3 Reasons to Encourage Your Senior Care Professionals to Take All Their Breaks
Posted: 09.04.2015
Encouraging breaks is one of the many factors that contributes to positive company culture, and breaks allow your senior care professionals to balance their busy day. Even if your employees are dedicated and happy to skip breaks from time to time—the reasons to encourage breaks are many.
Breaks Increase Productivity
From a logical standpoint, it may sound as though working through a 15-minute break or eating lunch at your desk will increase productivity—but it actually does the exact opposite. Time and time again, studies show that breaks allow your team members to clear their mind and return to work recharged. Not only do breaks increase productivity, but they improve problem-solving skills, and reduce stress levels.
Breaks Reduce the Likelihood of Burnout
While skipping a break from time to time may be par for the course, making a habit of skipping breaks increases the likelihood of burnout. Even if you’re short-staffed or busier than usual—skipping breaks is never the solution. In fact, skipping breaks increases the risk of errors, accidents, or injury—particularly when double shifts and overtime are a factor.
Breaks are Required by Law
The frequency of mandatory breaks vary from state to state, and may even vary from hourly position to that of salaried or management positions. However, as an employer, you should encourage breaks for your team and should set an example by taking breaks yourself. In fact, some employers even go above and beyond minimum state requirements to further improve the performance of their team—and in turn the care of their patients. Just make sure your break policy is within the minimum state requirements and that all employees clock out and in for each of their breaks to ensure you have proper documentation.
Along with encouraging and managing breaks, also push your team to use the vacation time they earn—and to keep overtime and double shifts to a minimum.
Breaks Increase Productivity
From a logical standpoint, it may sound as though working through a 15-minute break or eating lunch at your desk will increase productivity—but it actually does the exact opposite. Time and time again, studies show that breaks allow your team members to clear their mind and return to work recharged. Not only do breaks increase productivity, but they improve problem-solving skills, and reduce stress levels.
Breaks Reduce the Likelihood of Burnout
While skipping a break from time to time may be par for the course, making a habit of skipping breaks increases the likelihood of burnout. Even if you’re short-staffed or busier than usual—skipping breaks is never the solution. In fact, skipping breaks increases the risk of errors, accidents, or injury—particularly when double shifts and overtime are a factor.
Breaks are Required by Law
The frequency of mandatory breaks vary from state to state, and may even vary from hourly position to that of salaried or management positions. However, as an employer, you should encourage breaks for your team and should set an example by taking breaks yourself. In fact, some employers even go above and beyond minimum state requirements to further improve the performance of their team—and in turn the care of their patients. Just make sure your break policy is within the minimum state requirements and that all employees clock out and in for each of their breaks to ensure you have proper documentation.
Along with encouraging and managing breaks, also push your team to use the vacation time they earn—and to keep overtime and double shifts to a minimum.