Member survey: - Unfortunately, confirms much of what we already know
The survey reveals a critical shortage of biomedical laboratory technicians and low basic staffing, as well as challenges with freedom of expression in the workplace and discrimination, violence and threats from patients.
In February and March 2024, a survey was conducted among NITO BFI's members.
The survey dealt with, among other things, NITO BFI's membership offers, further education and skills development, work pressure and basic staffing, as well as career paths and motivation in the health sector.
The members were also asked about freedom of expression and the extent to which they experience discrimination, racism and violence from patients.
"The results of the survey have provided us with important knowledge that we will take with us in our further work. Both with regard to our own membership offer, but also with regard to the challenges our members face on a daily basis," says Kaja Marienborg, Chair of the Board of NITO BFI.
Facts about the survey
- The survey went out to 5000 members. 742 members chose to respond to the survey, which gives a response rate of 15 percent.
- Nine out of ten of those who have chosen to respond to the survey work in the health sector
- 69 per cent of those who chose to answer work in a professional or basic position at a hospital or private laboratory
- Most responses from members aged 40-59
Low basic staffing and high work pressure
- It is worrying that as many as two-thirds of those who responded feel that the basic staffing in the workplace is not sufficient. Unfortunately, this is not surprising," says the chairman of the board.
NITO BFI has long pointed out that there is a shortage of biomedical laboratory scientists, and the figures from the survey confirm this. Half state that it is difficult to recruit biomedical laboratory technicians to their workplace.
Half of the respondents say that there were more or far more sick leaves in the workplace in 2023 than usual.
Figures from the survey: Work pressure and basic staffing
- 54 percent experienced more or far more sick leave in 2023 than usual.
- 53 per cent find it difficult to recruit biomedical laboratory technicians to their workplace
- Two out of three feel that the basic staffing is not sufficient at their workplace
Sick leave is often a natural consequence of long-term understaffing and a high workload. This increases the risk of errors, which can affect patient safety. In addition, persistent problems with high sickness absence and workload will make it more difficult to recruit and retain biomedical laboratory technicians in the health sector.
Kaja Marienborg
Seven out of ten have considered applying for a job outside the health sector
"We know that biomedical laboratory technicians are also attractive outside the health sector. At the same time, the wage level in the oil and fisheries industry, for example, is completely different. This creates huge challenges at the hospital, because we have so few biomedical laboratory technicians already. It is already a huge problem, to an increasing extent.
Also read: 7 out of 10 have considered quitting
- Professional development and salary are not in line with the workload. The consequences will also be that the health service will continue to leak personnel to the private sector, she believes.
Figures from the survey: Career paths and motivation in the health sector
- 69 per cent have considered applying for a job outside the health sector one or more times
- There are many reasons why members have considered jobs outside the health sector. The two reasons that stand out are too low a wage level (78 per cent) and too high a workload (62 per cent).
Freedom of expression under pressure
As many as one in five state that they have received negative reactions from their employer after statements about matters related to their own job/employer: "Unfortunately, it is well documented that many people experience an increasingly lower ceiling for what they can express themselves about in working life," says Marienborg.
She points out that employees basically have freedom of expression, and that the public has both an interest and a need to gain access to the knowledge and opinions professionals have in various areas.
- It is crucial that health personnel participate in the public debate. It is important that those who have the professional expertise and who know where the shoe pinches are allowed to speak.
- Trust and loyalty to the employer are strong in the health service, but at the same time we have a duty to point out errors and shortcomings that are not only a danger to the patients, but also to the employees. Such systemic errors can be experienced very close and can make it very uncomfortable to come forward. At the same time, it is incredibly important that someone is brave enough to do just that.
Experienced discrimination, racism, violence, or threatening behavior from patients
Three out of ten state that they have been exposed to violence or threatening behaviour from patients. In addition, just over 10 per cent of those who responded have themselves been exposed to racist statements or discriminatory behaviour from patients.
60 per cent state that they have a colleague/former colleague who has been subjected to racist statements or discriminatory behaviour from patients.
Healthcare personnel must be safe at work, but at the same time it is difficult to protect themselves against such incidents. It is therefore important that all health trusts and hospitals have good routines for how such incidents are to be handled and for safeguarding the individual who is exposed to this.
Kaja Marienborg
