Employee retention is not always linear

There is no universal career path when it comes to the healthcare industry. The world we live in today is often chaotic, with people going from job to job in search of the next best thing. Whether that’s a higher salary, a more flexible schedule or even a more sophisticated title, employees everywhere are trying to climb the corporate ladder. There is really no right or wrong, because each person’s work experience is different. 

For healthcare organizations, however, it can be tough to go through multiple rounds of turnover and hiring. The industry is already facing staffing shortages, but just because employees leave to try something new, does not mean they won’t come back. Employee retention is not always linear, and healthcare organizations can make changes to create a more sustainable environment, to potentially recruit employees to come back. 

“Just because a clinician leaves does not mean this will last forever. The healthcare industry can be a lot of stress for people, so it’s okay if employees need to take a break, and organizations should support this,” says DoorSpace CEO Sarah M. Worthy.

Studies show that there are trends of healthcare workers leaving the industry. Around 20% of frontline workers across the board have left since 2020, the majority of them being physicians. Researchers say this number could bump up to 47% by 2025. The important thing for healthcare organizations to remember is that these numbers are not permanent, and that there are ways to prevent turnover internally. 

One of the biggest reasons healthcare workers are leaving the industry in search of something new is due to higher rates of burnout. Frontline workers are not only taking care of patients but they have to spend countless hours doing paperwork and other tasks. By creating a more sustainable workload for employees, they can get back to doing what they love. This will in turn stimulate higher productivity rates and employee satisfaction. Instead of searching for a better job, they will be more content where they are at. 

This solution might not always keep each employee from leaving, but it could serve as a good reminder of what they are missing. As previously mentioned, employees often climb the corporate ladder, switching jobs and even careers to figure out what they like. There is a reason they started as a healthcare employee in the first place, so chances are they will miss the work they were doing. Healthcare organizations need to be a support system for employees, encouraging them to come back in the future, by providing them with a healthy workplace environment. Just because they leave, does not mean they won’t come back. 

“The key to getting people to come back is offering support if they decide to make this change, and offering an environment that will accept them if they want to come back. It’s inevitable that healthcare workers will switch jobs or careers at some point in their lives, but it’s also likely they will come back to do what they love, which is taking care of people. This is just how the cycle works, and healthcare leaders need to adapt to it in a positive way,” Worthy says.

If healthcare organizations provide a supportive and sustainable place to work in the first place, it can inspire people to stay and come back if they leave. When employees leave, it’s not always personal. They deserve to try new things, but they also should have the opportunity to come back to a healthy environment, instead of being punished for leaving in the first place. 

The healthcare industry is a hard one to navigate. There are constant changes, and seeing patients in a vulnerable position can really affect an employee’s mental health. Sometimes they need to take a break and try something new, so they can provide the highest level of care for patients in the future. This is a selfless act and should be highlighted as such. How can your organization create a healthier work environment and support employees no matter what stage they are at?