Lab Matters Summer 2024 | Page 35

TRAINING AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

By Dana Powell Baker , EdD , MBA , MS , MLS ( ASCP ) CM , manager , Academic Partnerships

Public health laboratory fellowship and internship programs offer those interested in an early-career experience the opportunity to gain practical knowledge and skills in a public health laboratory setting . These programs are geared towards providing experiences beyond the classroom and serve as a recruitment tool for the public health laboratory workforce . As we recruit individuals to apply for fellowship and internship placement opportunities , we must consider the impact of work environments on shaping the future of the public health laboratory workforce . Creating positive , healthy work environments is essential to ensure rewarding experiences leading to organizational benefits such as attracting and retaining top talent .

Creating a Positive Experience

McKernan 1 provided the following four ways to create a positive internship experience :

• Provide clear expectations and goals . Start things with the proper foundation , so interns understand what is expected of them . This includes their schedules , project details and tasks they are expected to perform .

• Provide opportunities for growth and development . Learning new skills and exposure to different aspects of the work can increase self-efficacy and engagement .

• Provide regular feedback . Providing constructive feedback will help them improve their work performance and work toward achieving their goals .

• Foster a positive work environment . This is a fantastic way to cultivate connectedness for fellows and interns in the work setting . A welcoming environment and enhanced opportunities to connect with staff ( e . g ., team-building activities ) can influence their sense of belonging .

Maintaining a Positive Work Environment

To ensure that experiences remain positive , it is crucial to recognize the signs of toxicity . These signs may include unclear or ineffective communication and non-constructive feedback . Additionally , lack of recognition for accomplishments and not being valued are signs of toxic cultures . In the Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences , Parsons and Scarlett 2 emphasized the importance of providing institutional support , safety and a sense of well-being . Their suggestions for preventing a toxic experience include :

• Ensure a safe , fair and instructive environment .

• Provide clear guidance and constructive feedback on their performance .

• Be prepared to collaborate with the academic institution ( e . g ., establish an MOU , establish an affiliation agreement and schedule internship hours ).

• Demonstrate and model a culture of diversity , equity , inclusion and accessibility in professional interactions .

In an article published in Psychology Today , Kristen Fuller 3 described a toxic environment as any place where the work , the atmosphere , the people or any combination of those things can cause severe disruptions in other aspects of their lives . A toxic work culture can have severe consequences on mental and physical well-being as well as quality of life . Recent studies have shown that the stress caused by a toxic culture or environment can have long-lasting effects such as elevated stress levels , lowered self-esteem , inability to focus effectively or perform tasks , and poor retention . 4 To mitigate this , it has been suggested that interns and fellows be supported through best practices , such as fostering an inclusive culture and providing a sense of belonging to promote a positive learning experience . 5

Summary

By effectively communicating , reinforcing values and establishing clear expectations on the front end , we can work together to continue providing a positive experience for public health laboratory fellows and interns . Doing so will help create an optimal environment where we can foster a culture of well-being while ensuring that everyone benefits from a fulfilling experience . g

References :

1 . Barile , N . ( 2020 , February 18 ). Surviving a toxic school environment . Hey Teach ! Retrieved from https :// www . wgu . edu / heyteach / article / surviving-atoxic-school-environment2002 . html

2 . Fuller , K . ( 2019 , March 15 ). How to recognize a toxic work environment and get out alive . Psychology Today . Retrieved from https :// www . psychologytoday . com / us / blog / happiness-is-state-mind / 201903 / how-recognize-toxic-work-environment-and-getout-alive

3 . McKernan , R . ( 2023 ). Four Ways to create a positive internship experience . Internship on Demand . Retrieved from https :// www . internshipondemand . com / post / 4-ways-to-create-a-positive-internshipexperience #:~: text = Learn % 20how % 20to % 20 create % 20a % 20positive % 20internship % 20 experience , internship % 20for % 20both % 20the % 20 intern % 20and % 20the % 20company

4 . Parsons , E . C . M ., Scarlett , A . ( 2020 ). The problem of toxic internships in the environmental field : Guidelines for more equitable professional experiences . Journal of Environmental Studies and Science , 10 , 352 – 354 . https :// doi . org / 10.1007 / s13412-020-00629-2

5 . Handshake Blog ( n . d .). 5 easy ways to support interns from underrepresented backgrounds . Handshake . Retrieved from https :// joinhandshake . com / blog / employers / 5-easy-ways-to-supportinterns-from-underrepresented-backgrounds /