There are some scary statistics in health care out there.  Here are just a few:

• According to a recent article in Becker’s Hospital review, health care employment has decreased by 524,000 jobs since 2020 (Bureau of Labor Statistics report). 
• Nearly 1 in 5 healthcare workers, or 18 percent, have quit their jobs since September of 2020 ( poll results from Morning Consult, a global privately held data intelligence company). 
• The Medscape Physician Nonclinical Careers Report 2021 published Oct. 8 found one in five physicians has considered leaving their current job to pursue nonclinical careers.   Furthermore, 58% of those wanting to change career paths said they planned to make the change within three years.  And 8 in 10 looking for a career change are not just thinking about it but actively exploring other options.

Nearly everyday, I am seeing statistics like this from a variety of sources.  And my health care clients tell me this matches their personal experiences locally in Minnesota. 

What is also true with my clients are the 4 in 5 physicians who are NOT considering leaving their jobs. Nor are they in the 18% who have already left.  In my health care practice, I see the ones who stay—and stay engaged, productive and whole.  And this is what I am learning about why they do.

1. They made a great career choice in the first place.  They found a career that not only allowed them to do what they are great at, and are interested in, but it also provides them meaning and purpose.  It doesn’t matter if you are a physician, nurse, or administrator…If you don’t have a career that “fits you” in the first place, it is way easier to leave it when conditions get challenging. 
   
   
2. They feel cared about and truly valued as human beings by their peers and leaders.  They tell me that their leaders are responsive, make time to talk about how things are going, provide empathy, understanding and flexibility to cope with on-the-job stress. And, it matters A LOT. My clients are self-directed, independent people whose instinct is to “tough it out.” But that doesn’t work…When they get active support and permission for taking care of themselves and not just working harder until things get better–they are more likely to choose more effective coping techniques.
   
   
3. There is an authentic leadership culture in the organization, starting with the CEO, that knows when to emphasize psychological safety and when to push for performance.  Leaders talk the talk and walk the walk.  They manage their own stress so they can be available emotionally for their people. 

I know that not all health care workers are the same and the reasons for the “great resignation” in health care is complex and multi-faceted.  That said, these reasons for staying are essentially true outside of healthcare as well.  Survey after survey shows kindness, compassion and empathy matter as much on the job as they do at home.  They are essential for our leaders to authentically demonstrate–not “nice too haves” if we want employees to be productive and engaged.

It seems to me something is shifting in the hearts and minds of employees—inside and outside of healthcare.  Respect, compassion and empathy has always been important to employees.  My clients have asked for this from their leaders throughout my 30+ years of coaching.  The difference is in the past, many more employees tolerated it when it was missing.  And fewer seem willing to do so now. 

I am heartened by the amazing health care leaders that I get to work with.  They are interpersonally sensitive AND quality focused.  They get things done and they build and maintain healthy, effective working relationships as they do it.  These qualities are rooted inside them, never faked.

So, what can you do to offset the great resignation?  If you hire leaders or influence those who do, make sure every leader hired from now on possesses the requisite interpersonal characteristics.  No exceptions.

If you lead people, make sure you take care of yourself so you have the capacity to show the love inside you. 

If you are considering a career/job change, take the time before you leave to know enough about yourself to know what brings you joy, satisfaction, and meaning. And seek environments that provide those things authentically. They exist.

Call me if want a partner in doing these things!