Behavior
at Work-Engaging All Staff in an Action Research 5-Stage, 18-Month Process
to Build Healthy Workplaces: 16 Years of Experience
Behavior
at work - increasing healthy behavior and eliminating harmful workplace
behavior happens over time. The
model for this work is not a clinical trial, nor is it a traditional quality
improvement project. It is
collaborative model, based on action learning and action research theory and
literature.
The
collaborative learning model has its roots in action learning theory and
principles. Action learning is:
“an approach to working with and developing people who use the work on actual
project problems as the way to learn and innovate. Participants take action to solve their problem and
learn how to learn from that action.
A learning coach works with the group in order to help learn how to
infuse the learning in all of their everyday work.” (Yorks, et. al, 1999)
Action
learning projects usually meet three criteria (Yorks, et. al, 1999): 1) they
are complex, overarching, and often cross-functional, 2) they are problems,
opportunities, or difficulties for which there is no single solution, and 3)
they are actual problems, meaningful to participants, and for which
participants are motivated to act.
Linking the building of healthy workplace environments and learning
theory models meets each of these three criteria, and thus lend themselves to
the action learning and research collaborative approach.
Methods: A 5-Stage Methodology is used to
increase healthy behavior and eliminate harmful behavior. Healthy behavior drives it
all...engagement, innovation, open communication, respect, and
performance. How we treat each
other at work is measurable and directly linked to customer/client/patient experience. The 5-Stage Method is all
about engaging the brainpower of everyone, first-line to senior leadership.
Human capital drives it all.
Stage
1: TEAM
BUILDING A 12-18 member team is
formed which reflects the job, role and staff diversity of the workplace. The team meets once a month for an hour over an 18-month period. Months 1-3
Stage
2: ASSESSMENT
The staff is surveyed and the results are shared and used to develop an action
plan. The survey is a tool for measurement, evaluation, education and
intervention. (70,000 survey
respondents over 15 years from 250 organizations) Months 2-6
Stage
3: IMPLEMENTATION The team develops an action plan with
measurable outcomes and implements it. The survey findings become a springboard
for innovation, skill-building, training and education, and new policies and
practices. Harmful behaviors decline and are replaced by healthy behavior. Months 4-18
Stage
4: EVALUATION
Concrete outcomes are identified, measured and used for tracking, trending, and
analysis. Behavior is directly linked to employee performance, retention,
patient/client and employee satisfaction, growth and revenue. All this work is in service to the mission
and vision of the healthcare organization. Month 3-ongoing
Stage
5: SUSTAINING
Healthy behavior changes organizational culture. Organizations utilize this
work in hiring and new employee orientation. By engaging all staff in
identifying healthy compared to harmful behaviors, standards of behavior are
agreed upon throughout the organization. To maintain the changes, improved job
performance tools are put into practice and on-going education and training
programs are adopted. Month
4-ongoing
In 350 organizatons…large and small the following outcomes have been experienced. Broad
engagement of 90% of staff, 50% drop in turnover, $90,000 yearly savings in
recruitment, 85% drop in grievances, 15-25% drop in reported employee medical
problems, 25% increase in employee satisfaction, and 40% increase in client/customer/patient
satisfaction.