In recent years, labor unions (like the SEIU) interested in organizing healthcare employees have used advocacy campaigns as the basis of their organizing efforts. For example, rather than relying on traditional organizing appeals, (e.g., increased wages, improved benefits, etc.) today, unions like the SEIU are more likely to use appeals that involve the need for: fixed staffing ratios; an effective voice for nurses in the workplace; and increased nurse involvement in the care-delivery process. In fact, in many states labor groups (like the SEIU and NNOC/CNA) have even advocated for minimum staffing requirements and other legislation to boost their credibility as effective "advocates" for nurses and patients.
These labor advocacy campaigns have complicated matters for healthcare employers, as some frontline staff have become convinced that signing a union authorization card might actually provide real solutions to the important issues facing caregivers.
To successfully confront this new challenge, healthcare leaders must understand the new objectives and tactics of organized labor and be prepared to respond proactively when employees have questions.
Chessboard's Positive Employee Relations and Union Awareness training for Healthcare Leaders is a focused program that will provide your leadership team with the necessary knowledge and tools to understand and properly react to organized labor's new tactics and methods.
This program is not only comprehensive but can be customized to include information about important initiatives your organization wishes to reinforce with leaders (i.e. a new process, work team, or communication initiative, etc.).
In fact, Chessboard has been selected as a preferred training provider by several state and local hospital associations; as a result, Chessboard has delivered the Positive Employee Relations and Union Awareness training to healthcare leaders throughout the U.S.
As the attack on the healthcare industry intensifies and grows increasingly complicated, our healthcare leaders will need the support necessary to help them not only be prepared to fend off union attacks but also to speak on behalf of an industry under siege.
Chessboard's Healthcare Leaders, Healthcare Ambassadors™ training program is designed to educate healthcare leaders about the progress and positive accomplishments of your hospital or health system. Participants gain an increased understanding and expanded ability to articulate your organization's accomplishments in the following key areas: Mission; Community Benefit; Hospital/Health System Finances; Billing, Collection and Patient Support; Action for the Uninsured; Staffing and Mandatory Overtime; Economic Impact of your Hospital or Health System.
The end result is a leadership team that is prepared and empowered to confidently and articulately "act as ambassadors" for your organization in discussions with important stakeholders (i.e. their employees, patients, members of the community, etc.).
Over the next several years employers will most certainly face a more challenging legal and regulatory environment. The current Administration has already signaled its desire to pass legislation which will make it easier for unions to organize workers.
If organized labor does come knocking, your organization may not have time to respond unless you have an internal team of individuals (selected from among the ranks of leadership) who have been prepared and trained to quickly and legally do so. This team of First Responders will enable your organization to respond to a union threat at the first sign of a union card signing drive.
Chessboard Consulting will train your organization's Response Team to communicate the organization's position with staff (as well as a host of other important topics). Having this group of "credible messengers" within your organization trained and ready to deliver important messages with staff, will provide your organization an important leg-up on any union organizing drive.
Providing your healthcare leadership team with the essential information contained in Chessboard's Healthcare Leadership Training Series™ will strengthen your leadership team, and organizational performance while reducing your organization's overall vulnerability to union organizing.
In order to react to external challenges as they arise, you first need to know about them and understand how they might impact your organization. Sign Up for Free