The Cycle of Absenteeism in Health Care

The health care industry is undeniably one of the most complex and chaotic industries on the planet, and working in it is no less complex and chaotic.

Some people thrive in the constant change and the lightning speed of decision-making, but unfortunately for many (if not most), the demands of the job and the constant pressure to do more with less, can become very over-whelming and frustrating – and thus very stressful if left unchecked. This kind of stress – the kind that instinctively arises when we feel frustrated, over-whelmed or threatened – creates a automatic chemical reaction within our body which, to keep it simple, depletes our human energy field of the positive energy necessary for achieving peak performance, for building and maintaining good relationships, for experiencing good health.

This kind of ‘emotional’ stress swamps our body with excess amounts of adrenaline and cortisol which over time takes its toll on our mental, physical and emotional health. And this kind of ‘emotional’ stress is unavoidable in today’s modern healthcare of changing demographics. …and so the cycle continues …

Is it then, any wonder that public healthcare, in fact the public sector as a whole , is wrought with high rates of absenteeism, decreased productivity and quality, and may I say, a less-than-healthy work force? The kind of stress caused by the very nature of the environment and consequence in which we work creates a vicious cycle of mental, physical and emotional illness if left unchecked.

The first thing to understand is that the situation is systemic. There’s no ‘one’ reason, and there’s no ‘quick fix’. There are a huge number of factors that have got us here. It’s also worthy of note that every developed country on the planet — United States , Australia , the UK , among others – experiencing similar issues.

The good news is, the cycle can be broken and the ship can be turned. We need to look to the research coming from the Neurosciences to begin to understand why today’s work environment affects so many of us the way it does. Then we need to develop our leaders so they have the knowledge and understanding necessary to help others stop the flood of stress hormones to result in a healthier workforce — physically, mentally and emotionally. One such skill is the skill of Positive Presence™. Positive Presence is a new and deliberate way of thinking and behaving that makes the connection between human energy and behaviour and is easily practiced and developed right on the job. For many, it is just a lot of common sense, but for others it is a slow and gentle process that requires the help of both team mates and leaders.

It is important therefore for today’s health organizations – and all organizations for that matter – to ensure they are providing their leaders, and their workforce as a whole, with the necessary tools and knowledge to overcome the cycle of absenteeism.