Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1483210
36 36 HEALTHCARE NEWS What does 'quiet quitting' look like at hospitals? By Kelly Gooch T he trend of "quiet quitting" has recently gained traction on social media, referring to a phenomenon in which workers to reduce their enthusiasm at work and stick to the minimum expectations of their role. Some professionals, including Generation Z workers, have embraced the concept as an increased form of work- life balance, and others see it as a lesser-version of actually quitting. Regardless of how an individual interprets the idea, the concept is not new among the U.S. workforce or in healthcare, according to Jeremy Sadlier, executive director of the American Society for Healthcare Human Resources Administration. "Before the term quiet quitting was in vogue, we were talking about employees who would 'quit and stay,'" said Mr. Sadlier, who previously served as a market director of human resources and provided operational support at Advocate Aurora Health, an organization with dual headquarters in Downers Grove, Ill., and Milwaukee. "In essence, it's the same concept with a nearly identical motivation. No matter the term used, many disengaged employees will stick around long aer they're finding motivation and stimulation in their work." In healthcare, this phenomenon has only grown. An April Gallup poll found that 34 percent of U.S. employees were actively engaged at work in 2021, compared to only 32 percent in 2022. Healthcare professionals saw the largest dip in engagement, with their engagement scores dropping nine points year over year. Mr. Sadlier noted that this trend can have significant effects in the industry. "Any lack of engagement on the part of staff ultimately impacts patient care, teamwork, safety and throughput, all of which impact the financial health of an organization and the patient experience. It's incredibly important for leaders to focus on engagement, growth opportunities, and to recognize and reward hard work. ese are a few ways to focus on your employees to help them feel engaged with their work," he said. Still, quiet quitting doesn't look significantly different in healthcare than it does in other industries, according to Mr. Sadlier. "Colleagues in other industries like hospitality and retail, for example, all talk about a lack of willingness among workers to pick up extra shis, or work beyond the bare minimum requirements. at's a sign of growing disengagement and may be quiet quitting," he said. It is greatly concerning that, while the motivation may not be largely different than in other industries, the effects of quiet quitting in healthcare have a direct connection to patient care, quality and safety, according to Mr. Sadlier. He also said lower patient experience scores may indicate that a hospital is experiencing decreased employee engagement, which can spread among all its staff. Image Credit: Adoe Stock