Joanne Kaldy

A new survey from OnShift shows that providers and their teams continue to be stressed out and overwhelmed, and this is exacerbating workforce challenges. Among the findings:

• Nearly 80% of respondents say caregivers and hourly employees face critical burnout levels, and 90% say they feel stressed themselves.
• 79% of respondents say staffing shortages are their top workforce challenge.
• 62% cite hiring job candidates as their main concern and 54% say turnover is their biggest problem.
• 47% say that these workforce challenges are impacting their ability to meet resident care needs, and over a third claim it is limiting their ability to take in new admissions and move-ins.
• 64% offer or plan to offer bonus pay for working difficult shifts, while 49% have or are considering rewards and recognition programs to engage and retain employees.
• 89% of respondents say diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts are a priority for … [Read more...] about (12/17) Workforce Shortages, Leadership Burnout Among Long-Term Care’s Top Challenges: Survey

According to a new report, the vast majority (93%) of employees say they would stay at an employer longer if the company took the time to invest in their careers.  Among other findings:

• 68% of employees prefer to learn at work, 58% prefer to learn at their own pace, and 49% would rather learn at the point of need.
• The number one reason employees say they’re not engaging in workplace learning is because they don’t have the time. Executives and managers agree that getting employees to make time learning is the top challenge for talent development.
• Over half (56%) of employees say they would take a manager-suggested course.
• Talent developers say that getting managers involved in learning is the second greatest challenge in employee learning, behind making time for training and education.
• 69% of Millennial workers say that career development is important in a job.

According to a new study, there are three themes connected to efforts that can successfully reduce burnout:

• Work culture that prioritizes person-centered care over productivity and performance metrics.
• Management skills and practices to overcome bureaucracy and enable more workplace flexibility and individualized engagement.
• Opportunities for worker professional development and self-care.

According to a new survey, employers are using bonuses to attract job candidates and reward employees who refer potential hires. Among the findings:

• More than half (52%) of employers say they have offered sign-on bonuses to attract job candidates during the past year.
• The sign-on bonus is most common (offered by 79% of responding companies). However, other employers say they have used referral, spot, and retention bonuses; and 7% say they haven’t used any bonus program.
• Just 2% of organizations say they have offered a higher referral bonus for job applicants from under-represented groups.

Feedback is supposed to help improve performance and encourage employees to live up to their potential.  However, if feedback focuses just (or mostly) on what people are doing wrong or what they could do better, it can have the opposite result. Take these steps to provide balanced feedback that is more likely to be inspirational, productive, and hits the mark:

• Establish yourself as an ally. Communicate that you’re on their side by empathizing with them, expressing confidence in them, and including them in solutions, change, and innovations.
• Identify an energizing outcome. Instead of dwelling on the problem, focus on the future they want to create and how they can be a part of it. Encourage them to talk about the future they would like to see for them and the organization.
• Discover a hidden opportunity. Once you’ve enabled the employee to visualize a positive future, go back to the problem at hand. Discuss how the problem might be a good thing and … [Read more...] about (12/13) Feedback Isn’t Enough to Help Your Employees Grow

Anti-Jewish hate crimes were slightly down this year from last, but antisemitism continues to be an issue that needs to be addressed. In one survey of American Jews, 88% of respondents said they feel that antisemitism in a problem in the U.S. Only 3% report believing it’s on the decline. So what can you do to prevent and address antisemitism in the workplace? Start with these steps:

• Encourage diversity and inclusion by recognizing holidays and special traditions for all faiths. Organizational commitment to diversity, inclusion, and tolerance should be spelled out in formal policies, onboarding programs, and elsewhere.
• Messages or symbols of hate in the workplace are unacceptable, and employers generally would have legitimate legal grounds to prohibit such conduct. These messages or symbols could be considered a form of workplace harassment by targets of the messaging or those who are offended by the symbols.  Of course, policies should be spelled out in … [Read more...] about (12/10) Confronting Antisemitism at Work

It’s been a tough year. People are tired and stressed out; so it’s to be expected that complaints might ramp up. For instance, you might observe people spending more time idly complaining or grousing about various issues. When this happens, you need to nip it in the bud, as the more negative the talk gets, the less likely forgiveness is possible. There are a few steps you can take to break out of the complaint cycle:

• When you witness negative talk, guide the conversation to positive change. What can be constructively, realistically be done to resolve the complaint?
• Give people a safe place to discuss their concerns, complaints, and frustrations. Listen, ask questions, and demonstrate that you care about their feelings and needs.
• Engage staff in resolving issues. Appoint them to a committee or task force, or ask them to study the situation and come to you with some possible solutions.

New research out of Rutgers University has reached some important conclusions about why managers need to prioritize building trust with employees:

• Trust works because it fosters trustworthy behaviors.
• Distrusting employees often backfires and creates resentment.
• Managers must actively demonstrate that they trust employees for any positive effects of trust to emerge.
• The positive impact of trust (or negative effect of distrust) is directly related to organizational culture and norms. When you promote trust, don’t expect one-size-fits-all results.
• Managers need to understand that their acts of trust can create a chain reaction wherein trust spreads throughout the entire organization.

While everyone is eager for a little fun and camaraderie during the holidays, caution is still necessary if you decide to hold an in-person or even a hybrid event. The key is planning and communication, so employees know what to expect and what is expected of them. With that in mind, here are some tips for a successful -- and safe -- celebration:

• If proof of vaccination is required, let employees know in advance. If they need to bring their vaccination cards or photos of them, let them know this as well.
• If masking will be required, announce this in advance; and make it clear that no one will be admitted without one. Have disposable masks available for anyone who needs one.
• Have hand sanitizer stations readily available. Consider giving everyone a safety ‘goodie’ bag with a mask, sanitizer, and wipes.

• 56% of U.S. consumers are … [Read more...] about (12/7) Navigating the Holiday Party Experience in a COVID World

  Another new survey suggests that workforce shortages will continue to plague long-term care for the foreseeable future. Among the findings:

• Employees are leaving not just nursing homes but also assisted living and personal care homes. The main reasons are lack of competitive wages, recruitment by staffing agencies, vaccination mandates, and/or burnout/stress.
• 57% of operators say they are concerned that they may have to close facilities.
• There are 3,000 job vacancies in the industry in Kentucky alone. These include openings for nurse aides, licensed practical nurses, directors of nursing, and administrators, as well as jobs in dietary, activities, maintenance, and the business office.
• Rural communities are struggling more than ever before and can’t compete with staffing agencies and other industries (such as hospitality and retail).
• It’s difficult for providers to compete with staffing agencies that are providing … [Read more...] about (12/6) Workforce Crisis Not Expected to Improve Any Time Soon: Expert