No matter what your industry, employee motivation is essential – not only for a healthy, happy workplace, but also the level of patient satisfaction, the meeting of goals and your facility’s reputation.

This is especially true for those who work in healthcare. Long hours, emotionally-charged situations, and the often stressful nature of the care environment can take their toll on even the most dedicated staff member. In some cases, an extreme lack of motivation can lead to absences and even resignation, meaning new staff members need to be found and trained – a process that can be both expensive and time-consuming.

We share 5 easy ways to keep your healthcare employees motivated – without breaking the bank.

Make time for feedback

Even if it’s just 10 minutes a week, make a point of catching up with each team member on an individual basis – just to see how they’re getting on. Healthcare professionals are often party to some distressing situations and whilst these are part of the job, they also carry with them the risk of some serious emotional ramifications.

As well as letting them know they’re valued, this will also encourage employees to voice any concerns and frustrations they may have, and will, in turn, help you identify those in need of a little extra support.

Recognise success

An employee who feels their hard work and achievements have been recognised and appreciated is much more likely to stay and put in that extra 10% than someone who doesn’t feel valued.

This doesn’t mean you have to splash out on expensive incentive schemes or extravagant prizes. On the contrary, sometimes the simplest of gestures can have the most significant effects. A short but sincere “thank you” or “great job!” will often go long way, but if you did want to introduce physical rewards, you could always launch your own Employee of the Month programme, with a box of chocolates, gift vouchers or a certificate awarded to the winner.

Keep people in the loop

There’s nothing quite as alienating as feeling like you’re always the last to know important things – particularly when those things affect you.

Whether it’s important industry news, structure changes or even notice of upcoming maintenance work, put a process in place that enables you to keep your team informed of what’s happening. This could take the form of regular staff meetings, an email newsletter or even an internal portal sent up on your Intranet.

Not only will your employees thank you for keeping them in the loop, but this will also encourage engagement and a culture of people who are working together to meet a shared goal.

Set clear goals

It’s a lot easier to achieve something when you know exactly what you’re working towards. When it comes to the setting of goals and targets for your staff, be clear about what it is that you’re looking for, and always allow room for any questions your team members may have.

Offer regular learning and development opportunities

In order for your employees to feel supported, satisfied and motivated, regular development opportunities are a must. Day-courses can be effective, but can soak up a considerable amount of time and money – particularly for organisations with multiple learners. Not only this – but they also don’t take into account different learning styles and requirements.

As the largest e-learning training provider to the NHS, Smartpass allows your staff to learn on their terms – without having to leave the care environment. Flexible pricing packages mean you can afford to implement an effective training programme whilst avoiding unnecessary expenses such as instructor time, temporary staff cover, travel, boarding and equipment hire. With e-learning, everything you need is in one place, making learning easier than ever.

The Smartpass reporting function, which tracks the performance of each individual learner, can also highlight any areas in need of improvement – an invaluable tool for any manager.

To find out more about how Smartpass can help your facility in the areas of training, compliance and staff retention, get in touch with one of our e-learning experts today.