Competition for skilled nurses and healthcare workers is intense. Leaders are looking for ways to support staff that go beyond the standard benefits list. One question keeps coming up: what would actually make daily life easier for the people on our teams?
The benefits that still matter most
Pay, health insurance, retirement plans, time off, and tuition support remain the foundation. Nothing in this article suggests otherwise. Those benefits are essential.
What many packages leave out is the practical side of life. A twelve hour shift, whether it runs days or nights, leaves very little overlap with the hours when pharmacies, cleaners, and service providers are open. Errands and appointments do not pause for shift work. They pile up, and days off can turn into catch up days instead of rest.
Research supports taking staff wellbeing seriously. In the 2024 National Nursing Workforce Study, stress and burnout were the most common reasons other than retirement that nurses gave for planning to leave the workforce.
What a practical support benefit is
A practical support benefit gives staff access to real people who help with everyday tasks. Think grocery pickup and delivery, prescription pickups, dry cleaning, package handling, and planning help. The goal is to take a few items off a long list.
HOP is developing this kind of support in two forms. On site, a HOP Desk receives requests in person and holds completed items until staff are ready. Virtually, staff submit requests and errands can be delivered home.
How organizations can approach it
There is no single right model. Some organizations may want to start with one unit or one shift. Others may want to focus on a specific group, such as night shift staff. The right approach depends on your people, your priorities, and your budget.
Whatever the model, we recommend three principles.
- Ask staff what would help before designing anything.
- Make requests easy to submit at the hours people actually work.
- Measure usefulness and reliability honestly, and adjust as you learn.
What we will not claim
We will not tell you a concierge style benefit will solve turnover. It will not. Staffing, workload, and pay come first. What practical support can offer is a visible, everyday sign that leadership understands what staff lives look like outside the building. We think that is worth testing carefully, starting small.