Survey after survey shows that money isn’t the prime motivator for healthcare employees anymore. Support and appreciation outweigh wages in retaining workers during the pandemic.
“A positive company culture will really make people feel more invested. And when they’re more invested from an emotional point, or from an engagement standpoint, they’re naturally going to be motivated to do better work,” Henry Ma, CEO of Ricoma, told the McKnight’s Business Daily.
Ma runs a custom apparel business, but he said the tools he uses to develop a positive culture are applicable to the challenges faced by senior housing and care operators.
Providing workers with a sense of achievement and the knowledge that their efforts are appreciated are essential, he said, especially for healthcare workers “who have been through so much the last couple of years.” Workers who feel burned out, not appreciated and not recognized might start to feel disengaged and move on to something else.
A culture driven by a mission or values, Ma said, will foster a community where workers feed off the positive energy of those around them.
“It does have a ripple effect throughout the entire organization,” he said. “That’s why I almost compare the company culture to the glue and the mortar of a business. The building blocks are the different people [who] are within the company and around the team.”
It’s important to recognize employees for their work, Ma said, but it also is important for leaders to get to know the workers and their preferences. Some people enjoy recognition in a group setting, he said, whereas others may prefer a more private pat on the back.
Recently, to show appreciation for the whole team, Ma said, Ricoma hosted a Thanksgiving lunch for everyone, with plenty of catered food. In December, he said, the Miami-based company booked a yacht for a floating party around Biscayne Bay.
“Things like that, from a non-monetary standpoint, really boost team morale and give them an opportunity to get to know their colleagues,” Ma said.
Creating a culture aimed at employee satisfaction and retention has a positive impact on the bottom line, he said.
