Best Practices for Recruiting and Retaining Millennials in the Healthcare Industry

Posted Monday, July 23rd, 2018 by Jennifer Tomassi, Sterling Talent Solutions

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The habits of the millennial generation have been studied and reported on since the age group was young. As they grew, millennials have shaped how companies market, how entertainment is produced, how shops are designed and how we all work on a day-by-day basis. As the generation gets older and replaces baby boomers and Gen Xers in the workplace, their ideas will be shaping the workforce for many years to come. A 2016 Deloitte Millennial Survey found, “Millennials are less impressed by the sheer scale of a business, its age, or the general buzz that surrounds it. Based on a stereotypical view of Millennials, the profile or “positive energy” around a business might be thought of as being highly important to them.”

According to a Pew Research Center analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data, in 2016, Millennials surpassed Gen X to be the largest generation currently in the US workforce. As of 2017 Census data, 56 million Millennials (aged 21 to 36) were working or looking for work. By 2020, Millennials will account for half of the workforce.

Some have complained that this generation is impatient for promotion and praise, but they do not want to work very hard to achieve these pinnacles. However, research shows that is incorrect. Millennials work hard, but require a work/life balance and a purpose for what they are working on. The Deloitte survey found that after salary or other financial benefits, work/life balance, opportunities to take on leadership roles, flexible work arrangements, having a sense of meaning and training programs that support professional development are key factors when applying for and staying at a company.

Millennials in Healthcare

The healthcare industry has begun to feel the impact of Gen Y. The demand for healthcare professionals continues to rise and will do so into 2020 and beyond.  But the demand also brings increasing turnover rates. According to The Advisory Board, the healthcare industry had a median 13.8% turnover rate in 2016, up from 9.9% in 2010. With the retirement of the baby boomer generation, in the next ten years, millennials will make up the majority of the healthcare workforce. The healthcare industry from home health care to hospital staff, need to understand how to attract and retain millennial workers.

Attracting and Keeping Millennial Healthcare Workers

This younger generation is tomorrow’s leaders, so it’s vital that employers who want to attract and retain this digital generation understand how they think and act. Healthcare organizations who are integrating millennial values and mindsets into their day-to-day work have seen better employee retention rates and ultimately better service for patients. What are ways to recruit and keep Millennials interested in working in the healthcare industry? Below are a few ideas:

• Technology: Gen Y is the first fully 100% digital generation. Millennials would like to incorporate technology into everything they do making their work easier and ultimately allow them to give better service.
• Positive, Supportive Work Environment: Transparent and open, honest communication are crucial for Millennials. They look for respect from their peers and managers while also wanting the opportunity to hone their skills, get additional training and have the ability to move into leadership roles.
• Work/Life Flexibility: One of Millennials key generational characteristics is the focus of a work/life balance, where they have more flexibility with their work schedules.
• Making a Difference: Millennials look for positions where they can make a difference. They want to be involved in work they are passionate about and ultimately helps others. Healthcare is a perfect match for this generation.
• Social Media: Millennials grew up with and have shaped how social media is consumed The healthcare industry realizes that social media platforms are a great tool for recruitment, branding and engaging with their workforce.

Background Screening for Millennials

When hiring, it is important to have the right processes in place for background screening Millennial candidates. Having a positive candidate experience will also increase retention rates for Millennial new hires. Candidates are looking for mobile-friendly portals where they can easily complete and submit the information needed for their background checks. Employers need to be transparent and explain the steps, timeframe and status of their screening to their candidates.

Healthcare Background Screening

With a low unemployment rate and a large amount of open healthcare position, it is more important than ever for companies to be open to changing their work practices to attract Millennials. Hiring and retaining Millennial healthcare workers is evolving to meet the needs of this influential generation. Healthcare employees at all levels are entrusted with caring for millions of lives every day, so background screening must be compliant, reliable and thorough. Sterling Talent Solutions offers high quality, comprehensive and compliant healthcare background screening program to help employers feel confident in their hiring decisions. Find out more about our comprehensive background check solutions and how they can help give hiring managers peace of mind when hiring Millennial healthcare professionals.

This publication is for informational purposes only and nothing contained in it should be construed as legal advice. We expressly disclaim any warranty or responsibility for damages arising out this information. We encourage you to consult with legal counsel regarding your specific needs. We do not undertake any duty to update previously posted materials.

Source

https://www.sterlingtalentsolutions.com/blog/2018/07/best-practices-recruiting-retaining-millennials-healthcare-industry/