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More than half of new employees said they hope to work at BWH for five years or longer. That’s according to surveys HR introduced in the spring to gain feedback about the applicant and new employee orientation experiences at BWH.
“Already, we have received important feedback,” said Lisa Ponton, JD, vice president of HR. “This is key because we know that it costs less to retain employees than to recruit employees. It also helps us to improve the environment for our newest members.”
Employees who began at BWH in April and May are the first to complete the anonymous, online survey about their experience in applying and interviewing for a job at BWH. This feedback about the applicant experience is especially important to the recruiters in HR.
“This is valuable because it helps us improve our processes,” said Jennifer Cossaboom, recruiter. “Whether it’s positive or negative, it can only help.”
HR will follow up with these employees with a second and third survey at 90 days and 180 days, questioning employees about everything from their familiarity with the National Patient Safety Goals to their relationship with their manager and co-workers. Several questions on each survey are open-ended, allowing the respondents to offer feedback on what they need to be successful and suggest how BWH can improve.
“What we learn from these surveys will help departments improve their orientation process,” Cossaboom said. “We want to make sure we are retaining the talent we worked hard to recruit.”
HR already has learned that the first group felt that the hiring process took too long. “It’s not surprising,” Ponton said. “The feedback we are receiving is confirming what we know we need to do better.”
Ponton emphasized that the surveys are not substitutes for other tools managers use to keep employees engaged. “It’s just one of many tools we use, but certainly not a replacement for anything else,” she said.