Over the last several years, the healthcare world in general has seen a significant trend towards hiring short-term or “travel” staff to keep up with increasing demands. While these solutions can work temporarily, they’re not ideal for maintaining the long-term quality of care and overall goals of your organization.
In contrast, hiring permanent staff can help you achieve key benchmarks and elevate your reputation, both among potential employees and among residents. Here are three of the biggest reasons we’ve seen to support focusing on permanent roles in your hiring strategy.
Permanent roles increase stability.
The senior care field is growing at a rapid rate. The World Health Organization estimates that, by 2030, one in six people in the world (or 1.4 billion people) will be over the age of 60; by 2050, that number is expected to rise as high as 2.1 billion. As the care needs of an aging population increase, so too does the need for stability – both for clients and employees alike.
Above all else, today’s employees are looking for stability in their jobs, according to the American Psychological Association. We live in a world that is rapidly evolving, with technological shifts and economic trends leading to a lot of uncertainty across sectors. Top talent wants to feel confident that they can plan out their lives and rely on their jobs to keep them afloat. When your team hires for permanent roles, rather than relying on temporary or traveling staff, you convey a sense of stability and steadiness. You’re demonstrating to current and future employees that you’re interested in building something enduring and that you have competitive wages and/or benefits that stand out in the hiring marketplace.
Permanent roles decrease costs.
Senior living companies are grappling with the exorbitant costs of temporary staffing agencies. These agencies often charge premiums of 100% or more above standard wages, significantly inflating healthcare providers’ labor expenses. This price gouging has led to recent legislative action in several states.
For instance, Minnesota passed HF 3568 in 2022, capping agency profits and requiring transparency in pricing. Similar bills have been introduced in Massachusetts (H.1130) and Illinois (HB4433), aiming to limit agency markups and protect healthcare facilities from predatory pricing.
Aspen Associates has always sided with our clients by providing a low-cost temporary service for qualified candidates that often wish to be converted to permanent roles for a fraction of what other agencies charge. Further, we credit recruitment costs paid for a temporary worker to their permanent placement, so clients don’t pay double for the same person.
Permanent roles provide continuity of care.
In senior care and healthcare, the greatest measure of success is the care we provide for our residents. In this, too, hiring permanent staff has an advantage over short-term contract roles. Continuity of care means residents can build trusted relationships with the providers and staff they see regularly. Permanent staff learn the nuances for each individual – their histories, their unique needs, preferences, and comfort levels, so they can make more informed, personalized, and helpful decisions to ensure the best care possible.
It’s also about providing safer, more comprehensive care. Permanent staff are more likely to notice any potential issues earlier on, since they have an established baseline of “normal” for the residents in their care. Their residents are more likely to trust them with concerns and know that they’ll be heard, not dismissed. Hiring permanent roles is a signal that your organization is deeply committed to providing consistent, quality care
Talk to Aspen for Hiring Permanent or Cost-Effective Interim Staff
At Aspen Associates, we specialize in hiring top talent for key roles across senior care and assisted living. Our process is carefully tailored to your unique needs, and our pipeline of talent allows us to connect you with experienced professionals who are ready to make the long-term commitment to your organization and the communities you serve. If you’re in search of your next long-term staffing solution, contact us to find out more about how we can help!
By Tom Zeleny, NHA