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How to Have Positive Workplace Culture in the Healthcare Industry? | HR Cloud

Written by HR Cloud | Feb 21, 2023 3:00:00 PM

The healthcare industry includes services and goods that help in treating a patient. It is easily the most stressful industry. Occupational stress is prevalent among healthcare workers, so it is essential to create a positive workplace.

Workplace culture involves a set of values and beliefs that help in the interaction between employees and managers. The workplace culture can highly affect how the healthcare organization is run, whether a clinic or a hospital. 

A culture cannot be enforced, and building it is not easy either. However, it is essential to create an environment that fosters the importance of employee appreciation; so it can be favorable to the organization.

 

Workplace and Stress

  • Work stress can be considered as the stress and harmful responses that occur because the employees cannot match the job requirements. Many things can cause stress in a workplace, including excessive demands, having no support, sudden role changes, and many more. 

  • The environment created in the workplace can also play a role in the stress of the worker. For example, the employment disputes that workers face can cause tensions within the workplace. 

  • Having stress in the workplace can lead to low motivation, performance, productivity, and morale, and the chances of acquiring ill health are higher when there is stress among colleagues.

  • Work-related stress is prevalent, and working for long hours or having an increased workload can be exhausting physically and mentally. 

  • Maintaining a positive workplace culture is essential in understanding the impact on employee well-being. It will provide employees with much-needed comfort and ease while working. That, in turn, helps the organization to grow better as productivity increases.

  • Occupational stress is faced by many employees regularly. Ensuring an employee doesn't suffer through this to promote productivity is essential.

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Healthcare Workers and Challenges

Healthcare workers have challenging working conditions. Especially those treating patients have to make sure that they take care of the physical and mental health of the patient as well. Work in the healthcare industry can be insanely stressful, especially since it is unpredictable and demands physical work; it can also be tiring. It can also cause financial problems.

They are also prone to exposure to hazardous materials and are likely to contract diseases. For example, when the pandemic hit. It was tough for healthcare workers to adjust to wearing the hazmat suit and so on, and it added to the already existing stress, grief, fatigue, and strain. 

Healthcare workers are trained to take care of the well-being of others before themselves. This trait can be admirable to a patient; however, it can harm the worker who does not focus on their health. The pressure on healthcare workers is quite different; they face emotional situations daily. They have extensive exposure to suffering and injuries, which can cause a stressful environment for health workers.

What is Positive Workplace Culture?

All workplaces are different and have different types of stress related to the occupation. However, having a positive workplace culture can help in the growth of the organization and the growth of the employee.

A positive workplace culture is where the employee's well-being is prioritized by supporting them and policies that respect and create a positive and safe work environment for the employee's growth. In a positive workplace culture, there aren’t many employment disputes that workers face. 

Studies show that having a positive work culture can help the employee have better health, promote a better job, and increase employee loyalty. An employee can increase their confidence and skills in a positive workplace. 

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It is essential for health workers because their work involves a lot of strain and stress; having a positive workplace and a proper support system can help improve the individual.

A great corporate culture is created and maintained by its employees, which includes you and your colleagues.

Supporting your coworkers is the first and most fundamental thing you can do. Get to know them as individuals, not simply as workmates.

Recognizing and congratulating team members for their contributions is an excellent approach to setting an example and promoting a better culture.

Having a positive workplace culture can help the employee in many areas, it is essential to maintain a support system that will help the society through the employee and promote the betterment of the society.

How Can Workers Help in Creating Positive Workplace Culture?

Communication Within

An employee should be available for communication with their colleagues and employers, and they shouldn't make themselves distant. 

In a fast-paced environment, like the healthcare industry, it is hard to maintain inclusive internal communication. Including internal communication software for your company will ensure that all employees are heard and informed, which will ensure a positive workplace.

Regular feedback about their performance can help employees understand more about themselves and get pointers to improve. The feedback doesn't necessarily have to be from a higher position; getting and giving feedback to other employees will help them better themselves. Employees should also be available to communicate with their colleagues, and the managers should ensure that an opportunity for the same is also created.

Workers Must Have Opportunities for Growth

When you connect with your colleagues, you are creating a positive ally, a potential ally. Creating an environment with friends or acquaintances can increase your growth potential. 

Most employees want to better themselves in any way possible. An organization that provides employees an opportunity to grow and the tools required will have a positive culture. It can be on-the-job training, a specific project or goals, etc. These can help the employee feel more valued and better themselves. The growth of the employee is the growth of the organization.

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Collaboration Among Employees

Organizations encouraging collaboration among employees are likelier to have better productivity and performance. 

Employees can learn from each other and boost each other's performance by creating unity among the employees. It is essential to create a social network within the organization that is supported by the company, which will help create a network within departments. Activities like a potluck, games, a day outing, or even an unofficial party can help employees unwind and relax.

