The Importance of Paid Time Off in Health care

Too many people feel the impact of job-related stress creeping into their personal lives — especially in the health care field. If you come home from a tough day or night at work and you’re too tired or anxious to enjoy yourself or make healthy decisions, it can lead to a vicious cycle.

Poor quality of life outside of work can contribute to mental health problems and poor sleep that can in turn diminish productivity and job performance. This can then make you even more stressed out and tired when you come home.

The health care field in particular has a burnout problem, and these issues become so much more important when poor work performance can affect other people’s health.

This is where the need for a healthy work-life balance comes in.

Work-life balance means having boundaries in place between your career and your personal life that help you maintain your relationships, hobbies, mental health, physical health, and anything else you value. The idea is that people who are healthy and happy in their home lives are more likely to be happy, productive, and effective at work.

There’s a lot that goes into building a work culture that promotes work-life balance in health care, but paid time off (PTO) is one big way that health workers and caregivers can ensure they have the time and energy to tend to personal needs.

How Paid Time Off Benefits Health Care Workers

There is strong evidence that employees who have PTO and use it are healthier and happier in ways that promote a better home life and work life. Recent years in particular have been a stressful and difficult time for health care workers, and the inability to take paid time off, whether for health or fun, is a major contributor to the burnout that is causing many health care workers to leave their jobs.

Simply having PTO available, and a supportive work culture that encourages you to schedule and use it, can promote a healthier work-life balance in the following ways:

• You don’t go to work sick: This is more important today than ever. The ability to take time off from work when you are sick and be paid for it is good for your health, your coworkers’ health, and your patients’ health. One sick person going to work when they aren’t supposed to can lead to a domino effect of callouts, and expose patients to unacceptable risks, especially if they are medically fragile and or immunocompromised.
• You can support your family: From taking a vacation to caring for a sick child, a healthy and happy family at home can improve your ability to do your job when you are there.
• You can improve your mental health: The simple ability to take a day for yourself can have a huge impact on your autonomy and stress levels. Whether it’s going to a movie, taking a walk in nature, or meeting up with a friend, using even a little PTO for a mental health day can pay dividends.
• Less burnout: People leaving a job because they’re unhappy is bad for everyone. Nobody wants to be out of a job or look for a job, and it’s expensive for companies to replace and train employees. PTO, including sick days and vacation days, promote employee retention that helps the organization and the people in it.

Health care workers who are looking to build a long and meaningful career should expect to work for a company that provides PTO.

Care Options for Kids Offers Meaningful Benefits — Including Paid Time Off

Robust and flexible PTO is just one of the many benefits that team members at Care Options for Kids enjoy. Fulfilling work that allows you to make a difference and a supportive culture that values your work-life balance is just the beginning. Working with Care Options for Kids allows you to tailor your schedule to your preferences and lifestyle. We also offer:

• Flexible schedules
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match
• Competitive and weekly pay with direct deposit
• 24/7 on-call for support
• Continuing education credits
• Training opportunities
• Employee nurse referral bonus

Benefits are based on measurement periods and are available to eligible and qualifying employees to assist in managing the health of you and your family.

Join the Care Options For Kids Team!

Are you ready for meaningful work that comes with benefits and not burnout? Join the compassionate care team that helps children and families live their best lives. Our clinicians provide best-in-class pediatric nursing, therapy, and school-based services. We bring individualized care to children where they live, work, and play. We have opportunities in homes, schools, and clinics across the country.

Apply at Care Options for Kids now. We make it easy to get started, so you can begin making a difference as soon as possible.