Assessing an Employer: Make sure your next job is the right job for you.

All too often, flattered by a job offer, we accept it before asking the tough questions. Here are a few questions you might want to ask before you accept.

1. Job Security

• Is the position full-time, contract, or part-time?

• How long is the probationary period?

• If the employer is for profit, is the company financially stable? (To find out information about publicly traded health organizations, visit Hoover's Online for financial disclosure information.)

• Does the employer have any outstanding legal issues that could affect its financial stability?

2. Money and Benefits

• Does the hospital pay competitive wages?

• What are the shift and weekend differentials?

• What is the pension plan like? Is your pension portable?

• How many sick days will you receive? What are the policies related to sick days, e.g., can they be taken to care for a sick child or parent?

• How many holidays will you receive annually? Can they be accumulated?

• What form of medical insurance is provided? Does it provide family coverage? Is there a dental plan? A vision plan?

• Does the employer provide short- and long-term disability?

• How much life insurance do they provide?

• Are there wellness programs?

• Is there onsite daycare?

• How does the employer deal with unscheduled family obligations or personal needs?

3. Quality of Work Life

• How do your potential co-workers feel about their workplace environment? (When you are interviewing, ask to meet or speak with people who work there.)

• Is there a good fit between your potential supervisor's management style and how you like to work?

• Has the employer had a lot of staff turnover? If yes, why?

• Do they use travel nurses? Do they use agency nurses? What percentage of the nurses are full-time? How do they manage the integration and assignment of duties and training of part-time and visiting staff?

• How does the employer measure quality of patient care?

• What measures are in place to ensure staff safety and security?

• Does the employer resist change?

• Does the employer encourage two-way communication?

• How computerized are the operations? What sort of training do they provide?

4. Professional Growth and Advancement Opportunities

• What are the opportunities for professional development?

• Are promotions done internally or from outside?

5. Sense of Meaning

• How are employees evaluated?

• Does the employer measure employee satisfaction?

• If the employer has a religious focus or mission, is it compatible with your own value system?

Conclusion

There are national studies done on top employers, a major study being 100 Best Hospitals. This study highlights hospitals that outperform their peers in terms of mortality, complications, average length of stay, expenses, profitability, and asset turnover.

Assessing an Employer

1. Job Security

2. Money and Benefits

3. Quality of Work Life

4. Professional Growth and Advancement Opportunities

5. Sense of Meaning

Conclusion

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