Sponsored by WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Senior Living Is Poised To Become The Next "It" Industry
Mark Woodka, CEO, OnShift T
his year, I walked away from the an- nual Argentum Senior Living Exec- utive Conference excited about the
future of the senior living workforce. This seems counterintuitive as turnover rates re- main high and the number of unfi lled open positions seems to be growing exponentially by the day. However, I believe the senior living work-
force is in prime position to become the next “it” industry. During the conference, new research revealed that our industry is responsible for creating 1.6 million jobs and contributes nearly a quarter of a trillion dollars annually to the nation’s economy. That’s huge. In fact, it’s more than the auto manufacturing and air transportation industries. This is the kind of information we can
use to get the attention of policymakers and help unlock dollars to support workforce training and development initiatives.
Growing exposure for next-gen leaders Major educational institutions are already taking notice of the current and future growth of the senior living industry. George Mason University and Washington State University, among others, have programs to help develop the next generation of leaders in senior living. Clinical Assistant Professor and Senior Living Executive in Residence for the Insti- tute of Senior Living at Washington State University, Scott Eckstein, preaches that exposure to the industry is key – and he has proof. Although some students may take one of his classes to meet a credit requirement, he says many experience an “aha!” moment during a fi eld trip to a local senior living community. It turns out they simply had no
46 SENIOR LIVING EXECUTIVE MAY/JUNE 2019
idea what a wonderful environment existed at these communities. Many students end up switching their majors when they learn about career paths in senior living. Experi- ences like these show that it’s not that people don’t want to work in senior living; rather, they are either misinformed or in the dark about the opportunities that exist. Don’t let this happen to you. Look for
educational partners in your market and work together to expose the vast and ful- fi lling career opportunities available within senior living.
Developing & supporting frontline staff Of course, many of the most critical work- force challenges are tied to the ability to attract and retain caregivers. That’s why OnShift is thrilled to be on Argentum’s steering committee to help develop the fi rst national apprenticeship program for care- givers in senior living. The goal is to provide a structure for career growth that engages caregivers early on. By doing so, this will help build, grow and retain talent within senior living. It doesn’t end there, as many providers
are not only laser-focused on the devel- opment of their staff , but also on helping them address their work-life challenges. In fact, I’ve talked with multiple senior living executives who have reiterated that we can’t lose sight of what it is like to live paycheck to paycheck. This is the harsh reality for many hourly employees in senior living. The fi nancial stress that results can impact their health and well-being, ultimately compro- mising their productivity and performance at work.
Countless organizations are adopting programs like OnShift Wallet that give
staff access to their earned wages in between paychecks to provide fi nancial relief when unexpected issues arise. I have heard so many touching stories about employees using these funds to recover from a natural disaster, pay their child’s tuition on time and even to pro- vide a holiday meal for their family. In each one of these cases, those employees were able to make it through a trying time without any debt or the embarrassment of asking others for help. I can’t think of a better way to sup- port employees. With the massive turnover in our profession, programs like these make a big diff erence in the ability to attract staff while providing a work environment where people want to stay.
Senior living is the total package With massive job growth, multiple career path opportunities and a level of fulfi llment other industries cannot provide, senior liv- ing is the real deal. This should make all of us excited about the future. Now it’s time to tell the world.
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