November Thoughts: Workforce

There has been a growing workforce issue within mental health and substance use disorder treatment; really across all helping professions. Almost daily I hear leaders talk about the number of open positions, the hemorrhaging staff, and the lack of qualified applicants who actually apply for positions. 

The issue is vast and multi-dimensional. Should social workers stay when their mental health is on the line? Can anyone blame a person for taking a better paying job? With the staffing shortage, are is there extra care taken for the workers who are there? 

I was in a meeting today and the issue of workforce came up and people from several different states shared what a large organization can do that may be helpful in addressing the workforce issue. Ideas around tuition reimbursement, loan forgiveness, reducing the stigma around working in mental health, and paid internships (to help build a pipeline). These are not bad ideas, and in the context of the conversation were appropriate. Of course things like better work life balance, psychological safer, equitable pay, opportunities for growth, and professional respect can all help with the workforce issues. 

However, as I was listening to these things, something stood out to me. No one was addressing that our workforce has and continues to lack diversity. I challenged those at the meeting to conceptualize the workforce issue as a DEI issue. Leaders and organizations across the county have a great opportunity to find solutions to an issue (workforce) while also bringing solutions to a long standing problem (lack of diversity). As we think through the workforce issue it is critical that we consider how we create equitable opportunities for those with underrepresented and marginalized identifies. 

Finding ways to fill vacancies is not a helpful or sustainable solutions. Brining a DEI perspective into finding solutions to recruiting and retaining a quality workforce is a win-win for everyone. It's the long game. It is not an easy solutions, but in the end  it is better for organizations, employees, and the people who receive services.