Managing morale and productivity in central service

Financial constraints resulting in limitations of human resources present management challenges throughout the healthcare industry. Lack of job security can cause fear and unrest among employees to spread like brush fire throughout the institution. Employees at all ends of the organizational chart may feel a sense of helplessness and powerlessness over the situation. This doesn't have to be the situation in Central Service. Rather than putting out fires and crisis management, a master plan for increasing department morale and productivity can be developed--a plan which ultimately benefits the Central Service staff and management. If a positive productivity cycle can be initiated, personnel can see how their behavior affects productivity. Once employees understand how productivity indicators are tied into the budgetary staffing allotments, their commitment to improving productivity becomes a personal one--they can work together to assure job security. This also provides some measure of control over the prevailing economic forces.