Unlock Your Potential: How Novant Health’s New Education Benefits Propel Employee Career Growth

For sectors like healthcare, finding skilled workers is tough. Companies need to support their employees to keep them engaged and help their workplaces thrive. A well-rounded educational program can truly make a difference.

The American Hospital Association predicts a shortage of about 100,000 essential healthcare workers by 2028. This shortage could hurt both patient care and the professionals who are already feeling overworked. To tackle this issue, Novant Health, a nonprofit health network, created an education program aimed at improving staff skills and boosting retention.

Lauren King, the VP of talent strategy at Novant Health, emphasizes the importance of education in healthcare. “Patient safety is critical,” she says. “We need to meet certain standards when giving out certifications and degrees, but we must also find ways to increase the workforce.”

Their new initiative, the Future Forward program, offers full-time and part-time employees prepaid tuition benefits. Workers can pursue degrees conveniently, with Novant Health covering up to $5,250 annually for full-time staff and $2,625 for part-time members.

The program includes courses directly related to healthcare, such as medical assistant training and pharmacy tech, as well as other skill-building classes. Importantly, employees don’t need additional work experience outside their role to become eligible.

King notes that employees often learn crucial skills on the job, but these experiences may not count when applying for external programs. “This allows them to enhance their careers while keeping their current jobs,” she explains.

Unlike traditional reimbursement programs, which can be cumbersome, Future Forward simplifies the process. Employees can check course eligibility and enroll easily, which boosts engagement and enthusiasm.

Research supports these practices. According to The Conference Board, 58% of workers may leave their jobs without opportunities for professional development. In contrast, 76% are more likely to stay with an employer that offers ongoing training. Even more striking, 86% would switch jobs for better development options.

King advises organizations to actively listen to their employees’ needs. Understanding the barriers they face is essential for offering effective educational benefits. “Most people want to grow beyond their current roles,” she says. “These programs empower them to shape their own development pathways.”

Overall, investing in education can greatly enhance employee satisfaction and support workforce sustainability, particularly in fields like healthcare. For more insights on educational benefits, check out Bright Horizons’ guide to implementing education benefits.

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Benefit Manager Role,Healthcare,Employee retention,Employee benefits