Shake down at work
Today, our provincial government and our health region announced some pretty major and dramatic changes. The title to the document is "Healing our Health System". I won't go into the details, but I want to discuss the human impact this is having and will continue to have.
The big picture is that there will be several programs (and by several, I mean almost every one) that will move locations, shrink, expand or consolidate. This is in effort to centralize services, save money and improve health care. What this means to hundreds and hundreds of front line workers is a question as to whether there is a job at the end of this all. Health care has traditionally been a stable career. I mean, everyone will get sick at some point and need help. Our population is aging and living longer so there is always a demand. When I started on my career path, we were told that in the next couple of decades, there would be large amounts of people approaching retirement and this would create a plethora of job opportunities.
Today, this announcement changed all that. And specifically for the following reasons...
1. Imagine you have worked in an area of the hospital, or even at the same hospital for the majority of your career. The unit you work in and the people you work with become a form of family. There is a culture to any work environment and when you have been there for so long, it is a daunting idea to think of leaving. At this point, there have been promises that anyone who wants to still work, will have a job. This is sort of like being told you have to move out of the only house you've ever known, leave your friends and neighbors and a new house will be provided. No matter how nice the new place is, it still isn't home. This is one of the issues that is on the minds of many people tonight.
2. The uncertainty of whether there will even be a job will weigh heavily on the minds of many people. A line from the document circulated said that some positions will be deleted. Very little information of who, when and how these deletions will occur has been given and many people are wondering "Is it me? Am I going to get the axe?" Again, the promise at this point is that everyone wanting to work, will have a job. But how can you delete jobs, maintain the work force and cut costs. Seems like a tall order and apprehension abounds.
3. And just the anxiety from not knowing. Have you ever had anyone say "Hey did you hear?" And then not tell you what they were thinking about? It drives you nuts and you can't rest until the big secret is revealed. Well, this is that, multiplied by 1 million. There are literally hundreds and hundreds of people who have just heard "I may have some bad news for you. I mean, really bad news." And then... nothing. Job loss? Career change? Early retirement? Should I have bought that new house? Or gone on that vacation? Should I look elsewhere? Is healthcare even safe anymore? I know some of these questions have crossed my mind and through conversations, I know they are on the minds of many of my good friends and colleagues tonight and will be until this all transpires.
The time line we have been given to the shake down is 6-24 months. Seems like it's time to get ones affairs in order. Just in case.
The big picture is that there will be several programs (and by several, I mean almost every one) that will move locations, shrink, expand or consolidate. This is in effort to centralize services, save money and improve health care. What this means to hundreds and hundreds of front line workers is a question as to whether there is a job at the end of this all. Health care has traditionally been a stable career. I mean, everyone will get sick at some point and need help. Our population is aging and living longer so there is always a demand. When I started on my career path, we were told that in the next couple of decades, there would be large amounts of people approaching retirement and this would create a plethora of job opportunities.
Today, this announcement changed all that. And specifically for the following reasons...
1. Imagine you have worked in an area of the hospital, or even at the same hospital for the majority of your career. The unit you work in and the people you work with become a form of family. There is a culture to any work environment and when you have been there for so long, it is a daunting idea to think of leaving. At this point, there have been promises that anyone who wants to still work, will have a job. This is sort of like being told you have to move out of the only house you've ever known, leave your friends and neighbors and a new house will be provided. No matter how nice the new place is, it still isn't home. This is one of the issues that is on the minds of many people tonight.
2. The uncertainty of whether there will even be a job will weigh heavily on the minds of many people. A line from the document circulated said that some positions will be deleted. Very little information of who, when and how these deletions will occur has been given and many people are wondering "Is it me? Am I going to get the axe?" Again, the promise at this point is that everyone wanting to work, will have a job. But how can you delete jobs, maintain the work force and cut costs. Seems like a tall order and apprehension abounds.
3. And just the anxiety from not knowing. Have you ever had anyone say "Hey did you hear?" And then not tell you what they were thinking about? It drives you nuts and you can't rest until the big secret is revealed. Well, this is that, multiplied by 1 million. There are literally hundreds and hundreds of people who have just heard "I may have some bad news for you. I mean, really bad news." And then... nothing. Job loss? Career change? Early retirement? Should I have bought that new house? Or gone on that vacation? Should I look elsewhere? Is healthcare even safe anymore? I know some of these questions have crossed my mind and through conversations, I know they are on the minds of many of my good friends and colleagues tonight and will be until this all transpires.
The time line we have been given to the shake down is 6-24 months. Seems like it's time to get ones affairs in order. Just in case.
I hope your job isn't one that is going through changes! What an awful feeling 😕
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