How NHS Employers Can Support Staff Through Rising Costs

The rising cost of living and increased pressures on healthcare workers have led NHS Employers to outline key recommendations for supporting staff wellbeing. These include enhancing flexible working arrangements and prioritising employee wellbeing, along with other measures such as financial wellbeing support, access to staff benefits, and professional development opportunities. You can read the full NHS Employers recommendations here: Supporting Staff with Rising Costs – Good Employment Practice.

The Role of Workforce Management in NHS Staff Wellbeing

A well-structured workforce management system ensures healthcare providers can balance staffing needs with employee wellbeing, reducing burnout and improving retention. Let’s explore how workforce management technology aligns with NHS Employers’ recommendations

NHS Employers’ Key Recommendations

NHS Employers provide several strategies to support staff, including:

• Financial Wellbeing Support – Ensuring fair pay, providing hardship funds, and offering financial education.
• Access to Benefits & Discounts – Enhancing staff discounts, transport subsidies, and childcare support.
• Flexible Working – Empowering employees with control over their working patterns.
• Staff Wellbeing – Addressing mental and physical health through workplace initiatives.
• Professional Development & Career Support – Providing access to training, mentorship, and career progression pathways.

Below, we explore how workforce management solutions specifically support flexible working and staff wellbeing.

1. Enabling Flexible Working

Flexible working is a key factor in maintaining staff satisfaction, reducing absenteeism, and improving patient care. However, managing flexible schedules manually can be administratively complex and prone to errors.

How Workforce Management Solutions Help:

• Self-Scheduling and Shift Swaps: Employees can take control of their schedules, requesting shifts, swapping with colleagues, and managing availability seamlessly. This reduces last-minute rota changes and enhances work-life balance.
• Real-Time Rota Management: Multiple job roles, working hours, and leave allowances can be managed efficiently, ensuring equitable shift distribution across flexible working staff.
• Absence and Leave Management: Automates leave requests and ensures optimal staffing levels while accommodating staff needs.

Impact: Staff feel empowered in managing their schedules, resulting in better morale, reduced turnover, and improved patient care continuity.

2. Supporting Employee Wellbeing

NHS Employers highlight that reducing administrative burdens and ensuring financial stability are key to staff wellbeing.

How Workforce Management Solutions Help:

• Payroll Accuracy & Transparency: Automates payroll calculations, preventing underpayment issues and ensuring timely wages—reducing financial stress for staff.
• Attendance Tracking & Workload Balance: Live monitoring of staff presence ensures fair workload distribution and prevents staff from being overworked.
• Efficient Onboarding & HR Support: Reduces administrative strain for HR teams, allowing more focus on employee wellbeing initiatives.

Impact: By reducing payroll disputes, preventing burnout, and enhancing HR efficiency, workforce management technology ensures staff feel valued, supported, and financially secure.

Conclusion: The Future of NHS Workforce Management

Incorporating workforce management solutions like RotaMaster into NHS operations directly supports the NHS Employers’ vision for staff wellbeing. By automating scheduling, attendance tracking, and payroll management, these tools reduce stress, improve flexibility, and enhance job satisfaction—ultimately leading to better patient outcomes.

Next Steps

Healthcare organisations looking to align with NHS Employers’ recommendations should explore how workforce management solutions can transform their operations. Investing in the right technology today means a healthier, happier workforce tomorrow.

Want to learn more about how RotaMaster can support NHS workforce wellbeing? Schedule a free demo today.