09 May 5 Ways to Retain Your Organization’s Top Health IT Talent
It’s been said that people don’t leave bad companies; they leave bad bosses. As CIO of your organization, do you ever wonder what you can do to help ensure your top health IT talent doesn’t leave to pursue other opportunities?
In working with candidates from all over the country, we get a chance to hear what employees really want and need in order to stay loyal to their employer. And it turns out, it takes much more than a handsome compensation package. Following are a few things candidates have told us you can do to not just recruit–but keep top health IT talent:
Give new hires proper training and orientation.
Nothing is more demoralizing for a new employee than feeling that he or she was not given all the information or tools they need to succeed. Make sure to train new hires in company policies, procedures and protocol. This might seem like common sense, but many new employees complain about not being given the tools they need to be successful early on. Knowing what’s expected of them up front gives employees the confidence to do their job well.
Pay employees what they’re worth.
While money isn’t everything for most candidates, being underpaid is definitely a deal breaker. Make sure to pay your employees a competitive salary, and offer a retention bonus incentive, as well as other perks and benefits. There are a variety of onlines tools to help research what salaries are appropriate for what skill. Use these tools regularly to gauge your compensation packages.
Provide opportunities for professional growth and development.
Without these two elements, the sharpest, most ambitious employees will stagnate, get bored and start looking for other opportunities. Solicit employee feedback on important projects; appoint them to sit on special boards or committees; assign them challenging, high-profile projects; and of course, promote them once they’ve demonstrated leadership and mastery in their current position.
Encourage and support employees’ work/life balance.
You know the old saying about all work and no play? If you want your employees to be productive, efficient and happy at work, take actions to respect their work and home lives. For example, you might offer employees the option to occasionally telecommute, or give them time off for birthdays, anniversaries, personal emergencies, or community involvement.
Let employees know they’re valued and appreciated.
It’s a well-known fact that employees who feel valued are more loyal. Express your thanks for their hard work through monetary rewards like raises, as well as gifts, promotions, and more.
With health care organizations scrambling to convert from paper to electronic health records (EHR), the demand for qualified, talented Health IT professionals is at an all-time high. While there’s no guarantee your top talent won’t look for opportunities elsewhere, you can be sure that implementing these simple tactics will give you a better shot at retaining the best of the best for your organization.