Q&A
Potential adjustments to improve employee retention at H+H
1:29:54
ยท
172 sec
Dr. Katz discusses the challenges and considerations in implementing additional benefits or adjustments to improve employee retention at H+H, particularly focusing on housing accommodations.
- H+H previously provided housing for nurses and doctors but discontinued the practice due to complications
- Dr. Katz emphasizes that all H+H staff work at 'safety net' salaries and benefits, which are lower than those in private hospitals
- The discussion prompts consideration of whether H+H should remain on safety net wages across the board
- Dr. Katz highlights the complexity of ensuring equity in compensation across different roles and specialties within the H+H system
Carmen N. De La Rosa
1:29:54
Okay.
1:29:55
I wanted to go back to the, comments around housing and other, you know, cost of living and other challenges that you have.
1:30:03
Other than increasing salaries and obviously hiring more staff to share the workload load, are there any adjustments that hospitals can make such as providing housing, improving benefits for employees that may help decrease attrition rates?
1:30:16
We know, like, in the private hospital system, sometimes housing accommodations are made.
1:30:21
What is the state of that for each?
Mitch Katz
1:30:23
I mean, we there was a day when there was a a nurse residence and there was a doctor residence.
1:30:29
I think most cities have decided that we're not experts at, you know, running housing.
1:30:36
In part, there there turned out to have been some, like, awkward moments when the doctor didn't pay the rent.
1:30:41
And, like, you evict the doctor who you expect to come to work tomorrow because they haven't paid the rent, and I think most cities sort of got out of, you know, that business.
1:30:50
Mhmm.
1:30:50
I think, it's important for all of you as thoughtful people to keep it in mind.
1:30:57
These are issues that face all of my workforce.
1:31:01
Mhmm.
1:31:01
And so it's hard for me to ever right.
1:31:04
The all of my staff are working at safety net salaries with safety net benefits.
1:31:13
My staff are not working at private hospital salaries and private hospital benefits.
1:31:19
Whether we have reached a point where the answer is that that only if we are paying the same salaries to doctors as the private hospitals are paying, how that impacts how we view nurses, other staff, you know, it's a complicated question.
1:31:37
Mhmm.
1:31:38
In general, what I would say about health and hospitals is that we all agree, collectively, to work at safety net wages and safety net benefits.
1:31:49
It's not uncommon for an administrator to come to me and say, but I but I've looked up the market, and by the market I should earn way more.
1:31:59
And I say, but we're in this collectively together.
1:32:04
We're all on safety net wages, different levels, depending on but that's how it is.
1:32:10
And I think, I mean, maybe this discussion, you know, prompts a broader questioning about whether health and hospitals should remain on a safety, net wages across the board, it's challenging for me to figure out how what equity means in this setting.
1:32:28
Right?
1:32:29
Is it am I is equity equaling, what private hospitals are paying doctors?
1:32:36
Is equity paying doctors and nurses different wages, but similar kinds of, you know, safety net type?
1:32:44
These are very complicated questions.