Despite all the essential work they do, healthcare workers are the least recognized across all industries, according to new research from Achievers Workforce Institute (AWI). Five years after the COVID-19 pandemic, and amid multiple policy and funding changes, healthcare professionals are still grappling with increased stress, burnout, and labor shortages. This isn’t just an employee experience crisis, but it’s hurting patient experience, which ultimately hurts business outcomes.
Healthcare organizations put a lot of resources towards retention strategies, but the core ingredient missing is a formalized recognition program to reinforce to workers that they’re doing a job well done. The data reveals that overlooking recognition as a central part of healthcare employee experience can be a costly oversight, impacting an organization’s bottom line.
Instilling a culture of recognition not only ensures healthcare professionals are bringing their best selves to work, but when healthcare workers are happy and engaged, it can boost patient outcomes, ultimately driving value back to an organization.
Undervalued & Overworked: The State of Recognition in Healthcare
To address the issue of employee engagement in healthcare, we first must understand the state of recognition within the industry. To gather an accurate view, Achievers analyzed cross-industry data from the 2024 State of Recognition Report, specifically looking at the numbers from healthcare employers. For additional context, AWI also surveyed 1,000 U.S. consumers to gauge their views on recognition and healthcare, and how a lack of recognition for healthcare workers may impact the patient experience.
The findings were shocking and disheartening, more than half (58%) of healthcare workers feel under-recognized, with 40% of healthcare workers saying they are never recognized. When you consider these numbers, it’s no surprise that healthcare workers are the least likely across all industries to recommend their employer, which healthcare organizations need to treat as a wake-up call.
These data points aren’t just unfortunate numbers, they’re symptoms of a greater cultural problem within one of the most essential, high-pressure industries out there. To start righting the ship, healthcare organizations need to focus on tangible ways they can develop a company culture where employee belonging is top of mind, and it starts with recognition.
Why Recognition Falls Through the Cracks
It’s no surprise that the healthcare industry is behind when it comes to recognizing its employees. Between the unique challenges the industry has faced over the last five years, time constraints from staffing shortages, and a cultural expectation of selflessness, it’s understandable why recognition has fallen off the priority list, but it can’t be accepted as the “norm.”
When any workplace neglects to prioritize employee recognition, it risks losing its top talent. According to the recent data from AWI, patients are noticing that healthcare workers no longer receive the recognition they once did. 62% of respondents say frontline staff are more burnt out, stressed, and unfriendly since 2020, with 23% of consumers specifically noting a decline in morale and behavior over the past few months. Meanwhile, 40% say the appreciation healthcare workers were given during the pandemic has since declined.
This issue goes far deeper than patients simply noticing a decline in behavior. It’s encouraging some people to take their care elsewhere, with 84% of survey respondents believing worker burnout is compromising care, with 39% feeling less valued, 38% experiencing added stress, and 22% dreading future visits.
On a positive note, patients aren’t ready to give up a provider without a fight; they want to be part of the solution.
Recognition is the Remedy & Patients Are on Board
Nearly half (44%) of U.S. consumers agree that appreciation for healthcare workers needs to come from both the employers and the public, with 42% going so far as to say healthcare workers deserve more recognition than others simply due to the nature of their work.
Before giving patients the ability to recognize, organizations first must understand what meaningful, effective recognition looks like and be ready to educate patients accordingly. In terms of how to get started with recognition, there are three core components:
- Ensure recognition is timely, specific, and given regularly (Once a month is a good baseline)
- Get leaders on board to serve as “recognition champions” – modeling appreciation from the top down
- Take recognition digital to enable public and peer participation
Once a healthcare organization starts embracing the above tenets of a successful recognition program, it will start seeing a noticeable change in employee morale, improvement in patient experience, and a stronger long-term recruitment and retention plan.
Improving the Industry Long-Term
The pandemic may be over, but it’s still more important than ever for healthcare workers to receive the appreciation and recognition they deserve for all the great work they do. Without systemic change, healthcare organizations risk losing their workers and patients.
While the industry is currently battling a recognition crisis, there’s hope that things can and will improve long-term, so long as organizations put employee experience and a commitment to recognition at the top of their priority list.
Prioritizing caregivers’ well-being is the first step in caring for patients. When we make our caregivers feel seen, appreciated, and valued, they’re better equipped to deliver the quality of care that drives long-term patient loyalty.
David Bator
David Bator thinks and writes about how work should work. David leads Achievers Workforce Institute, a strategic practice whose focus on Research, Community and Advisory empowers global executives with tactical, practical approaches to changing how the world works. David is passionate about people and has spent the last 20 years working closely and consultatively with HR, IT and Communications leaders to build programs that position individuals, teams, and companies grow.
Despite all the essential work they do, healthcare workers are the least recognized across all industries, according to new research from Achievers Workforce Institute (AWI). Five years after the COVID-19 pandemic, and amid multiple policy and funding changes, healthcare professionals are still grappling with increased stress, burnout, and labor shortages. This isn’t just an employee experience crisis, but it’s hurting patient experience, which ultimately hurts business outcomes.
Healthcare organizations put a lot of resources towards retention strategies, but the core ingredient missing is a formalized recognition program to reinforce to workers that they’re doing a job well done. The data reveals that overlooking recognition as a central part of healthcare employee experience can be a costly oversight, impacting an organization’s bottom line.
Instilling a culture of recognition not only ensures healthcare professionals are bringing their best selves to work, but when healthcare workers are happy and engaged, it can boost patient outcomes, ultimately driving value back to an organization.
