How to Maintain Team Morale in the Medical Industry

Working in the medical industry is tough. From long shifts, physical labour, and overtime, it’s easy for those on the frontline to burn out. Therefore, maintaining team morale in the medical industry is crucial for workplaces to function at a higher level and decrease the risk of employee burnout.

If you’re searching for ways to maintain team morale in the medical industry, read on for our top tips.

Communicate with your employees

Communication is key – regardless of what industry you work in. Providing effective communication in the healthcare industry is essential for maintaining morale. Employees look to leadership for clarity, reassurance, and guidance – especially in times of crisis and uncertainty (such as the recent COVID-19 pandemic). In fact, a recent study found that communication issues were the leading cause of low morale in the workplace. Luckily, there’s a simple fix for this issue!

Have well-being services in place

You can’t pour from an empty cup – neither can your employees. As a leader in the healthcare industry, it’s vital that you focus on the well-being of your staff – just like they do for their patients. Research shows that providing opportunities for employees to boost their well-being can have substantial benefits for workplace morale, behaviour, attendance, and performance. Out of the top-performing companies, 75% of them regularly include health status as part of their overall risk management strategy.

Make staff feel heard

While communication is important, so too is listening. Giving your staff a voice and making them feel heard is one way you can ensure they feel valued. Offer a space where staff feel they can voice their opinions, ask questions, and raise concerns free from judgement. This might be through regular meetings in a safe space, focus groups, or an open-door policy with senior staff members. Another way is through anonymous staff surveys. These surveys can capture feedback and generate crucial insights that help inform actions to boost workplace morale and targeted employee well-being interventions.

Reward and recognise

Even before the pandemic, working on the frontline was a taxing job. Showing empathy towards your staff members is crucial. Acknowledge how they’re feeling and make sure they know that their efforts don’t go unrecognised. Consistently remind them of your strengths and provide employee recognition by celebrating their achievements, birthdays, work anniversaries and cultural events.

It doesn’t need to cost money but could simply be giving a team member a shoutout during a team meeting or even acknowledging when you see them do something good. Positive reinforcement amid chaos can be a boost that staff need and encourage a ‘we’re in this together’ mentality.

Introduce an EAP

Working on the frontline means dealing with an unpredictable career. No two days are the same, and difficult patients are often quite confronting. To help maintain morale in the medical industry, consider offering your medical staff access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). EAPs provide free counselling services for your employees and help them to receive the care they need while they’re busy taking care of everyone else. Some other great reasons medical employees need an EAP are:

• Emotional stress
• Feelings of disempowerment
• Feeling overworked and underpaid
• The toll the job takes on them physically

Set S.M.A.R.T goals

Working towards an unachievable goal is extremely demotivating. It feels like you’re treading water but staying in the same spot – exhausting! These unreasonable expectations can demoralise employees and make them feel like they’ll never succeed. To combat this, use the S.M.A.R.T goal framework to set goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-based. This will make for a much more motivated workforce as they work towards achievable goals. Studies also show that people who feel they are “living their purpose” at work reported four times higher engagement and five times higher well-being.

Give some TLC to your break room

Never underestimate the power of your breakroom! This is the one room at work where your employees will go to rest and recharge. Is the room small and dingy with a few old chairs? Or is it very clinical with a sterile feel (like the rest of the hospital)? If this is the case, how do you think your employees will be able to switch off and feel relaxed? Pay some attention to the break rooms in your workplace. If they look like they’ve seen better days, it might be time to splurge on some nice touches. Invest in some comfy couches, paint the walls a neutral tone, create a phone charging station and hang some artwork. Use your waiting rooms for inspiration – you ensure your patients are waiting comfortably, so why not do the same for your staff?

Upping your scrub game

Last but not least, your uniform is another way to boost team morale within the medical industry. Wearing a uniform helps your employees feel a sense of camaraderie, strengthening their connection to the team. Staff members who wear a uniform are more likely to feel a sense of belonging and foster positive emotions and attitudes toward their job. Having a good quality uniform also boosts team morale indirectly as it provides comfort to staff throughout their shift. Wearing a uniform that doesn’t quite fit right or that features itchy fabric or heavy material can take its toll on workers. Refreshing your scrub uniforms will help your staff feel fresh and a renewed sense of purpose. Some of our favourite Biz Care scrubs for a uniform refresh include:

·       Tokyo scrubs

·       Hartwell scrubs

·       Riley scrubs

·       Avery scrubs

Each of these scrub sets provides lightweight fabric that’s designed to move with you as you work. They also make the perfect blank canvas for businesses wanting to embroider their logo.

Healthcare workers and those in the medical industry have always battled with difficult working conditions. From tricky patients to unpredictable situations and gruelling hours, it’s crucial for leaders in the healthcare industry to maintain (or improve) team morale. There’s already so much you can do, including introducing an EAP program, updating the breakroom, and refreshing your team uniform. If you’re looking to purchase top-quality scrubs for your workplace, head to your closest Biz Care stockist today.