Dive Brief:
- Healthcare ranked last for employee satisfaction on pay across 27 industries, and only half of healthcare employees said they believe they are paid fairly, according to a survey from management firm Qualtrics.
- Compared to other industries, healthcare workers also had lower scores for employee experience and intent to stay in their roles, the survey found.
- Ultimately, some 38% of healthcare workers are at risk of burnout and 39% are considering leaving their organization, according to the survey.
Dive Insight:
Ongoing, persistent burnout has been reported among healthcare workers in all roles throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Some clinicians have gone on strike to demand higher wages and better working conditions, or left the profession entirely in the years following the onset of the historic public health crisis.
Only 38% of respondents to the Qualtrics survey said they feel their pay is clearly linked to their performance. The survey includes responses from nearly 3,000 healthcare employees across 27 countries.
The industry currently faces staffing shortages driven by burnout and heightened turnover amid the pandemic that haven’t yet fully eased.
From 2021 to 2022, the percentage of healthcare employees reporting they intended to stay in their jobs fell, and is slightly below the cross-industry average.
Engagement has somewhat improved in the healthcare workforce over the past year, however, with about two-thirds of those surveyed reporting being engaged. That’s about the same as the cross-industry average.
One step employers can take to reduce dissatisfaction and better retain top talent is by creating value for employees, the report said. Healthcare employers should also ease burdens by eliminating process inefficiencies and design inclusive environments that promote better listening and communication.
Qualtrics' report also included additional survey responses from 9,000 consumer respondents across 29 countries on their hospital experiences, and over 7,000 consumers across 28 countries on their health insurance experiences.
Some 74% of respondents said they were satisfied with their hospital experience, and 76% said they were satisfied with their health insurance experience.
Hospitals ranked as the fourth most trusted industry among the 20 studied, following electronics makers, hotels and universities, the report found.