Sponsored by WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
A Round Of Applause For Employee Engagement Innovation
Mark Woodka, CEO, OnShift
and how much they go above and beyond expectations. That dedication deserves to be recognized. That’s why we created the OnShift Ap-
I
plause Awards – to recognize and support individuals who have demonstrated exem- plary work in long-term post-acute care and senior living settings. This year, we received hundreds of nominations that showcase the selflessness, perseverance, and creativity that senior care professionals bring to their jobs.
Employee Engagement and Retention Initiatives One area that stood out in many of the nominations was the innovation displayed to support new employee engagement and retention initiatives. This should come as no surprise, as a recent OnShift survey found that 83% of senior care leaders cite em- ployee engagement and retention as a high priority for their organization. These pro- grams originated as ideas from every role within an organization, proving once again how impactful consistent collaboration and feedback is to improving the culture of senior living organizations. Here are some of the programs OnShift’s Applause Award nominees have implemented to improve re- tention at their organizations.
Thoughtful Incentives Yield Big Returns At one veterans’ home, an administrator made a big impact on the lives of her co- workers after less than a year of working there. She introduced a food pantry in the break room so all team members could enjoy snacks throughout the day. She even
’m always impressed with how hard senior care staff members work, how much they care about their residents,
gave every team member a new pair of shoes and a new uniform. Through her leadership and employee-first mentality, the community saw a reduction in turnover. We saw this kind of focus to better the
lives of staff members at another provider, where the director of human resources led the charge in implementing new employee perks. This individual launched a tuition assistance program that’s available to every employee and their immediate family mem- bers. She also added free telehealth, which includes mental health and counseling services, to the employee benefits package. These perks have helped support existing staff and attract new employees.
Let Your Voice Be Heard Another common theme in the OnShift Applause Award nominations was the will- ingness to be an advocate for staff members. One nominee was recognized for working with the organization’s executive team to develop retention bonuses for long-standing associates. Her positive attitude and focus on employee benefits have been key in recruiting new hires and increasing the number of care staff applicants at her community. Open communication was another
frequent reason for nominations. Several executive directors were praised for having open door policies and not only listening to staff but acting on their feedback. Sched- ulers were nominated for their flexibility, consideration of coworkers’ personal lives and a focus on employee work/life bal- ance. At organizations where this kind of communication exists, employees feel more connected and satisfied with their work environment. These initiatives were often supported with technology through OnShift that
automatically recognizes employee contri- butions and gives rewards to employees for key behaviors like clocking in on time or picking up extra shifts. In fact, one senior living community took this a step further by regularly inviting their residents to give points to caregivers. In this way, staff are not only recognized for their measurable per- formance, but for the positive impact they have on residents. This same approach can be used to enable peer-to-peer recognition by inviting employees to nominate their coworkers for rewards points. These kinds of recognition tactics build teamwork and strengthen community relationships. These examples prove that employee
recognition programs don’t have to be elaborate, but they need to be apparent. Consistent employee recognition is essential to building workforce stability. The OnShift Applause Awards is one of
the ways we at OnShift can recognize, and applaud, the tremendous work of senior liv- ing professionals. So, thank you for contin- ually innovating for the betterment of your employees, residents and organization.
JULY/AUGUST 2022
ARGENTUM.ORG 41
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56
