Is joy in work possible?

It’s unsurprising that the healthcare industry is experiencing high rates of burnout. It was an issue well before the COVID pandemic. In 2017 the Institute for Healthcare Improvement had been working hard to address the problem and published the IHI Framework for Improving Joy in Work. 

I was intrigued and skeptical. I first noticed the phrasing, Joy IN Work, not Joy at Work.

I know joy is important; however, I could not imagine standing in front of one of our healthcare groups and making a case for the power of joy. 

In the introduction, the authors address whether joy in work is possible. They make the business case that the impact they found prototyping the framework positively impacted the work environment, including engagement, satisfaction, patient experience, burnout, and turnover rates. 

“Perhaps the best case for improving joy is that it incorporates the most essential aspects of positive daily work life. A focus on joy is a step toward creating safe, humane places for people to find meaning and purpose in their work.” 

~IHI Framework for Improving Joy in Work

In June, we’ll be exploring the theme of Joy and this simple idea “to create a safe, humane place for people to find meaning and purpose.” In other words, can work bring joy? 

Maybe this already happens sometimes at your organization for some people. What would it take to commit to believing in and pursuing joy in work if it's not happening?

This month, we’ll dive deeper into some of the strategies to make that possible.