Employee Recognition & Engagement Resources

When it comes to the healthcare industry, a variety of factors have a role to play in the overall quality of care provided. Perhaps the most important of these factors is the engagement level of employees. In fact, a recent Gallup study showed that the number one predictor of mortality variation was the nursing staff’s level of engagement. It beat out other key factors, such as nurse/patient ratio and percentage of overtime hours worked.

When we examine what it means to truly engage every employee, everything starts with communication and as the old adage goes, “Communication is key.” Leadership is tasked with making sure the values and vision of the organization are known by its employees. They are also responsible for making sure that employees who are engaged and in tune with company initiatives are recognized and rewarded for their efforts and leadership on a consistent basis. 

Engaging employees in the healthcare industry can prove to be a difficult task - hours are long and fast-paced; schedules are fluid and dynamic. It is not uncommon for employees to change jobs every few months for a few dollars more an hour, and endure much longer drive times to get to their workplace.

In our last blog post, Creating a Culture of Employee Engagement Continues with Providing Resources, we spoke about the received benefits and advantages of pairing resources, recognition, and rewards to increase employee engagement and commitment within your organization. Rule #3 in our ongoing series addresses Communication and how implementing a solid communication line with your employees can improve employee engagement.

Rule #3 COMMUNICATION:
Consistently communicate and live your organization’s values and vision. Recognize those employees who impact the quality of the organization’s work, products, and services.

Many organizations have established recognition programs to reward their employees for accomplishing various established goals. These programs can promote safety, performance, employee wellness, or any goal the company feels vital to performance outcomes.

If a company is in need of an employee recognition solution, there is an entire industry of companies that design employee recognition programs to meet their needs. However, as with anything, communication about the program itself is the key pillar for success. This is true from conception to implementation, to the evaluation of the program. It is important to market the program internally before total implementation.

Creating Interest for an Employee Recognition Program

It is often a good practice to have a recognition committee that includes a reliable representation of the employee base.