Hiring and keeping younger talent in healthcare can be challenging, but it’s also an exciting opportunity to reshape your workplace.
Born between 1997 and 2012, Gen Z is tech-savvy, socially conscious, and transforming the way we work. To attract and retain these young professionals, private healthcare practices need to evolve and create a space where they feel valued, supported, and motivated to thrive.
Ready to make your practice Gen Z-friendly? Here’s how to get started.
Understand The Younger Generation’s Core Values
If you’re looking to welcome younger generations into your practice, start by understanding what they value most.
Diversity and Inclusion: Gen Z is the most diverse generation yet, and they highly prioritize workplaces that celebrate diversity and practice equity and inclusion. Surveys show that 77% of Gen Zers consider a focus on diversity essential in the workplace.
Ethical Practices and Social Consciousness: They are drawn to companies with a strong sense of purpose. This means investing in environmentally sustainable operations, giving back to the community, and fostering a workplace that places principles over profit.
For healthcare providers, this could include creating initiatives like offering pro bono services to underserved communities or visibly supporting diversity in hiring practices.
Prioritize Mental Health and Work-Life Balance
Gen Zers are highly aware of the perils of burnout, with the same survey revealing that 42% would leave a job due to stress and lack of work-life balance. To support their mental health and well-being, consider the following strategies:
Offer Mental Health Days: Encourage employees to take time off for mental health, showing you value their overall well-being.
Flexible Scheduling: Providing flexible hours or remote work options can make a tremendous difference, especially for younger workers trying to balance professional growth with personal needs. This flexibility not only benefits employees but also leads to more motivated and productive teams.
Embrace Technology and Innovation
Technology isn’t just nice to have—it’s an expectation. Gen Z doesn’t just use technology, they live and breathe it. Offering outdated tools or sluggish processes is a deal-breaker for this group.
Adopt Cutting-Edge Tools: Upgrade your workplace with collaborative technologies like Slack, Zoom, or cloud-based patient management systems.
Streamline Operations: Gen Z employees appreciate workplaces that leverage AI and automation to reduce tedious tasks so they can focus on meaningful work.
Provide Opportunities for Growth
Gen Z is ambitious and eager to learn. To retain these employees, your healthcare practice needs to offer opportunities for growth and development.
Structured Career Paths: Show them clear roadmaps for advancing within your organization.
Continuous Learning: Provide access to workshops, courses, or certifications related to their field. For instance, you could sponsor training for specialized nursing certifications or leadership programs.
Foster Open Communication and Teamwork
Gen Z values workplaces where communication is open, transparent, and authentic. They want to feel heard and included.
Active Feedback Cycles: Regular check-ins and open feedback loops make younger employees feel valued.
Team-Building Activities: Organize group activities, such as team lunches or collaborative brainstorming sessions, to build camaraderie among staff.
Conclusion
Gen Z is becoming an essential part of the workforce, bringing fresh ideas and adaptability to new technologies—key strengths in the ever-evolving healthcare industry.
To attract and retain these younger employees, creating a flexible, purpose-driven workplace is critical. Embracing diversity and listening to feedback can help you build a thriving practice prepared for the future.
