L. Shinkunas1, M. Lieberman1, E.M. Carlisle1 1University Of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
Introduction: Hospitals have increasingly offered employees access to online co-worker reporting systems to empower employees to report unsafe/unprofessional behavior. While co-worker reporting systems impact safety, their impact on workplace ethics and employee wellness remains unexplored. Evaluating the impact of these systems on workplace ethics and employee wellness is particularly important in high-stress work environments, like the operating room.
Methods: An electronic survey, containing open/closed-ended responses was distributed to OR employees at a tertiary care academic hospital. Responses were anlyzed with Qualtrics.
Results: 105 responses were received (45% surgical attendings/13% surgical trainees, 16% anesthesia attendings/4% anesthesia trainees, 13% nurse anesthetists, 4% nurses, 2% scrub technicians). 35% had used the institution’s online reporting system to report a co-worker. 40% reported anonymously. 26% felt that their concerns were well addressed through this system. 14% thought their co-worker’s behavior changed after the report. 49% of respondents had been reported by a co-worker. Being the subject of a report negatively impacted respondent wellness (81%), attitude toward coworkers (82%), attitude toward the institution (75%), and interaction with coworkers (50%). 43% felt these reporting systems negatively impacted OR culture, and 40% felt the systems negatively impacted OR employee wellness. 50% witnessed the co-worker reporting system being used for retaliation, bullying, or intimidation. 47% of respondents thought that race, gender identity or other traits impacted the frequency with which an individual was reported.
Conclusion: Online co-worker reporting systems negatively impact OR employee perceptions of wellness and workplace ethics, fail to address most reported concerns, and provide a pathway for retaliation, bullying, and intimidation.