When quantity takes over as the top priority
You’ve probably noticed that being a “high performer” has a different meaning depending on whether you’re an employee or an employer. Employees tend to emphasize the quality of their work rather than volume. The employer cares about quantity more than anything else, the goal being to get you to do as much as possible.
This difference in perspective is deeply entrenched in the health and social services system, where, as a result of successive reforms and a hospital-centric vision, management practices based on quantitative performance indicators and measurable outputs are now largely dominant.
This “performance culture” is also characterized by excessive centralization, decision-making at a remove from reality on the ground, defective communication channels, and numerous administrative control mechanisms designed to evaluate personnel.
From one vicious circle to another
Prioritizing quantity over quality has a direct impact on workload, which becomes heavier and heavier. This leads to acute problems of employee retention and attraction, which cause workloads to increase even more – a truly vicious circle.
Another consequence of prioritizing quantity is that the qualitative aspects of work, which are related to the complexity of care, are dismissed because they are difficult to measure, and this means that the real workload (see Factsheet 1) is not understood by the people who make decisions. And the less they understand, the more the workload increases – another vicious circle.
In the end, the quality of care provided to Quebecers is diminished. And the government – confined to its narrow and circular thinking – uses this as a pretext to wrongly demand increased levels of performance.
Another discourse is needed
To this dominant conception of care we need to oppose a different discourse and different ways of moving forward, and this is our responsibility both individually and collectively. We need to demand:
- qualitative measures to provide a true picture of our workload
- lighter administrative processes
- better communication, interdisciplinarity, training, and administrative support
- working conditions ensuring that professional practice is focused on quality rather than volume.
There are solutions, and the first step is to identify and name the problem. Communication is a key element in this process, and so is reaching out to colleagues in solidarity.
Your local union team is there to help you
Do you think you’re experiencing the negative effects of a performance-driven culture? Talk to your local union team. They’re there to make sure you have the information you need and guide you through the maze of workload issues. They can provide resources and support as you take action.