For many companies, interns are not hired for their value during the internship, but the potential value they provide if they come back or continue on as employees. This holds true for the health care sector as many health care sustainability leaders started out as interns. Most health care workers have a lot on their plate, and while sustainability programming may be “win-win,” it isn’t effortless. It is critical to continue to build a pipeline of professionals that have not only expertise but first hand experience in health care sustainability including planning, implementing, and measuring initiatives. More importantly, providing interns the chance to learn how to implement changes in a complex health care environment where leadership and change management skills are necessary to make the case for adding sustainability activities to already filled plates is a must.
Creating an internship for sustainable business, engineering, and health care administration students is a great opportunity to build an effective hiring channel while making the case for sustainability. A Deloitte 2017 Millennial Survey found that seven in 10 young workers believe their personal values are shared by their place of work. In its 2016 Employee Engagement Study, Cone Communications found that 58% of employees consider a company’s social and environmental impacts when deciding where to work, 55% would choose to work for a socially responsible company even if the salary is less, and 51% will not work for a company that does not have strong social or environmental commitments. The prioritization of an internship program can create a win-win for the health care facility, for the student looking toward their future employment, and for the environment.
“Climate change is a top concern for millennials and Gen Zs. Even as the pandemic unfolded around the world, this remained constant. Eight in 10 young adults say that governments and businesses need to make greater efforts to protect the environment.” The Deloitte Global Millennial Survey 2020
There is no one kind of internship model – the arrangements are as unique as the individuals, the partnering facility, and the teaching institution. This document provides some example written work plans and agreements to help facilities realize the potential for their own site.
