Assisted living communities are facing challenges with human capital management, including employee retention and satisfaction, scheduling enough employees to meet the communities’ needs, and finding and recruiting qualified candidates. High employee turnover is a common epidemic across the assisted living industry, with the constant changes in staff negatively affecting the residents’ satisfaction with the community. Two major ways to improve these issues are investing in employee training and professional development, and utilizing up-to-date human resources technology to manage the workforce.
Improve Technology, Improve Employee Retention
According to a survey conducted by OnShift, a human capital management company, almost 70% of assisted living providers do not take a proactive approach to hiring qualified candidate – the hiring process is often not triggered until an employee leaves. Assisted living providers responding to the same survey also stated that during an average month, communities need to hire seven employees. Therefore, it is clear that assisted living providers need to be more proactive in their search for qualified candidates. Most that responded said that they often utilize obsolete practices related to recruitment, hiring, and employee scheduling. Many do not even use electronic scheduling, which would alone improve the bottom line of assisted living companies. The OnShift survey has also indicated that improved technology not only improves staff stability, satisfaction, and labor cost management, but as improved technology tends to reduce stress company-wide, it also can improve quality of care and resident satisfaction within the community.
Reduce Turnover by Focusing on Employee Development
Not only is turnover costly for senior living companies, it also affects residents’ relationship with the staff, as change can be difficult for residents in assisted living communities. Employee turnover can lead to resident dissatisfaction and distrust of community staff. The second way to improve high employee turnover is to ensure employee satisfaction by investing in training and professional development. In all fields, knowing that employees are appreciated and valued by management is critical for employee retention and satisfaction. The senior living industry is no exception. Senior living management can reduce high turnover by fostering an environment where employees’ professional goals are communicated to management to ensure not only that the employee is valued and has opportunity for upward mobility, but also to ensure that the employee’s goals fit with the goals and mission of the community.
Communication between management and employees is essential for retention. Management must communicate the direction of the organization, as well as the potential direction of the employees’ careers. In addition, management should create a positive working environment that focuses on collegiality and positive relationships among the staff. Fostering positive relationships in the workplace can do wonders for employee retention, as for many, a positive working environment is vital to job satisfaction. Senior living providers can utilize these methods to decrease employee turnover and maintain satisfied residents.
Contact Cambridge Realty Capital
Contemplating improvements to your assisted living facility? The financial experts at Cambridge Realty Capital are available to assist you. Contact us today.
