IntegraCare's creative rewards boost morale, employee retention amid COVID-19 crisis

PITTSBURGH - April 15, 2020 - PRLog -- The term "essential worker" has been part of the vocabulary associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

    At IntegraCare, the "essential worker" has helped residents at 11 senior living communities in three states adapt during the coronavirus crisis. In appreciation of the ongoing, extraordinary effort,  IntegraCare's leadership team established a weekly program to encourage team members and boost morale as they provide care for their residents and communicate with family members.

    "The COVID-19 crisis has been life-changing for everyone," said IntegraCare President Loriann Putzier. "We have followed guidelines set by the CDC and the governors in the home states of our communities. We know this is a challenging time for our team and we want to let them know how much their hard work and service to the residents means to us."

     IntegraCare has had a 94% employee retention rate since March 16, when all 11 communities began restricting visitors and following guidelines suggested by the CDC and state governors.

    IntegraCare built a five-week schedule of employee rewards.  Those ranged from meals delivered by local businesses affected by the COVID-19 situation, to homemade-style pies for team members' families, to each employee receiving a plastic Easter egg filled with varying amounts of money or a one-week vacation voucher.

    "The pandemic changed a lot of things, but we're still the same collaborative group of people working to make life better for our residents," Putzier said.

    The Pittsburgh-based leadership team, which was forced to work from home as a result of Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf's order, implemented a weekly engagement initiative. IntegraCare leaders each adopted a community and interacted through social media and traditional contacts.

    "You get to know people whose spouses have lost work, whose kids are home from school," Putzier said. "You want to help in any way possible. Each member of our leadership team has delivered a personal, hand-written thank you card to each staff member in our communities. We've received a huge response. It's been very humbling."

    Butch Cassiday, IntegraCare's LifeStyle and LifeStories Director, has been instrumental in the weekly initiatives throughout the 11 communities.

    "We're encouraging team members to stay healthy," Cassiday said. "We are providing a sense of value. We want to make sure our team members know we're going to take care of them."

Visit: https://www.integracare.com