Is Your Turnover Rate Stopping You From Being Profitable? You Need To Be The Best Employer In Homecare And Fix The Problem.
October 15, 2021
Top 5 Considerations For Turnover:
When we are in different agencies, regardless the type of home and community-based care, struggling agencies almost always have a link to employee turnover. Ultimately, employees do not want to stay where something seems broken. The problem is whether the issue has been identified and a clear way to fix it has been determined. Here are the top 5 ways we see agencies struggle to keep staff.
- Interview Process/ Employment Expectations: This is where we sell our agencies to the employee every bit as much as they sell themselves to us. However, it is important that employers make expectations clear so employees don't sign on with a romanticized view of working for your agency. You should talk through benefits and expectations for productivity and work flow in both the positive and negative.
- Onboarding: Onboarding can be too short a process just as easily as too long of a process. Agencies need to consider a program that tailors to the learning type of the employee and not have new staff orienting so long that you are 6 months in without the staff member completing a typical day of work independently. You need to have someone tracking progress and working with the employees to move through the new employee checklist.
- Mentoring: Every new employee needs a mentor. This is not always the person in charge of their onboarding. It is someone who is checking with the employee on concerns throughout the first 6 months to a year.
- Multi-generational approach: Right now, your agency may have the Silent Generation, Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Zs all working together. It is not an easy task when all of these individuals learn differently and bring different skill sets as well as needs to the table. If you can't communicate the wants, needs and values of each of these generations, you will struggle to put them all together.
- Connection with staff: Employees don't need to be your buddy, but ultimately, they need to know their contributions matter and you know what those contributions are. Consider some team-bonding activities. I am reminded of a time while a was a nurse working in a branch office. The administration showed up to a staff meeting. They pulled out griddles and toasters and made the staff breakfast cooked to order. It was a small gesture, but it meant a lot to staff and opened up dialogue. Connection doesn't have to cost a ton of money to be effective. Don't underestimate the impact of eggs, bacon, and toast! It means something.
Need Help With Your Turnover Strategy?
At Kenyon Homecare Consulting, we help agencies with all aspects of clinical, financial, and personnel operations. If you need help putting the pieces together, we can help you. Call 206-721-5091 or contact us online.
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