HR Industry Brief

A proposed change to how hospitals pay employees has long-term care leaders concerned about the impact on already-tight worker recruiting. An adjustment to the hospital wage index is designed to help hospitals improve hiring, but it doesn’t address skilled nursing providers. In comments posted on the Federal Register, the American Health Care Association (AHCA) expressed concern that these add-ons will allow hospitals higher wages than post-acute providers. AHCA CEO and president Mark Parkinson said, “Such a change would further exacerbate the competitive disadvantage of post-acute providers in recruiting staff, as hospitals already can pay more.” Elsewhere, LeadingAge asked CMS to consider the potential impact boosting hospital pay would have on skilled nursing homes. Read the full article. … [Read more...] about (7/1) Hospital Pay Increase Would ‘Exacerbate’ Nursing Homes’ Disadvantage in Recruitment, AHCA Head Warns

According to a new study, about three-fourths of unpaid family caregivers experience at least some disruption in their workplace routines. Many of them also say that they are not getting support from their employers to ease their burdens or provide help. The study authors suggested that these individuals could benefit from programs such as eldercare referrals or financial counseling. Employers should not only consider providing resources and guidance; they need to make sure that employees know about them and how to access the support they need. This is a growing concern, the authors said, as one in four employed U.S. adults provides informal care for a parent, in-law, or other family member who is older than age 65. Read the full article. … [Read more...] about (6/28) Workers Who Are Unpaid Caregivers of Older Relatives Struggle with Unmet Workplace Needs

When problems arise, staying silent or looking the other way could put HR professionals in legal jeopardy. However, attorney R. Scott Oswald told attendees at the Society for Human Resource Management’s recent annual conference, that there are steps you can take to protect yourself. Start with detailed documentation. The saying, “If it’s not in writing, it didn’t happen,” is popular for a reason. Particularly if a situation makes you uncomfortable or sets off concerns or red flags, write down details such as what happened, what was done and said, and why. Second, follow your organization’s own handbook and tie any recommendations or actions back to company policies, procedures, etc. Finally, realize that whistleblowing may be an option in some situations, particularly if there an immediate threat of danger in the workplace or taxpayers/investors are being defrauded. [Read more...] about (6/27) Failure to Speak Up Could Land HR Pros in Hot Water

Increasingly, executives need to produce results; and they often look to HR leaders for answers. There are four ways you can support execs and cement your position as a valuable team member. Start by creating a bond. Get to know executives as people, and show an interest in the challenges they face at work. Be responsive; when execs know they can count on you, especially when it matters most, it helps create and sustain lasting, positive relationships. Push yourself to be persistent, and help others stay on track and on schedule. Finally, listen with intent. This will enable you to better recognize and address the needs and concerns of your executives and make your contributions indispensable. Read the full article. … [Read more...] about (6/26) 4 Ways HR Leaders Can Become Better Consultants to Executives

Fatherhood affects how men think about their work, according to a new survey. A vast majority (88%) of respondents said that having a child changed how they view their career. While 87% said it resulted in them having different career goals, 77% said it changed their views on corporate culture. Most new fathers said they got about seven weeks of parental leave after their child was born, but they suggested that 10 weeks would be more appropriate. Nearly two-thirds (60%) of respondents said that companies should have a set number of flex hours for parents to use for things like attending mid-day activities. The same number also said that employers should consider policies that let parents use sick days when kids are home with illnesses. Read the full article.  … [Read more...] about (6/25) Survey Says 87% of Dads Say Fatherhood Changed Their Career Goals

According to a recent survey, employees generally agree that an intergenerational workforce is an asset, and most said they enjoy working with colleagues of different ages. There is much you can do to promote harmony among employees of all ages. Start by teaching people to connect, get to know each other, and see beyond stereotypes and preconceived notions. Bring people together by giving them a reason larger than themselves for working. Identify and promote common goals, interests, and concerns to bring workers of all ages together to solve problems, innovate, and cooperate on a daily basis.  If you do these things, you reduce the potential for intergenerational conflicts or tension. Read the full article. … [Read more...] about (6/24) Generational Conflict at Work? It Doesn’t Have to Be That Way

According to one study, 75% of organizations will include employee experience improvement as a performance measure for HR and IT by 2022. By pursuing a collaborative strategy, HR and IT can structure teams that allow work and ideas to flow and ensure that employees have positive experiences with technology. Start with five steps: 1.       Build and structure new work teams. Create teams that break down departmental siloes. 2.      Make technology investments together. Don’t make decisions about or purchase of technology in a vacuum. 3.      Optimize the employee experience on a single platform. Consider replacing websites and email with digitally-driven employee self-service centers. 4.      Design a digital experience that inspires connection and collaboration. 5.      Listen, design, test, and iterate. Give employees a voice in choosing, using, redesigning, and implementing technology. [Read more...] about (6/21) 5 Ways HR and IT Can Work Together to Improve Employee Experience

A new survey of HR professionals found that more than half of employers track the financial cost of employee skills training and development, but they don’t know if these activities should be categorized as “upskilling” or “job maintenance.” Nearly two-thirds (67%) of respondents said they provide educational assistance to some or all employees; and 36% said that workers take advantage of this benefit. Almost half (42%) of HR professionals said their company works with educational partners to upskill their employees, and 29% said they work with local or federal government agencies to secure training grants. Only about half (55%) of respondents said they had a training budget last year, and a similar number said they don’t offer any type of apprenticeship program. Read the full article. … [Read more...] about (6/20) SHRM: Worker Training Needs a Common Metric

The palliative care workforce could be facing some serious shortages moving forward, and this could create huge headaches for post-acute and long-term care communities. According to a new survey, about 40% of the palliative care physician workforce is 56 years old or older and many of these individuals are planning retirement in the next decade. At the same time, burnout and poor work-life balance issues are causing some practitioners to leave the field. One-third of survey respondents reported feeling burned out. With more practitioners leaving the field while the older population continues to skyrocket, the patient-to-physician ratios are expected to get worse for at least 25 years. They survey authors suggest that adopting new policies to expand training opportunities and reduce burnout would help reduce the palliative care practitioner shortages. [Read more...] about (6/18) Palliative Care Faces Staffing Shortages as ‘Workforce Valley’ Looms

According to a new survey, post-acute and long-term care leaders generally feel confident about their ability to keep up with technology at work. However, they don’t necessarily trust their supervisors to prepare them and other staff for future high-tech challenges. More than 92% of nursing home administrators and nurse managers surveyed said that they are personally either “ahead of the curve or average” regarding their high-tech skills and abilities. At the same time, however, 31% said that have just a little or no confidence in their supervisor’s ability to prepare them to handle tech innovations. According to the responses, nurse managers have more trust in their supervisor than administrators. Read the full article. Read the full article.   … [Read more...] about (6/19) LTC Leaders Feel Ready for Tech Challenges Despite Lack of Confidence in Supervisors: McKnight’s Market Mood Survey