HRM and Healthcare Organizations and Unions (Essay Sample)

Human Resource Management – Healthcare Organizations and Unions
Name
Institution
Healthcare Organizations and Unions
The goal of a healthcare organization is to improve the well-being and health of the surrounding communities by providing compassionate and exceptional care. A typical healthcare organization comprises of a large number of employees who are often organized through unions (Shi, 2007). Unions are considered an essential aspect of the healthcare system because they serve a purpose to improve the welfare of the workers. This is besides improving their working conditions through meaningful and purposeful bargaining. However, the functions of healthcare organizations may be in conflict with the interests of the union.
The organizational goal of most healthcare organizations is to provide high quality healthcare services by relying on the available human resources. However, as much as healthcare professionals want to meet this goal, their welfare as workers must be looked after to ensure they are comfortable to perform their duties (Shi, 2007). This involves negotiations between the healthcare administrators and the union representatives.
Issues, such as salary and remuneration, often lead to a stalemate between the two entities. This affects the functions of the healthcare institution because the employees are not satisfied with their working conditions (Shi, 2007). If the situation is not resolved in a speedily manner, then the healthcare institution fails in its mandate to provide quality healthcare without interruptions. As such, one party must compromise its position to resolve the situation or arrive at a mutually beneficial consensus.
However, unions serve a major role of proving organized labor that is essential to fulfilling the functions of healthcare institutions. Unions operate within healthcare organizations to lobby for the welfare of the workers as well as ensure that the available human resources are utilized well to meet the needs of the patients (Shi, 2007). This involves disciplining the members who do not meet their obligations at the healthcare organization.
Furthermore, healthcare organizations should provide compassionate customer services that address the needs of the patients. Apparently, the focus is on improving patients’ experience and perception from a service and clinical point of view (Shi, 2007). The unions also have a responsibility to ensure that their members are committed to serving the needs of the patients. This is by ensuring that they report to work and in the right state of mind to perform their duties.
In most cases, healthcare organizations and unions work together to meet the needs of the patients. However, disagreements often occur especially in relation to the employees’ working conditions or remuneration (Shi, 2007). In such cases, the union is always seeking better working conditions as well as increased pay for its members. The healthcare institution may fail to meet their demands due to financial constraints. As such, the provision of quality healthcare services to the patients may be paralyzed for a day, week, or even a month...