Why financial incentives aren’t enough to deal with health-care staffing shortages – CBC

Better working conditions, more staff are among suggestions to improve the system

Aug 12, 2022

As many provinces and territories deal with health-care worker shortages and overcrowded emergency departments, politicians are turning to financial incentives to keep or recruit staff.

In the last seven months, at least five provinces have announced retention bonuses of tens of thousands or other recruitment perks to keep or attract doctors and nurses.

But is financial compensation the right recruitment tool?

Some researchers and recruiters say based on studies and their own experience, one-time financial incentives aren’t effective enough at keeping health-care workers in their jobs.

“Financial incentives have always been, and will continue to be, Band-Aid solutions,” said Maria Mathews, a professor in the family medicine department at Western University in London, Ont.

Nurses’ unions and national health leaders have said that financial incentives are just one piece of the puzzle needed to fix the ongoing strain on health care.

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/financial-perks-doctor-recruitment-1.6548194