Study Reveals Key Findings to Increase the Effectiveness of Recognition Programs that Motivate Hospital Employees

Essential insights for the healthcare industry, facing critical employee shortages, high turnover and burnout
Jun 20, 2011 8:00 AM ET

(3BL Media / theCSRfeed) Gaithersburg, Md. - June 20, 2011 - When effectively planned, implemented and measured, hospital employee recognition programs can improve the recruitment of medical professionals, increase job satisfaction and engagement, heighten quality of patient care, encourage desired behaviors and facilitate retention of valued employees. However, a new study conducted on behalf of Sodexo Motivation Solutions - one of the world's leading providers of comprehensive incentive and recognition solutions – found there are real opportunities to improve the effectiveness of hospital recognition programs and the mechanisms for measuring the success of their programs.

The study, Recognizing And Rewarding Hospital Employees found that employee recognition and reward programs vary widely from hospital to hospital and even between departments within individual hospitals. An opportunity surfaced to address ‘homegrown’ programs, uneven participation, difficulty tracking and comparing program results, and the inability to link those results to other organizational performance indicators.    A surprising fact from the study was the opportunity to expand the use of technology that supports recognition and reward programs.  Only a few of the hospitals interviewed - which ranged in size, specialty and location - contracted with an outside vendor to provide a technology platform that enables spot nominations, management of programs, daily recognition award tools as well as tracking measurement and reporting.   Recognizing And Rewarding Hospital Employees hones in on key opportunities available in motivation strategies and makes important recommendations on how hospital leaders can utilize a unified motivational program. The results of this study are discussed in the white paper available for download at http://www.sodexomotivation.com/landing/health_care.   Employee surveys, patient satisfaction scores and turn-over rates (while important measures in their own rights) do not offer direct validation of the effectiveness of incentives and reward programs because of the many additional factors that can influence these results. The research offers clear suggestions how hospitals can improve their recognition programs by:
  • streamlining piecemeal programs while preserving the ability to adjust programs,

  • leveraging proven, robust and cost effective technology solutions,

  • recognizing employees in the ways that they wish to be acknowledged to maximize impact

  Sodexo is a strategic partner to hundreds of leading health care facilities in North America, providing on-site services and innovative solutions that improve the patient experience and outcomes in hospitals and other health care settings, and maximize and maintain independence and quality of life for seniors. Through the service spirit, passion and expertise of more than 65,000 employees, we help make every day a better day for millions of hospital patients, their loved ones and friends, medical and other hospital staff, retirement community residents and staff as well as those aging at home.   The Benenson Strategy Group (BSG) is a fast-paced, analytically aggressive global market research-based consultancy with offices in NYC, Washington DC, Denver, and San Diego.  BSG consultants have decades of experience developing long-term strategies and tactics for clients and campaigns in both the corporate and political realms.  BSG executes a variety of polling and research methods, including focus groups, one-on-one interviews, internet surveys and telephone polling for clients in the B2B, automotive, retail, food service, telecommunications, public policy and political space.     About Sodexo   Sodexo in North America Sodexo, Inc. (www.sodexoUSA.com), leading Quality of Daily Life Solutions company in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, delivers On Site Service Solutions in Corporate, Education, Health Care, Government, and Remote Site segments, as well as Motivation Solutions such as Esteem Pass. Sodexo, Inc., headquartered in Gaithersburg, Md., funds all administrative costs for the Sodexo Foundation (www.SodexoFoundation.org), an independent charitable organization that, since its founding in 1999, has made more than $15 million in grants to fight hunger in America. Visit the corporate blog at www.sodexoUSA.com/blog.   Sodexo, world leader in Quality of Daily Life Solutions Quality of Life plays an important role in the progress of individuals and the performance of organizations. Based on this conviction, Sodexo acts as the strategic partner for companies and institutions that place a premium on performance and employee well-being, as it has since Pierre Bellon founded the company in 1966. Sharing the same passion for service, Sodexo’s 380,000 employees in 80 countries design, manage and deliver an unrivaled array of On-site Service Solutions and Motivation Solutions. Sodexo has created a new form of service business that contributes to the fulfillment of its employees and the economic, social and environmental development of the communities, regions and countries in which it operates.   Key Figures (as of August 31, 2010)
Sodexo in the World
15.3 billion euro consolidated revenue
380,000 employees
34,000 sites
50 million consumers served daily
80 countries
21st largest employer worldwide
 
Sodexo in North America
8.0 billion dollars revenue
120,000 employees
10 million consumers served daily
6,000 clients
700 facilities management sites    Contact John Friedman 301 987 4456 john.friedman@sodexo.com   SODE14653