Workers Must know Their Purpose

Along with creating unity, employees must realize their purpose and importance. It is important to create a purpose-driven vulture. 

The company's goals must focus on a core value and should be detectable in the organization's actions. These goals and core values should be understood and maintained by the employee. By doing so, employees can support each other and help in their growth as well as the organization's growth. Having a purpose and following through must be essential characteristics of a positive culture.

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Features of Workplace Culture in Health Work

In addition to the above points, a healthy work organization must have a positive workplace culture. Below are a few necessary points for the betterment of the workers and the organization.

Leadership

Workers need to have healthy leadership. Having a proper leadership system can help grow the healthcare organization. 

It ensures that the organization and the employees to the right path and serves the organization's good. Leaders have the power to change the direction of the organization and its growth.

Organizational Practices

These practices have to be reflected in the actions of the worker, even in their day-to-day work. Also, establishing a proper communication system will help create a well-structured environment. There should be transparency between the departments, and it is essential there shouldn't be double standards within the departments.

Employee experience

Making sure that the employees have the required tools can help them perform a better job. Consider making small or even huge changes to better your employees, making them more comfortable. 

Creating a positive employee experience plays a huge role in the experience of both the employees and the patients they treat. An employee needs to be comfortable and confident in their workplace.

Adapting

A healthcare organization does not have a rigid routine; things change, and the organization has day-to-day changes. It is essential to focus on the changes and ensure that everything runs smoothly despite the fast-paced environment. 

The changes, however, should be healthy and ensure the employees can follow through. They have to be provided with the proper support for the same.

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Why is a Positive Workplace Culture Important in Healthcare?

  • The main aim of a healthcare worker is to save a life. From a security guard to the administrator, every employee is trained to do their best to help a person be healthy and possibly save their life. 

  • A positive workplace must surround the workers despite being in a place shrouded in misery and grief. 

  • An organization with a better and positive workplace culture has a higher chance of developing better collaboration, solutions, and better patient services.

  • The workplace culture in the healthcare industry is not so different from the corporate workplace. It is still a collection of complex values and a lot of shared beliefs

  • More importantly, a positive workplace will build trust and confidence among the employees who provide patient services. 

  • A healthy patient who feels welcome and valued will help boost morale, and the staff must provide the necessary care.

  •  

Why Avoid a Toxic Workplace Culture?

Economic Cost

A toxic workplace culture has a higher chance of reduced performance. It means that the economic performance of the organization can be greatly impacted. It can cause a downward spiral in the organization, affecting the employee and the care provided to the patient. It can also turn into a recession and end the organization.

Trust

Having a poor culture can lead to unethical behavior. Following ethical practices are very important, especially in the healthcare industry. That can lead to destroying trust, and this can also affect the patients that come in. A healthcare organization must follow ethical actions and contribute to a better society.

Well being 

A toxic workplace can affect the employee's health, directly affecting the organization's and employees' growth. Conflict at work and harassment are just a few reasons that can affect an employee's mental and physical health. 

Relationships

Poor culture affects the relationship between the organization and departments. A negative workplace can cause a person to go into depression or create an employee burnout because of the unhealthy environment. An organization can improve society.

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Simple Ways to Create a Strong Work Culture

  • Employee Orientation - Simple things like giving a gift to a new hire, greeting, icebreaker sessions, etc.

  • Mentorship / Guidance - To help in the guidance and for employees to receive feedback. Doesn't necessarily have to include higher authorities.

  • Team Building - Training programs, team building activities, etc. for an efficient team.

  • Collaboration - Games that require group engagement, like an escape room, board games, etc. provide a platform to get to know other employees.

  • Social Events - To improve satisfaction, events like a potluck, casual Friday, happy hour, and so on can be added. Even unofficial gatherings may help.

  • Leadership - Leadership can help keep a positive attitude, and including them can also play a huge role in a positive culture.

  • Brainstorming - Encouraging employees to share and incorporate their ideas can help them feel more valued. It can also help promote communication.

  • Innovative ideas - Ideas should be enforced to ensure the culture isn't stagnant and consistent improvement is required.

Conclusion

Encouraging a positive workplace culture is essential since a toxic and bad work environment can cause stress for the employee and the organization. It can affect the employee's growth; they require support and connection to help reduce the strain caused in the workplace. A positive workplace culture will help promote growth and create an organization with core values and beliefs that the employees follow. 

 

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Author Bio:

Meet Emma Meria, a versatile content writer with a passion for creating engaging and informative content. With experience across a variety of industries, Emma is skilled in crafting high-quality blog posts, articles, and social media content that resonates with audiences. When not writing, Emma can be found exploring new places, trying new foods, and reading good books.