The Competitive Edge – Using Employee Benefits To Win Top Talent

Many of the world’s leading industries are getting more competitive. Technology, finance, engineering, and marketing are some of the sectors that are vying for top talent at this point. Of course, healthcare also tops the list.

In the healthcare industry, attracting and retaining highly skilled professionals is more challenging than ever, and it’s likely to become even more difficult in the years to come. 

Medical facilities often find themselves battling over the same talent pools for doctors, nurses, CMAs, and other professionals in the industry.

Those pools are getting smaller as well considering the ever-growing shortage of healthcare workers. With all that being the case, standing out in a sea of potential employers isn’t easy.

Though offering competitive salaries can help, pay isn’t the only factor prospects are looking for these days. In fact, comprehensive employment benefits have become just as important as salaries if not more so.

It’s no secret that healthcare is a demanding field. Long work hours, heavy workloads, high stress levels, and physical overexertion are some of the common downsides professionals have to live with.

Those factors leave them with medical issues, mental health concerns, little time to spend with their families, and many other struggles. 

Their salaries may help make the disadvantages easier to tolerate to an extent, but they don’t completely bridge the gap. Added employee benefits can make healthcare workers feel more appreciated.

They show that employers see them as valued team members and care about their well-being. Healthcare facilities that prioritize employee benefits tend to attract and retain talent more effectively whereas those that don’t often struggle to bring in qualified professionals.

They experience high turnover rates too. 

Healthcare professionals are increasingly considering the benefits facilities offer to help them decide which employment opportunities are right for them. Which benefits are they looking for, though? Certain perks tend to stand out. 

For one, medical professionals are looking for employer-provided health insurance. That’s understandable considering the physical demands of the industry and the medical risks they’re up against.

At the same time, they’re looking for employers that offer mental health support, such as counseling services, therapy, and stress management resources.

Keeping healthcare workers healthy means taking a holistic approach, and benefits packages that are designed with that in mind can certainly help facilities attract and retain highly qualified professionals. 

Retirement plans are also among healthcare professionals’ top priorities. They help workers prepare for the future and ensure they’ll have financial security when the time comes for them to retire.

Offering retirement plan options also shows that employers are willing to make long-term investments in their staff members, which goes a long way toward making them feel valued. 

Work-life balance is important for everyone. It’s often difficult for members of the healthcare industry to achieve, though.

Facilities that offer paid time off, flexible scheduling, and other options to help employees find the balance they’re looking for are extremely attractive to healthcare professionals.

Those solutions also foster employee retention. 

Healthcare is one of the most demanding and competitive industries right now, and that’s not likely to change moving forward. With that being the case, many facilities struggle to attract the industry’s leading professionals and hold onto them.

Offering the right employee benefits can make a significant difference, and those listed here are among the most important to today’s healthcare workers.