AUDIO // In this episode Claire speaks about benefits and how they can affect your job choices.
The current competitive nature of the senior living industry may stress the financial resources of individual caregiving employers, especially those who provide residential care. Older adults are staying in their homes longer, looking to meet their care needs with in-home care. The employee market remains competitive but if you’re growing your career you may find little to no room at the top end of your pay scale. This is where benefits can make a big difference. In fact, according to industry surveys, 79% of employees prefer benefits to a pay raise. Is this true for you?
Benefits are big business and add to the competitive drive for the best employees. What’s your favorite perk of your job? Maybe it’s the discounted commuter pass, the ability to borrow from next week’s wages or that day off on your birthday. Have you hit an upper limit to your salary and need to play a long game with your career? Are you looking for a change? A lateral move with, the best combination of benefits could be to your advantage.
Look for benefits packages that address a variety of employee needs and interests. Know your employer has made the calculation to gain a return on the investment in a benefit. Employees are 15% more productive when well-motivated. Motivation means a more engaged and satisfying work-life for you. Promoting employee health, supporting career education, elevating work-life balance and encouraging team bonding motivate staff and improve productivity.
Participating in the eldercare industry means being part of vital, literally life-giving, work activities. You will receive great satisfaction but that can come with increased stress. A roster of selected benefits to address many of the components of employee well-being and resilience will help you deal with potential burnout. Employers are fully aware of the impact of employee burnout on their clients as well as their employees. Burnout exhaustion is the result of stress. Burnout affects every level of caregiver, family or professional. In the professional realm, burnout affects clinicians and service providers in all specialties, settings and career stages. Burnout impacts outcomes for staff, patients and the overall health system. Supporting employees is a matter of elder industry success. Your organization’s reputation for quality and safety may be at stake.
Personal factors also contribute to burnout. If you’re juggling family responsibilities, having employee daycare or subsidized family healthcare can relieve logistical and financial concerns. Developing supportive relationships with coworkers and feeling engaged with your team will enable you to cultivate healthy relationships to help you withstand stress. Pursuing education in leadership skills and in wellness practices such as mindfulness will enable you to maintain a positive attitude for interacting with coworkers at all levels. You will find work/life balance improves across the board.
Make good use of what is offered to you in the workplace. That extra day off for your birthday or on your work anniversary is now looking more like an emotional safety valve, isn’t it? All of these benefits add up to an overall effort to keep you productive and doing your best work. Fresh fruit and veggies in the employee break room are an opportunity to make a healthy snack choice; use them to blend a protein smoothie and you’ll have more energy for time with your family. Paid vacation means even more opportunity to balance work and personal life. Online learning will boost your skills and open the door to new opportunities. Get to know your team better at a multicultural event or by participating in an employer-sponsored family sports day.
Not just new employees respond to motivational incentives. Longtime employees deserve recognition for their longevity but don’t overlook the need for regular encouragement. Personal values reflected on the job are a powerful tool for delivering the highest good to employees and organizations.