The healthcare real estate industry is evolving to meet the needs of patients who prefer to receive care in outpatient facilities instead of being forced to travel to busy hospitals. But what if healthcare providers struggle to find the employees they need to staff the new freestanding clinics and ambulatory care centers they are opening?
That’s a major topic of JLL‘s first Employee Perspective on Healthcare Real Estate survey. The report, which collected responses from more than 1,000 healthcare employees, explores how healthcare companies can best attract and retain workers.
JLL’s report found that this is a challenging time for healthcare employers. According to the survey results, nearly a quarter of healthcare employees are considering leaving their jobs in the next 12 months. A total of 10% of survey respondents said that they plan to leave the healthcare industry.
JLL researchers said that employees are leaving their jobs or the industry not only because they are seeking higher pay — though that certainly matters — but because they are seeking less-stressful or exhausting positions. Others are looking for a shorter commute to work.
“Humans rely on healthcare at their most vulnerable moments, and the people who provide that care are essential. At its core, healthcare is humans taking care of humans,” said Cheryl Carron, chief operating officer for JLL Work Dynamics Americas, in a written statement.
“While pay and benefits remain top priorities, in today’s competitive labor market, employers need to look beyond compensation and recognize how the physical workplace plays a crucial role in employee experience and can significantly impact employee satisfaction,” Carron said.
More than 40% of respondents ranked location/proximity to their employer in their top three factors for choosing a new position.
Clinicians ranked the specific role they would take on in their top three factors over location more often than those working in operational positions. This is not surprising considering physicians, advanced practitioners and nurses are more specialized, JLL said.
Members of different generations are also looking for differing benefits from their work situations. A total of 31% of Gen Z respondents, a generation that has more entry-level workers, placed higher importance on workplace culture, while 15% of Baby Boomers chose flexibility as their top factor in choosing a position.
The specific role was of higher importance to Gen X and Baby Boomers, with 45% and 46% placing it in their top three criteria, respectively, according to the survey. One-third of millennials chose pay and benefits as their top factor compared to 22% of Gen X and 21% of baby boomers.
“We’re seeing a clear shift in priorities across generations,” said Kari Beets, senior manager of Healthcare Research for JLL, in a statement. “Healthcare organizations need to take a nuanced approach to workplace strategy to meet the diverse needs of their multigenerational workforce.”
The research also shows the importance of location factors, including proximity to affordable housing, shopping and restaurants; safety; and convenience. For employees considering leaving their roles, 22% said that their jobs were too far from affordable housing, likely contributing to their desire to leave.
“If you can’t move your location, explore how to change your location,” said Jay Johnson, U.S. practice leader for Healthcare Markets at JLL, in a statement. “By making improvements that speak to the concerns that lead to attrition, healthcare organizations can improve employee experience and satisfaction.”
How can healthcare employers make their workspaces more attractive to potential employees? According to JLL’s survey, addressing safety issues should be a priority. Employers can add lighting and boost security patrols.
Employees also enjoy working near restaurants, shopping and other amenities, according to JLL’s survey. Healthcare providers who also own facilities can attract restaurants and shopping nearby, JLL said in its report. Another option? Health systems can join with state and local programs to kickstart affordable and workforce housing developments or partner with private developers themselves.
Healthcare providers who want to retain employees need to give them a pleasant place at which to work. According to JLL’s survey, employees planning to stay in their current positions were more likely to report that their workplace enabled them to work productively (93%), provides technology to help with efficiency (90%), allowed them to care for patients effectively (88%) and supported their overall well-being (87%).
“There are numerous ways they can improve the employee experience through thoughtful workplace design and amenities,” said Andrew Quirk, Institutional Industries Lead for Project and Development Services at JLL, in a statement. “Providing well-maintained spaces for rest and recharging like breakrooms and outdoor areas with green space can have a significant positive impact. Just as important as creating and maintaining them is ensuring these spaces are accessible to all employees.”
