Healthcare industry is known for its demanding nature, providing services and goods to patients, stress among workers is a common issue. Therefore, it becomes crucial to create a positive and healthy workplace environment.
Company culture is nothing but the shared values and beliefs among employees and managers, and it plays a pivotal role in shaping the dynamics of healthcare organizations, whether they are clinics or hospitals.
Any organization has to have a strong company culture, but the healthcare industry, with its high stress levels, needs to prioritize this even more. A toxic workplace affects both the patients and the staff, which is why it is twice as unfavorable. While it takes work to establish and maintain a positive environment, building company culture that people truly value is crucial for the overall well being and success of the organization.
Everyday Challenges in Healthcare Industry
Healthcare workers usually have tough working conditions, especially for the ones who provide direct patient care. They have to take care of the patient’s physical and mental health, along with their own. Work in the healthcare industry can be highly unpredictable and physically demanding, leading to considerable fatigue and stress at times.
Healthcare workers also face the risk of being exposed to dangerous substances, and are likely to contract diseases. For instance, during the pandemic, it was hard for them to get used to wearing hazmat suits. This added to their stress, sorrow, fatigue and strain that they were already dealing with.
Healthcare workers are taught to prioritize others’ well-being over their own, a trait patients often find admirable. However, this approach can negatively affect the workers who may neglect their own health. A healthcare worker has a different set of challenges—they deal with emotional situations on a daily basis, witnessing a lot of suffering and injuries, which makes their work environment quite stressful.
Importance of Healthcare Company Culture
The company culture shapes the environment where all the employees work. It includes the vision, goals, values, beliefs, norms, and how employees behave. This culture plays a role in influencing how employees act, make decisions, and interact. It’s woven into everything the company does, from policies and benefits to systems, procedures, and even the office setup. Having a positive culture in healthcare industry is essential as:
- It acknowledges the hard and often stressful nature of the work, and places a priority on employee’s well-being.
- It contributes to better patient care, as healthcare workers are more likely to provide compassionate and effective care to patients when they themselves feel supported.
- It provides the necessary support system for workers, reducing burnouts and improving long-term job satisfaction.
- When employees feel valued, they are more likely to be productive. Which is particularly important in healthcare, where efficiency and accuracy are both extremely critical.
- A healthcare organization with a positive culture benefits its staff while also leaving a positive impact on the community. It positively influences the community by delivering better patient experiences and outcomes.
How to Build a Strong Company Culture
The workplace culture in healthcare organizations has a big impact on how satisfied employees are, how long they stay, and the quality of patient care. Here are five ways to create a strong, employee-focused culture in your organization.
1. Establish the Values and Communicate Them
It’s the values of the company that drives the direction of company culture. It is the first step towards determining what is important and meaningful for the organization. Plus it helps the employees to make the correct decisions.
These values must be more than just a few words on the wall, they must genuinely represent the company and its practices. Even if the company has been in practice for a while without having defined values, it’s not too late to establish them now.
2. Optimize the Hiring Process
If new hires resonate with the company culture, it becomes easier to ensure that everyone is moving in the same direction. Structure interview questions to help you identify applicants who align with your company’s values and appreciate its culture.
Sometimes, it takes more than just skills and experience to consider a candidate as the “right fit.” Attitude,plays a significant role in how a new hire can contribute and succeed within the organization. For instance, hospitals and clinics need individuals who can collaborate,with a team. If a new hire dislikes working with others, it’s not worth hiring them.
3. Develop a Strong Onboarding Process
The new hires probably learned about the company’s culture during the interviews, onboarding is where they truly experience it. It’s the opportunity to introduce them to your company culture and make sure it continues. Align your,onboarding process to reflect your,company values and what you want,your company culture to portray.
Pairing new hires with a mentor during onboarding helps them grasp the company’s culture in their initial days. Include employees from various departments and roles in the onboarding process to give new hires a broader view of the workplace.
4. Prioritize Employee Wellness
The way employees behave and their individual traits have a significant impact on the company culture. Therefore, investing in their well-being is always beneficial.
You can never have a good company culture, or even a successful company, if your employees,are not physically, mentally, and emotionally well.
Build a culture that values employee well-being. Because, let’s be honest, if they’re not feeling well, how can they take good care of patients? Keep in touch with your employees regularly, addressing any work-related concerns, stress, or burnout they might be dealing with. Provide resources to support them in being their best. Introduce wellness programs and activities that encourage a healthy work-life balance.
5. Leaders Must Walk the Talk
Leaders obviously are the face of the culture you are trying to build. If they don’t practice the values, it’s tough to preach them. Make sure your leaders understand the culture, know the expectations, and align their management style with it.
Building a strong culture takes time and effort. It comes from the consistent actions of leaders who actively work to establish and nurture it.
How to Build a Strong Company Culture
Conclusion
Promoting a positive workplace culture is crucial because a toxic environment can stress both the employee and the organization. This stress can hinder the employee’s growth, so they need support and connection to ease the strain at work. A positive workplace culture fosters growth and establishes an organization with shared values and beliefs that employees adhere to. By living these principles, we help our team grow and play a part in our clients’ and placed professionals’ success.
How to Build a Strong Company Culture? Well that’s simple, it’s a positive workplace, and at FastTrack Solutions we connect candidates with the best hospitals with the best workplace culture. So, connect with us today.
