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New Data Reveals Senior Living T
his has not been an easy year for providers. The pandemic intro- duced a new set of challenges, while
also magnifying many of the workforce is- sues that were already there. But what is so encouraging to me is that
despite the havoc this virus has wreaked on communities across the country, orga- nizations remain as committed as ever to two things: supporting their employees and delivering high-quality resident care. This is what we’ve seen throughout the
pandemic and what was confirmed in our second Workforce 360 Survey. This fall, over 2,100 senior living professionals shared their perspectives on the top workforce challenges facing the industry, as well as insights into how COVID-19 is impacting their employ- ees and their organization. The influence of the current crisis can be
felt throughout the report, starting with the top workforce challenge, which has shifted slightly from 2019. Last year, employee turnover was cited as the top workforce challenge. However, this year 67 percent of respondents said finding and hiring qualified candidates is their top challenge. Turnover came in at a close second. Here are some of the other key insights from the report.
Financial challenges Unforeseen costs due to various infection control measures and staffing challenges caused the biggest shift from 2019 to 2020; a 50 percent increase in respondents citing staffing to meet resident care needs and managing excess labor costs as top work- force challenges. In fact, 74 percent of respondents report they’ve had difficulty consistently filling shifts during the crisis. This shows the pre-pandemic staffing crisis
was only worsened as employees began to call off more frequently, were forced to quar- antine, or quit out of fear. Still, organizations are committed to
providing quality care—even if that means incurring higher labor costs. The majority (74 percent) of respondents cite relying on over- time to fill shifts and the data shows agency worker usage has increased 22 percent year- over-year. Other coping strategies include managers working open shifts and adjusting employee roles. Unfortunately, out of options, 33 percent of respondents have been forced to work shifts without enough staff.
Anxiety remains high Pandemic fear and anxiety are completely new challenges; we saw providers swiftly mobilize to make employees feel safe and supported. Unfortunately, 54 percent report difficulties managing this fear and anxiety, which has led to burnout, which a whop- ping 80 percent of providers report. More than half of respondents cite
frequent call-offs and absenteeism, lower motivation and satisfaction, and an inabil- ity to work when needed. These personal challenges are leading to increased turnover, making frontline staff recruitment difficult even with an expanded labor pool. In fact, 56 percent of respondents say they have not had much success hiring displaced workers.
Committed to support Recognizing the pandemic’s toll on frontline staff, providers are working to implement programs that help. Nearly half of survey respondents report they offer or plan to offer hero and bonus pay as well as rewards and recognition programs; 41 percent offer or plan to offer more flexible scheduling; and 26 percent currently offer or are look-
ing to provide staff access to earned wages between paychecks. The majority of respondents indicated
they believe industry challenges will remain the same or worsen over the next three years and that technology will play a significant role in going up against these challenges. To ensure proper staffing and offer
greater flexibility, employee scheduling and employee communication technologies top the list. Over half say they plan to invest in employee health monitoring and reward and recognition technologies.
Stronger ahead These past several months have been in- credibly challenging. However, our survey data shows us that senior living organiza- tions are focused on emerging from the pandemic stronger than ever. And they’re committed to doing whatever it takes to make that a reality. For that, I applaud you all and thank you for your tireless commit- ment to your staff and residents. I encourage you to download the full report:
www3.onshift.com/workforce360-2020.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020
ARGENTUM.ORG 47
Is Poised For Post-Pandemic Success By Mark Woodka, CEO, OnShift
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