The fight to retain a multigenerational workforce has been a losing battle for healthcare CEOs. Is one generation in particular to blame?
Welcome to our November 2024 cover story. Each month, our editors will be taking a deep dive into the topics that matter most to you in our cover story series. From ways to win the payer/provider war to the new era of the APP, we've been working hard this year.
What did we look at this month? In the intense, ever-evolving landscape of healthcare, a perfect storm is brewing.
Retaining workers in hospitals and health systems has become a near-impossible task. The factors behind this crisis are complex, but one looming culprit stands out: generational clash. CEOs are not only struggling to keep people on board; they’re fighting against rapidly shifting priorities driven by a multi-generational workforce that seems to have conflicting demands.
Meeting those demands is getting harder, not easier, largely due to the youngest generation’s relationship with work. Gen Z is the workforce of tomorrow, but its fit in the grueling environment of healthcare, which can often feel like a square peg in a round hole, is something hospital decision-makers are attempting solve for.
It’s a challenge that threatens to destabilize an industry already reeling from the aftershocks of the pandemic.
But what's the solution? Our CEO editor Jay Asser explains that while cutting out an entire generation of workforce isn't feasible–or necessary–the truth is, healthcare is fighting a multigenerational war within its own walls, and healthcare leaders need to strike back.
Read the full story here.
Amanda Norris is the Director of Content for HealthLeaders.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Retention rates at hospitals have somewhat recovered since the height of the pandemic but continue to be a challenge as organizations try to meet the needs of younger workers.
Newer generations are placing greater value on areas like work-life balance, career development, and workplace culture, forcing leaders to relearn what makes their employees tick.