Fixing the Coal Mine

BY HEATHER FARLEY, M.D., MHCDS, FACEP

FINDING THE BALANCE between work and home can feel like riding a seesaw. Most of us remember our playground days of soaring high on the top of a seesaw, often followed by a quick, sometimes painful, descent to the ground.

That fluctuation is why I think about wellbeing in terms of creating harmony or integration in our lives. The balance everyone talks about is nearly impossible to attain.

At ChristianaCare, our Center for Worklife Wellbeing exists to help our caregivers find meaning, connection, and joy in the work they do. Our mission is to improve the workplace environment and help our caregivers flourish. That’s never easy in health care, but particularly challenging after the past three years.

We know the importance of creating an environment where people can thrive at work. To do this, an organization must do more than just tell their employees about available resources. They have to show them as well. Wellbeing has to be part of the strategic plan so organizations can measure, track, and hold themselves accountable.

I call this fixing the coal mine.

It’s not enough to make the canary stronger and then expect it to survive. It’s about removing inefficient administrative burdens that can drive dissatisfaction and stress. It’s about fostering an environment where employees feel valued in the work they do, by the people around them and in how their efforts are received.

One way that companies can do this is by creating a culture of safety. At ChristianaCare, we have made it a goal this year to train 50% of our leaders in psychological first aid so they know how to respond to employees who are struggling.

We are not turning our leaders into therapists—unless they already are!—but we have recognized that they need skills and tools to identify when someone is struggling. That way, we can get them connected to help. Using this program, which we developed at ChristianaCare, we are helping to decrease the barriers to care for our caregivers.

We also need to remember that taking breaks isn’t a sign of weakness. Microbreaks throughout the day make us more effective. Rather than scheduling hour meetings back-to-back, consider making them 50 minutes to build in a break that allows people to get a snack, return an email, or even go to the bathroom. Giving people a say in how they spend their workday and doing more of what they find meaningful also helps employees feel more empowered.

We also need to recognize the positive. One way we do that at ChristianaCare is through the Thank You Project, where we bring patients and families back to explain what the experience was like for them. We include the whole caregiving team to show the impact of their work. Our caregivers leave knowing their work was not only appreciated but important. Wellbeing initiatives are a fantastic opportunity for businesses to create a healthier world that benefits employees and the bottom line. Employees who feel good about themselves take fewer sick days, build better relationships with colleagues and clients, and feel ready to tackle complex tasks. All of that ultimately drives positive business outcomes.

Heather Farley, M.D., MHCDS, FACEP is chief wellness officer at ChristianaCare.