Managing Up

Well, Cambio Health Solutions changed their mind. They decided they had better not layoff 180 staff and maybe they should have a word with some of the employees or at least check in with the Service Employees International Union before completely reorganizing the medical center. Gee, it took them nine months and two work actions to arrive at the obvious. I hope these guys know how to do something besides layoffs.

Thank goodness for healthcare unions. Apparently they’re all that is left between patients and bad business decisions. Medical center employees have used their unions to manage up; they helped the Board of Supervisors to see the dangers of caregiver cuts. They have also pointed out that hospital workers feel demoralized and fatigued, and that getting a contract signed and removing the threat of layoffs is a necessary first step toward making the medical center work.

In spite of the rhetoric, the Cambio executives still have an aversion to speaking to working people. You need a suit or an MD to be heard at the hospital. Joyce Mc Glory, the Head of Human Resources, is the notable exception; she likes Highland and actually listens to employees. The Board of Trustees is still escorted by sheriffs, as are some Cambio executives. Come on guys, we’re overworked healthcare providers, no one’s going to hurt you. Shoot, if you got assaulted we’d just have to take you over to the emergency department and fix you up, and in case you haven’t noticed we have plenty of business already.

Look here’s the deal, this isn’t a good staff; this is a great staff. These are the people you want to take care of you, if something happens. We have an antique computer system, broken wheelchairs, no infrastructure and we make it work. The Cambio team spent a couple million on scab labor during work actions and probably fifty grand on a payroll goof, how about spending five hundred on donuts and coffee and trying to cheer up your worn out employees before more good people quit.