The Risks from Unmotivated Employees
The Positive Force of Incentivized Employees
Staff members serve as the voice of the healthcare organization. Believe it or not, patients, residents and family members often put more value on what they hear from the entry-level employee, nurse, aide, housekeeper or receptionist than what they hear from the administrative staff. Shocking, isn’t it! The same is true of the State Surveyor or Inspector who evaluates your facility. One only has to pick up a survey report to see how the Surveyor quotes what a Nursing Assistant (CNA) or a staff nurse tells them; they will actually quote them verbatim. Family members tend to identify with a nurse or a CNA as they establish a level of trust with the facility; unfortunately, it may not even be one of your better staff members or could actually be one with performance issues. It is most likely a staff member who likes to talk and one who enjoys attention. They may get their self-graduation by establishing relationships with the patient, resident or family member. Sometimes these staff members manage to establish themselves as the unofficial facility voice. Don’t panic; there are ways to channel this kind of behavior into a positive tool for the Facility.
Developing an Employee Motivation and Recognitions Program
Motivation is an excellent way to channel the communication and behavior that goes on within your facility. Staff wants boundaries, and they need to be involved with and recognized as part of the organization. The realization is that a full-time staff member spends approximately one-third of their life in their work environment, and one way or another, their presence will be felt and their voice will be heard. The leaders of the organization must decide if staff is to be left to their own accord or if they are to be directed into a well-thought-out plan.
Setting up a motivation program that incentivizes positive staff performance is a key factor in the growth of the organization. The two most important ingredients of any employee motivation program are recognition of and rewards for positive staff performance. The results will be far-reaching: improved family satisfaction and happy employees. The two main ingredients for organizational growth and improvement are to increase the revenue and decrease the cost. Employee incentive programs are the pathway for success.
Implementing an Employee Recognition and Incentive Program
The first major ingredient is a commitment from the administrative staff to implement the program and to determine whether a dollar amount can be dedicated (perhaps $500 monthly). Setting up an employee recognition committee is a key ingredient, and the rest can be left to the imagination of the staff under the leadership of administration. These programs are more successful when established under a catchy title. “We promise to give our best,” “It Takes Heart,” “Helping Hands” or “Magic Moments” are but a few of the catchy titles this writer has used.