and will handle change better if they are adequately prepared for it.

Making sure new employees are properly onboarded is another way to boost culture. New employees can often feel alienated and outside of the workforce, so making sure the onboarding process promotes workplace culture and provides opportunities for mingling and getting to know the people they’ll be working with can go a long way towards alleviating feelings of alienation and isolation often experienced by new employees. Employees who feel like the organization they are working for has gone taken extra steps to make them feel included will be far more likely to hang around and become long-term members of you team.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the most crucial factors driving workplace culture are engagement and trust. If employees feel their employer is committed to making sure their voice is heard, they are fully integrated into the team, and communicated with effectively, healthy workplace culture will naturally follow.

With the Great Resignation likely to be around for the near future, healthcare providers serious about employee retention would do well to cast a critical eye over their own workplace culture.

Employee retention through workplace culture is set to be a hot topic at HR Healthcare 2022, taking place in October at the Hyatt Regency Austin, TX.

Download the agenda today for more information and insights.