Efforts to reduce overtime hours of our therapists

Abstract

In order to reduce the overtime hours of 182 full-time therapists employed in Hikari Medical Group, we implemented initiatives from August 2008 (hereinafter referred to as “the first survey”) to March 2007 (the second survey). Surveyed group were categorized into 4 groups：category A - new graduate, B - 2-years or more experience, C - leaders, and D - managers. Initiatives to reduce overtime work are 1) less than 5 hours of overtime/month, 2) classification criteria for overtime and self-study, and introducing the system of pre-application of overtime, 3) adjustment of the number of acquisition units for groups A and B, and, 4) holding study group during the working hours by the rehabilitation division. As a result, average overtime hours significantly decreased in groups A and B in the 1st and 2nd survey, achieving the initiative goal. On the other hand, groups C and D decreased overtime but did not achieve the initiative goal, and especially group C did not show any significant difference in the 2nd survey compared to the 1st survey. The efforts we conducted at this time mainly focused on how to use the time as a rehabilitation department and it was effective for A and B with little involvement with the other departments. Overtime factors of C and D are considered to be operational duties set outside of this effort, such as involvement with other departments, correspondence to patients and families, and support for A. Specifically in C, there is no significant difference in the 2nd survey compared with the 1st survey, and suggested concentration of work. Reducing the overtime hours is also necessary to ensure satisfaction with work environments, stress care, and re-allocate time for training for self-actualization. Further construction of measures to reduce the work load on group C should be considered.