40 HealtH Matters
Human rEsOurCEs
DIAloguE NEEDED
FollowINg INcomE cuTS
our health service faces new
challenges of maintaining morale
t
he health sector has come through “While economic data may suggest some
many challenges over the past five recovery on the way, employees report
years with successes in community care, plunging job satisfaction levels as well
and motivation after the series of
cancer treatment and primary health as falling standards of living over the last
income cuts imposed through services. a new challenge is the personal six months.” this bleak picture is painted
last year’s government decisions
one of retaining individual motivation on by the Chartered Institute of Personnel
lower net incomes. and Development (CIPD) based on its
writes employment specialist,
employment specialists see significantly employee outlook surveys.
gerald Flynn. reduced earnings as damaging the CIPD Ireland director, Michael McDonnell
‘psychological contract’ that lies at the said that “despite the resurgence in the
basis of most employment relations. stock market and the gradual appearance
In many employments, people would of economic green shoots, the ‘real’
respond by taking whatever opportunities economy as experienced in people’s day-
are open to them to find an alternative job to-day lives has yet to witness any signs
either here or abroad. of recovery, with people under increasing
the health service is somewhat different pressure both at work and in their
in that most of the 105,000 people working personal finances. employees are more
in the sector also have a commitment than twice as likely to say their personal
to patient services, which is often much standard of living has worsened over the
stronger than mere ‘customer focus’ in the last six months, as they are to say it has
private sector. there is frequently more of improved.” At the same time the CIPD
a team focus, which knits the capabilities net employee job satisfaction score has
of different people in ensuring patient dipped substantially from 46 plus to 37
well-being, than is found among those who plus since early in 2008.
operate in individualist roles.
Falling Job SatiSFaCtion
the ‘PSyChologiCal ContraCt’ Mr. McDonnell added that the fall in job
In these challenging times, the call for satisfaction, which has been marked
effective people management has never across both the private and public sectors,
been louder. Hr managers are amongst has been accompanied by an increase in
those on the frontline when it comes the proportion of people reporting they are
to maintaining that delicate employer/ under excessive pressure at work – either
employee relationship and trust – the every day or once or twice a week – rising
so-called ‘psychological contract’ – and to 42 per cent from 38 per cent last year.
delivering high performance in a period He said that “employees are also more
where reduced incomes, potential likely to say that they have seen increases
redundancies and other belt-tightening in stress and conflict at work, as well as
measures may become fairly common, bullying by line managers as a result of
even in the public service. the recession.”
the extensive negotiations on this is a common feature in many
modernising and improving efficiencies in workplaces according to the research by
the public service – from education and the CIPD personnel managers’ institute.
justice to health and local authority sectors It calls on us all to be aware of the added
– late last year may provide a basis for stresses and to try to avoid it impacting
+ Gerald Flynn – employment specialist with align rebuilding public services in tandem with on patient services or in how we interact
Management solutions.
improved exchequer finances. with colleagues.
HM Iss6.1 p1-70.indd 40 12/03/2010 15:15:36
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