How Midmark’s Sue Hulsmeyer works to foster an inviting company culture that will attract and retain exceptional employees.
A company’s culture is a crucial measure of its success. A culture that stands out in the marketplace depends on both its values and the people who make up the organization, said Sue Hulsmeyer, who joined Midmark in 2001 and was recently promoted to the role of Chief People and Administrative Officer. “For employees to perform well and take care of their customers, they must feel supported and heard at work.”
A successful company culture
Midmark strives to create a company culture that retains and supports its employees throughout their career journey. In her position, Hulsmeyer leads talent management, succession planning, and leadership development. Hulsmeyer also oversees the implementation of Midmark culture, values, and the teammate experience to ensure that all people functions align with policies and programs.
“This role reflects our leadership’s belief that we need to take care of our teammates (employees) so that they can take care of our customers,” said Hulsmeyer. “We invest in our people, our most important assets, and foster a culture of health, safety and well-being. My team, which includes HR, corporate communications, enterprise learning, corporate events, philanthropy, and the executive administrative assistants, is inspired by this vision.”
Many businesses faced challenges throughout 2020 and 2021, with the pandemic requiring quick reactions and dynamic problem-solving from leaders. According to Hulsmeyer, “During this time, we faced a multitude of challenges that were medical, emotional, physical, political, and religious in nature. However, I learned that in high-pressure situations like these, it is essential to lead with empathy and respect. Trusting the leaders around you to make the most educated decisions for your employees and your company is also crucial.”
Attracting top talent
The pandemic resulted in significant changes within the workplace, and the job market is now more competitive than ever, especially for employers trying to attract top talent. In the industry of healthcare especially, it is crucial to create an inviting culture to attract exceptional employees.
“It’s vital to our industry to maintain a successful, inviting culture in the workplace so that we can continue the work to improve healthcare experiences, patient outcomes and quality of care within the medical, dental and animal health environments,” said Hulsmeyer.
Young people decide to take jobs for a multitude of reasons and have greatly different expectations for their employers now than before the pandemic. A Forbes article titled, “What Do Newer Generations of Employees Want, And Can Your Business Adjust?” discusses how companies can adapt their practices to attract the next generation of employees. The article highlights four workplace factors that matter to younger workers, including that they expect their views to be noticed and acted on, they want a personalized and easy-to-use work experience, they want to believe in the value of their work and their company’s purpose, and they seek shared experiences but want the flexibility to support their interests.
To meet these expectations, you must listen to your employees and offer the work environment and tools that spur innovation and excitement, said Hulsmeyer. “By providing a work environment that fosters innovation and creativity, you can empower your employees to make a difference in the healthcare industry.”
Growth in a role
Today’s marketplace is highly competitive, and employees are demanding better workplace cultures to meet their professional and personal goals. Many new job seekers within healthcare are entering an entirely different industry than the one that existed 10 years ago.
“To grow as leaders, professionals in the healthcare industry need several things from their organizations,” Hulsmeyer said. “They need to adopt a strategic mindset and holistic view of healthcare. They need to master the use of technology to optimize their work, align their objectives with the organization’s mission, vision and values, and foster a culture of collaboration and innovation across the organization and with our customers. By working closely with customers, leaders can better understand their needs and provide them with the best possible solutions.
Midmark introduced “The Human Deal,” a development program with the goal of maintaining a better focus on workplace culture to better align with corporate values. The Human Deal consists of elements including personal growth, ensuring that employees feel supported and that they are continuing to grow as people, not just professionals, as well as holistic well-being and shared purpose (making sure that employees feel invested in the organization on societal and cultural issues).
As for advice for leaders in the industry, Hulsmeyer says, “As a company, we believe in fostering a positive work environment and strive to create a culture that is not only supportive, but also engaging and enjoyable. As leaders, we need to help our employees learn to be agile and courageous, which is part of our core values at Midmark. To grow as a leader, you need to learn how to adapt to changing situations and customer needs.”