Many senior living leaders have taken a leap and decided to require employee vaccinations. Employers who were sitting on the fence decided to pull the trigger once it was announced that nursing homes needed fully vaccinated employees to receive Medicare funding.
Many leaders have been critical of the government’s decision to single out one provider group for mandatory vaccinations and not all healthcare industries. Workers that are vaccine-hesitant may flee to other healthcare settings where the government isn’t directly impacting funding. In a time where hiring shortages are prevalent, a mandate like this brings up important questions about talent management beyond health.
Studies show that 44% of employees would quit if ordered to get vaccinated. On the other hand, 38% of workers would consider leaving their current employer if the organization did not enact a vaccine mandate.
Senior living facilities host arguably the most vulnerable demographic of people. At the same time, some leaders worry that if they make cuts because of a vaccine, they might not be able to replace them. There are 10 million open jobs and many of them are struggling to get talent through the door with huge staffing shortages in senior living facilities and nursing homes.
According to NCAL, Forty-eight percent of assisted living communities are Medicaid-certified. However, with booster shots, this could become a long-term topic of debate.
Whatever the ultimate decision is for your community, it’s important for leaders to communicate the decision clearly and honestly, especially during the onboarding of new talent. If you need help finding top senior living talent, look no further. Reach out to one of our search partners and we will find you 3 qualified candidates within 5 business days.