Let’s face it–looking for a new healthcare role can be intimidating. Not only does it take a great deal of time to scour the internet and other resources for opportunities, but you must additionally research the facilities offering jobs. There are many factors to consider, and it can feel overwhelming. Things like location, pay, benefits, PTO, and more are important. Another factor, however, is commonly overlooked—company culture.
What It Means
Company culture can be defined as the set of attitudes and beliefs a company holds that affect the way business is conducted (1).
We’ve all heard horror stories about a hospital’s toxic work environment and the toll it takes on its staff. Examples of bad culture include having no set core values, no diversity and inclusion policy, gossip in the workplace, unfriendly competition, and bullying. Company culture not only affects the facility’s atmosphere but also the happiness and productivity of its providers. It’s simple: culture matters. A recent study found that across industries, 35% of employees would decline a position based on the culture of the company (2).
Why It Matters
A negative company culture can worsen an already high provider turnover rate, and cause burnout, a lack of initiative, and bad habits. These problems can lead to productivity interruptions that affect everyone. Not only that but the mental health of providers can be jeopardized due to an increase in stress and fatigue, potentially hurting home life (3). A great company culture can help perfect workflow, increase productivity, and strengthen transparency and communication across the hospital. With a better understanding of culture, it’s necessary to learn how to assess it in available positions.
How To Find It
Create a checklist for qualities in a healthcare facility that matter to you. Reach out to providers and staff who have worked at the site you’re interested in (LinkedIn is a great networking resource for this). Explore the facility’s social media platform and website. Ask yourself if the employer’s core values and mission are readily accessible and align with your own. Research into the facility’s history and leadership team. Additionally, you may be able to take on contract work at different sites. This is particularly helpful because you can work in the environment without committing to a permanent role. In the healthcare field, there are many locum tenens and per diem roles available. In some instances, you can treat these as opportunities to explore different roles and see how employees are treated.
Just because a job has enticing pay or benefits doesn’t mean you should turn a blind eye or overlook bad practices and poor company culture. This can make all the difference in how your goals will (or will not) be met in your life. If you are ready to explore temporary healthcare assignments that will help you gain a better understanding of company culture, learn about Independence Anesthesia‘s open opportunities! We help anesthesia providers find their perfect fit every day! Our other divisions help other physician specialties and allied health professionals.
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Sources:
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/paulamorgan/2022/08/19/understanding-the-importance-of-corporate-culture-after-the-great-resignation/?sh=36e6f90618cd
- https://www.roberthalf.com/us/en/insights/hiring-help/company-cultures-role-in-hiring?utm_campaign=Press_Release&utm_medium=Link&utm_source=Press_Release
- https://mhanational.org/blog/how-company-culture-may-be-impacting-your-mental-health
