The Importance of Healthcare Workers Pay

Healthcare workers provide an essential service across the UK for the general population. Therefore, fair healthcare workers pay is a must–not only for the workers but also for the healthcare system. According to a survey from October to November 2023, 19% of nurses and midwives were unhappy with their pay. Additionally, staff are dissatisfied due to a lack of resources, staff shortages, and burnout.

Impact on Recruitment and Retention

Unfortunately, insufficient pay means individuals find the healthcare industry unattractive. Switching to competitive salaries will attract far more talented individuals to help contribute towards the field. Continuing with insufficient pay will increase the already alarmingly high turnover rate, and in turn, affect patients’ continuity of care.

Financial Stability

As with any field, individuals work to achieve financial stability to provide for themselves or family. Healthcare professionals, particularly those in lower-paying positions, must earn a living wage to provide sufficient pay. Financial stress causes mental health issues, an increase in absence, and a decrease in productivity and job satisfaction. By increasing healthcare workers pay, the retention rate will drop and candidates will increase.

Addressing the Economy

Many professionals in lower-paying healthcare jobs are from lower or disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds. Fair compensation for all key healthcare workers is a step towards challenging the current economic problems. Increasing healthcare workers pay to a level of equity also encourages a diverse workplace.

Recognition

Healthcare jobs require difficult skills, and pay should equate to this. For example, many lower-paying roles often assist with or perform higher-paying tasks, but they’re not paid extra. Increasing pay to recognise the skills and contributions of healthcare professionals is key to workplace happiness and job retention. Also, increasing pay will attract more talent to the field.

Holistic Support

Healthcare facilities must promote a supportive environment for professionals. As the field is testing, mental health support and workplace encouragement goes a long way. Addressing these issues sidesteps burnout and a high turnover rate. According to research, 50% of nurses and midwives reported feeling ill due to stress at work. Setting up a support network will improve key workers’ mental health and maintain the quality standards of health care.

Community Advocacy

Fair compensation and improved work conditions are important at Cucumber Recruitment. We recognise that fair pay and supportive environments remove inequality issues, encourage long-term employment, and improve the mental health of healthcare professionals. We’re dedicated to educating healthcare providers about the support and fair working conditions that healthcare professionals deserve.

Use Cucumber Recruitment

At Cucumber, we are a nursing agency that is committed to providing our staff with competitive compensation and support. If you’re looking for new opportunities where your skills and dedication are truly valued, get in touch with Cucumber today to discuss how we can help you achieve your career goals.

Alternatively, you can search here to view our current job openings and find the perfect match for your professional aspirations.