LSC presented at a national virtual meeting on workforce issues in March 2022. Attempting to summarize LSC’s response to the worst workforce emergency in modern history, the list of approaches and the time spent is proportionate to the emergency. There were external and internal approaches.
External primarily included a great amount of advocacy at the state and national level to bring attention to the plight of our residents/clients and those who care for them. It’s really all about the money.
The answer to any health and human services problem is a full and loving staff. Our society must stop addressing the effects and address the cause, the cause is adequate pay and benefits for direct care teammates who work 24/7.
LSC’s internal efforts are mindboggling when reviewed in total. We continue to try everything we know. These include:
- Increased wages
- Bonuses
- Covid hazard pay
- Improved benefits
- Flexible schedules
- 12-hour shift options
- The LSC Way customer service training
- Xtreme Leadership training
- Diversity/Equity/Inclusion
- New Justice value
- Supervisory training
- Portico 403b retirement
- Inhouse recruiters
- Inhouse pool
- Employee Assistance Program
- Mental health services
- Free meals/snacks/take home during Covid