Flexibility & balance: Combatting burnout in healthcare

Even as the demand for healthcare workers is projected to rapidly increase over the next decade, our current healthcare workforce has dwindled to near-crisis levels. Many complex factors contribute to this shortage. An aging population that requires more care, stressors that drive workers from the industry, and insufficient training of new workers to replace them. But perhaps one of the most damaging and often overlooked factors is a lack of flexibility and work-life balance.

Limited work-life flexibility leads to high rates of burnout among healthcare providers. And the burnout comes with serious consequences. Those suffering from burnout are at higher risk of depression, suicidal thoughts and behaviors, substance abuse, and physical health issues due to lack of self-care. Burned-out healthcare providers are more likely to leave their jobs or leave the industry altogether. For some, the strain becomes too much to manage.

While health systems have focused heavily on improving pay and benefits to retain employees, placing greater emphasis on cultivating flexibility and reasonable work expectations can also move the needle. When healthcare professionals have the flexibility to see patients at varied hours, work remotely or part-time when feasible, and take needed breaks for their mental health, they report better job satisfaction and lower likelihood of quitting.

The flexibility also allows providers to have better work-life balance, making space for family time, personal health management, hobbies, vacations, all things that make life meaningful beyond the job. There are several concrete ways healthcare administrators and policymakers can promote flexibility and thereby improve worker retention:

  • Alternate shift lengths

  • Job-sharing programs

  • On-site child care

  • Remote work capabilities

  • Paid leave banks to use for mental health days

As our healthcare system grapples with a growing shortage, stemming the tide of workers burnt out and fleeing for other industries must be prioritized. And providing more realistic, humane, and flexible expectations regarding workloads is vital. Valuing those who care for us by caring for them benefits us all in creating the strong, stable workforce we need in the years ahead.

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Incentives can help the healthcare sector tackle staffing challenges