Extent and Impact of Staff Morale Problems - Essay Example

Extent and Impacts of Staff Morale Problems As a health care professional, a high morale in the health care organization I’m employed in is a very important factor to have a high quality of health care service. A positive employee morale results to employee motivation and they will influence how long they will stay on as staff. Ewton (2007) described morale as the fuel that drives an organization forward or the fuel that feeds the fires of employee discontent, poor performance, and absenteeism.

In PRNewswire news report, the Center of State and Local Government Excellence conducted an electronic survey on the top workforce issues facing local and state government with focus on the health care industry. The issues identified were retaining staff needed for core services, reducing employee health care costs, and addressing employee morale and workload problems.What are the causes of low staff morale?What are the causes of staff morale problems? Enrado reported in (2009) that one of the major reasons is the economic recession which has greatly affected the morale of health care workers.

In a survey conducted, it was found that 38% of health care workers lack motivation. This does not only affect the employees but the executives too. It was reported that one out of five of more than 350 health care employers reported low morale, which was greatly influenced by the reported 25% of health care workers who have no loyalty to their employers. Enrado also mentioned that “low morale was also attributed to departmental favouritism, according to 45 per cent of healthcare workers surveyed.

Thirty-one per cent of healthcare worker respondents said that they did not believe their department was important to senior management.” On the other hand, Fink reported there was also an occurring problem internally in the organization that causes staff morale problems. The management in health care institutions “spend their time, resources and energy seeking out the best and the brightest employees” however, when they already get hired, employers fail to train the individuals they hire to improve their skills and quality of service.

This creates an “unchallenging environment with little or no opportunities for professional growth and advancement” (Workforce, 2006). Other factors that contribute to staff morale problems are poor communication, lack of empowerment, lack of energizing work environment, low management confidence, poor interpersonal relations, and inflexible working conditions.Extent and ImpactsIn the minimum, staff morale problem can result to low productivity in the institution. The same study conducted by the Gallup Organization, low staff morale results to decrease in productivity in forms of absenteeism, illness, unhappiness at work, and other related problems.

On the other hand, the maximum effects of staff morale problems can be rooted from increase in vulnerability to the current economic climate. Health care organizations would decide to implement departmental lay-offs or closures that lead to high employee turnover, contract disputes and unclear expectations and corporate direction. Also it would effect to a drastic decrease in quality of the health care services to the people. Low staff morale in the health care institution does not only influence the institution’s overall morale, but also the morale of the patients and the population sectors that are greatly dependent on health care services.

What can be done?Addressing the issue in terms of the economic effect would be very difficult since it acts like a force of nature. But as far as addressing the staff morale problems is concerned, the health care organization should be able to adjust to the current situation to continue to advocate good quality health care service. In my point of view, effective communication is very important and an essential leadership value. Leadership should also be as effective as communication. Not only the leader, but the staff should also practice effective communication.

The flexibility of the health care worker, empowered by the institution, plays an important role in coping up with the current economic condition. Staff morale issues are just a matter of adjustment of the management and the constituents’ perspective about the present situation. Conclusion No matter what force of nature the health care organization may encounter, solving staff morale problem lies greatly on the hands of the leaders of the organization. Leaders in health care organizations should always keep in mind that providing good quality health care service is of prime importance.

The new advancements in medical technology are not the only ones who sets the standards of good quality health care, but the also the staff who are hands-on to the patient. ReferencesEnrado, P. (2009). Healthcare Employers Battle Low Employee Morale. Health Care Finance News. Retrieved from http://www.healthcarefinancenews.com/news/healthcare-employers-battle-low-employee-morale Ewton, Z. (2007). Sustaining Employee Morale; Keeping the Peace or Burning Down the House. (Original work published March 11, 2007) Retrieved April 2, 2008, from Associated Content Web site: http:/​/​www.

associatedcontent.comFinger, J. (2005). The Management Bible. New Holland Publishers Ltd.Fink, N. (n.d.). The High Cost of Low Morale: How to Address Low Morale in the Workplace thorugh Servant Leadership. Retrieved from http://www.roberts.edu/Academics/AcademicDivisions/BusinessManagement/msl/Community/Journal/TheHighCostofLowMorale.htmStaff Retention, Employee Morale, Workloads, and Health Care Costs are Top Workforce Issues for State and Local Governments. (2011). Recruiting Trends. Retrieved from http://www.

recruitingtrends.com/top-workforce-issues-for-state-and-local-governments Workforce Performance Solutions. (2006). The High Cost of Low Morale. Available from www.Workforce Performance Solutions, http:/​/​www.wpsmag.com