Turnover is a natural part of any industry. Yes, you might have employees who have been loyal for 20 plus years, but most times you have employees who stick around for a few years before trying something new. Just because an employee leaves does not mean it’s always a reflection on the organization, and this is especially true for the healthcare system. You know the saying, “If you love something, set it free.” Well, when it comes to physicians, sometimes they need to leave, learn something new, and come back to their full potential. That means healthcare leaders need to foster a healthy work environment that welcomes employees back instead of punishing them for leaving. Turnover is natural, but it’s how you react to it that matters.
Recent studies show that around 20% of healthcare providers have left their jobs since 2020, and some projections suggest that up to 47% may consider leaving by 2025, though this depends on various factors such as job satisfaction, burnout, and industry changes.
“Just because a clinician leaves does not mean this will last forever. The healthcare industry can be a lot of stress for people, so it’s okay if employees need to take a break, and organizations should support this,” says DoorSpace CEO Sarah M. Worthy.
A lot of times, when a physician leaves one organization and jumps to another or moves towards a different career, it is because they want to test their skills and try something new. Every employee deserves an opportunity for growth, whether it’s internal or external.
The key to getting those employees back is to make sure that the work environment is a place where they feel welcomed. It can be hard for employees to quit a job and then come back because they might feel guilty or that they are being punished for leaving. Employees don’t want to feel like they are walking on eggshells, so it’s important to have open arms when they come back. This means giving them opportunities to learn and grow and fostering open lines of communication. Having a healthy work environment where clinicians feel heard and valued goes a long way.
“The key to getting people to come back is offering support if they decide to make this change and offering an environment that will accept them if they want to come back. It’s inevitable that healthcare workers will switch jobs or careers at some point in their lives, but it’s also likely they will come back to do what they love, which is taking care of people. This is just how the cycle works, and healthcare leaders need to adapt to it in a positive way,” Worthy says.
Everyone deserves a little break every now and then. Sometimes, it’s for personal reasons, such as mental health or physical illness, while other times, it’s to grow their skills as a professional in the healthcare space. These are all acceptable reasons to leave an organization, but they should not be grounds for them to never come back. Each and every job is a learning experience, and healthcare leaders should prioritize growth no matter how it occurs.
Think on the positive side. There is a reason employees are choosing to come back, no matter why they left in the first place. Providing a healthy work environment where they can continue to grow and use the skills they learned elsewhere is invaluable and can really make a difference in the healthcare industry. Turnover is not always such a bad thing, and letting employees go freely can help them feel comfortable to come back in the future.
Published by: Gracia M.
