IF YOU DRIVE AROUND, you’ll notice outdoor signs posted at area businesses announcing they are seeking new hires. The job openings are out there, and competition has intensified to hire the best candidates for those jobs. This is especially true in the healthcare industry.
“I’ve been in this business for well over 40 years, and I can’t recall a time where we have had to work so hard to find the right people for our staff,” says Paul Bucher, owner of the Elizabeth Scott Community. “We are in a service industry, so we rely heavily on the personal contact our staff provides to residents. So, in order to find the right people and keep them, we have had to get creative.”
Bucher acknowledges that the COVID-19 pandemic has drastically altered everyday life at all nursing facilities across the country, and it has made it even more difficult to hire staff members. “Last year was taxing for everyone in our industry, but as a facility we have been able to significantly minimize the number of COVID cases here. But with that said, there have been many individuals who would have worked here in the past but who have become hesitant to do so. Fortunately, we seem to be moving out of that mindset now that the vaccine has been widely distributed and is quite available to the public.”
The Elizabeth Scott Community offers many different types of incentives to attract new hires. Several of those incentives revolve around the cost of training. “Some candidates want to move from a competing facility to ours, but they are waiting to fulfill the time requirement to remain at their current job in order to get reimbursed for course or test fees,” says Bucher. “We offer those candidates a buyout to pay for their fees when they move to our facility.” The Elizabeth Scott Community also offers reimbursement for Nursing Assistant training and for taking the State Tested Nursing Assistant test. The company also reimburses staff members for a portion of the fees associated with taking college classes.
Bonuses are another incentive offered by the Elizabeth Scott Community. These include bonuses for perfect attendance, for referring potential job candidates to job openings at the facility, and incentive pay for working extra shifts.
“We know today’s job candidates are looking for flexible scheduling to accommodate their school schedules and personal lives,” says Bucher. “They want to be able to work on a contingent basis as needed, and we work hard to accommodate them.”
The Elizabeth Scott Community’s dietary department provides meals to staff members during work as an added incentive. Raffle drawings with gift card prizes and lunch-ins are provided to foster a sense of camaraderie among staff members. “We’ve been family owned and operated since my grandmother established our company in 1949,” says Bucher. “We’re focused here on providing a family environment among our employees and residents.”
The Elizabeth Scott Community, located at 2720 Albon Road in Maumee, is a family owned and operated facility that offers Independent Living, Assisted Living, Enhanced Living, Skilled Nursing, and Skilled Rehabilitation, all on a single campus. For more information about the Elizabeth Scott Community, contact Matt Bucher, Director of Marketing, at 419-724-5021.
