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INDIANAPOLIS — IU Health is attempting to bridge the work-life balance gap with their housekeeper employees by making a new resource available to them.
Xiomara Amaya is celebrating a big promotion at work, she is now the team lead for IU Health's emergency department environmental services staff. Amaya says she has always been a housekeeper and doesn't see herself doing anything else.
"My reward is when the patient comes into the rooms and they can see it a room clean and they feel comfortable, I love it," Amaya said.
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The 51-year-old Beech Grove resident started working at IU Health in downtown Indianapolis in 2011.
"This job is very interesting," Amaya said. "I feel passion to work here for my job, I love what I do. I think that I never change the way I clean, I just cleaned since the first day until right now."
IU Health Methodist Hospital and University Hospital employs about 300 housekeepers. Currently, they need to fill more than 40 positions at just those hospitals.
"They are the first line of defense for infection control here at the organization," Ann Bollone, the vice president of human resources, IU Health Adult Academic Center, said. "And they are also a big provider of customer service because they are in the rooms with the patients."
IU Health has hired their first social worker for downtown hospitals housekeeping and environmental services staff. This is specifically to help these employees with daily life barriers that can impact their work.
"To help our team members with work/life balance, child care, family care, because sometimes it is your parents, transportation issues, financial issues that you might have, as well as and most importantly, career development," Bollone said.
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If IU Health officials see success with this pilot new hire social worker, the hospital system plans on adding more social workers to not only the housekeeping staff, but also more hospitals and departments statewide.
Amaya, who is now taking on a new role in her department is open to the opportunity to have the guidance in the transition.
"I am always up for advice, I am never moved for emotions," Amaya said. "When I go, when I do one step, I want to be sure that the step that I am going to do is going to be the best. So I am asking and I am looking for information."
While she takes pride in the way she leaves a room, Amaya also takes pride in the way she always leaves the patients she works with.
"I like it because I am a Christian person and I try to give some hope to the sick people," Amaya said. "My success in this job is to leave all my problems out of the hospital and enjoy when I come in."
No previous training or credentials are required to apply for a housekeeping position at IU Health. Once hired, the hospital organization will provide the training needed on the job.
There are full-time and part-time positions available, as well as supplemental positions and hours for people who are looking for a second job.
Starting salary is $12/hour.
