The pandemic has been tough for everyone, but it has been particularly difficult for healthcare workers. For those on the front lines of the pandemic, the experience was and continues to be, traumatic. In the beginning, they faced the unknowns of a new disease and over time, having to treat patients through various surges in infection across the country.
The effects of pandemic-related trauma remain prevalent. According to a recent survey from the Washington Post, 62% of healthcare workers believe the pandemic has had a negative effect on their mental health and 55% indicated feeling burn-out at work. These are all in addition to the very real potential for illness and death among themselves and their colleagues. The fear of illness was mentioned by 21% of respondents to the Washington Post survey. At this stage, it is important for healthcare employers to take meaningful action to combat the mental and physical health tolls the pandemic has taken on employees.
Healthcare workers are dealing with trauma and it’s important that employers accommodate employee symptoms appropriately. While conventional methods, like giving employees extra time off may not always be an option due to continuous waves of infection, employers often need to find creative ways to provide support and care to their employees as we progress through the second year of the pandemic. Some of these techniques may include:
In honor of National Nurses Week, now is a perfect time to say thanks with meaningful gifts and rewards for healthcare workers. Using this week to either start or continue a gift card recognition program can help employers show appreciation and support for employees’ mental and physical healing.
Gift cards are a practical, meaningful way to show appreciation to healthcare workers. With hundreds of brands to choose from, employers can reward employees with gift card brands that support mental and physical wellness. Some options could include:
Gift cards are effective thank you gifts because they are easy to distribute whether you are sending physical or eGift cards. They provide flexibility, allowing employers to personalize gift card brands to the goals of their recognition program while allowing employees to choose a reward that is going to be meaningful to them this National Nurses Week.
Register for Engage2Reward™ to buy gift card rewards in bulk for healthcare workers at a discount today!