Senior living providers are using benefits to keep workers on the job.
Almost half of the senior living providers participating in a recent Ziegler survey are offering flexible work schedules (49.6%) free meals (49.6%), and bonus pay (43.6%) to employees during the coronavirus pandemic.
The 225 senior living financial leaders responding to the April survey also said their organizations were offering staff members:
- Additional paid time off and paid sick leave (38.2%).
- Childcare services (18.6%).
- An increase in base pay (13.6%).
- Expanded overtime pay (13.2%).
- Transportation services (4.6%).
- Free parking, if applicable (3.2%).
A third of respondents noted additional ways they are supporting staff, including:
- Providing a small one-time “thank you” gift check, or gift cards for groceries.
- Offering paid hotel rooms for staff who live with an at-risk person and are concerned about going home.
- Opening a limited grocery store, or a food pantry, for staff who feel uncomfortable going to the grocery store.
- Developing an employee emergency assistance fund.
Only 7% of respondents said they had made “some meaningful hires” as a result of efforts to recruit workers laid off from other industries that are heavily impacted by COVID-19. More than half (51%) of the respondents said they had “minimal” success hiring these individuals, while 42% said they had no success in this area.