Keep the Bubble Wrap Handy

We are one of those crazy families that still buys a live Christmas tree. This year we had to settle for a small one, just eight feet. Supply chain issues. It’s a sweet tree, but skinny, and doesn’t need as many ornaments as usual, so I only hung my favorites. Those ornaments include some precious ceramic ones made by my grandma in the 1970’s, each carefully bubble wrapped from year- to- year so they won’t break. These ornaments mean a lot to me. I could wrap them in tissue paper or newspaper, but I only use bubble wrap because I trust it most to insulate the ornaments from breaking.

Bubble wrap is awesome because it cushions something that is fragile and protects it from shock and damage. We routinely grab it when we are packing valuables, but we forget that people are breakable too, especially our new employees. Sometimes they need a little bubble wrap to protect them from the stress of acclimating to a new job.

We all want to keep our good performing new hires for the long-term, but unfortunately people leave the workplace all the time. New nurses especially have a high attrition rate, as high as 30% in the first year of practice. I wish I had different news, but people often leave because of bullying and poor workplace culture.

The Statistics 

Workplace bullying statistics are brutal. A Vitalsmarts Silence Kills study stated, “Seventy- seven percent of nurses and other clinical-care providers work with someone who is condescending, insulting, or rude. Thirty- three percent work with other nurses who are verbally abusive—yell, shout, swear, or name call.” Despite what we know about the ill effects of bullying, there remains a level of aggressive behavior between seasoned providers and new grads. Those who are guilty hide behind the idea that it is a rite of passage and that newbies will only learn through trial by fire. For years we have been talking about ending the eat your young culture that many new grads experience, but we don’t make that change a priority. 

Manage the Wolves

Workplace bullies come in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes bullies are wolves in sheep’s clothing. They may be some of your top performers or extroverted informal leaders. Other times it is supervisor who lead by fear and intimidation. Bullying in the workplace can be hard to spot as it often shows up as incivility. If you’ve been in the workplace any amount of time, you’ve seen these behaviors in action. Uncivil behaviors include finding fault, intimidation, withholding information, scape goating, refusing to help, gossiping, cliques, or unfair work assignments. These behaviors are bad enough on their own, but here's the thing my friend, when they are directed at new hires they can be devastating and can cause that person to leave the job or worse yet the profession.

As a leader in your organization, it is important to have a strategy to manage the wolves and to eliminate rude, nasty, and intimidating behaviors. First and foremost, be a role model. Your staff watch you and the way you interact with others. Secondly, educate your staff and let them know what won’t be tolerated. Thirdly, address problems with the perpetrator in a proactive, calm, and non-threatening manner. Next, develop an on-boarding and precepting program that is welcoming. Finally, bubble wrap your new employees to protect them from unnecessary aggression and empower them to successfully navigate hostile behavior.

Bubble wrap: good for ornaments and people. That’s how I see it this week, from where I sit.