There appears to be a subtle tension at the heart of the long-term care worker crisis: Is it a question of pay or culture? Increasingly, it is becoming clear that the answer is both.
Experts noted as much in a frank discussion about the workforce shortage this week in a McKnight’s Online Forum panel discussion entitled “Workforce hurdles and solutions across the long-term care continuum.” (You can still listen to it by the way; just register.)
“There is not enough staff to go around,” panelist Eric Scharber, managing partner at healthcare consulting firm SimiTree, said. “There will be winners and losers. The difference between the winners and losers are the organizations that can build a really great culture.”
That “great culture” may include benefits such as flexibility in work schedules, immediate pay access and unlimited personal time off; as well as being in tune with employees’ concerns and needs.
But the idea that pay isn’t a major factor is a fallacy, Scharber also pointed out. It absolutely makes a difference, he said.
In talking about workplace priorities, there may be another factor to consider on the issue: the millennial mindset. We know at this point millennials bring a new perspective to the workplace. The following are extremely important to them:
-Passion for work; you only live once (YOLO) mentality reigns
-Culture is everything
-Job hopping is expected
-Communication is key
-You don’t necessarily need to save for a rainy day
Several of these values run counter to how older generations think — a job does not have to be fun; you need to stay put; save, save, save — but as this new generation continues to take over the workforce, employers will clearly need to adapt.
If we want to recruit and retain these folks, the sooner we understand what drives them, the more likely we will be to find and hold them.
Liza Berger is editor of McKnight’s Home Care. Email her at [email protected].
