The Balladeer Children’s Program: An Innovative Benefit That Helped Reconnect a Workforce
BY ANNIE BRENNER, M.ED., BALLADEER CHILDREN’S PROGRAM COORDINATOR, BALLAD HEALTH; SHAWNA DEHART, BS, MANAGER, BALLADEER CHILDREN’S PROGRAM, BALLAD HEALTH; AND HAMLIN J. WILSON, MS, VICE-PRESIDENT, EMPLOYEE RELATIONS, AND ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, BALLAD HEALTH
Recent years have certainly presented unique and unprecedented challenges for the healthcare industry. The COVID-19 pandemic placed immense strain on the workforce, leading to high turnover, diminished morale, and a palpable sense of depletion. Critical social work connections were often lost between employees and following the pandemic, and enjoying healthcare work was an immensely challenging endeavor. In the face of these difficulties, forward-thinking leaders recognized the critical need to not only support their employees professionally, but also to acknowledge the need to nurture their personal lives. For Ballad Health, a 20-hospital health system tucked in the mountains of Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia, this recognition sparked the idea of a unique and impactful initiative: an employee-centric, family-focused program designed to reconnect the workforce and foster a stronger sense of community. With that in mind, the Balladeer Children’s Program was born.
This innovative program centers around the understanding that a supportive work environment extends beyond the workplace itself. By investing in the well-being of employees’ families, Ballad Health aimed to cultivate deeper loyalty, boost morale, and ultimately improve retention. The cornerstone of this initiative is the regular hosting of monthly events designed for team members and their children to attend together, creating opportunities to strengthen their familial bonds. Significantly, these events are always free for children, with occasional nominal costs for Ballad parents.
Gaining over 3,100 children and more than 2,000 team members since the program’s inception three years ago, the impact of this initiative is clearly demonstrated by the program’s skyrocketing enrollment and improved overall workforce metrics. The program’s consistent popularity and its sustained ability to provide value to employees and their loved ones are getting noticed within the health system, the communities it serves, and across the country.
The program is led by two former schoolteachers who are new to the healthcare environment but well-skilled in understanding children’s needs and creating inspiring, fun environments for children and their parents. The Balladeer program is a benefit managed from and reporting to corporate human resources.
The program has successfully hosted over 135 events within Ballad’s service area for its employees and their children. The program also provides families with complimentary tickets to attend popular local and regional attractions while offering valuable discounts at more than 25 local businesses. This multifaceted approach ensures that Balladeer membership benefits are accessible and relevant to the daily lives of Ballad Health employees and their families, further embedding the organization within the local community.
The potential benefits are far-reaching, aligning directly with several key organizational goals. As anticipated, the initiative has the potential to improve retention rates significantly. By demonstrating a genuine commitment to the well-being of their employees’ families, Ballad Health fosters a sense of loyalty that goes beyond traditional workplace benefits. This contributes directly to promoting the organization as an employer of choice, attracting mission-driven individuals who value a supportive and family-oriented work culture.
Beyond the immediate benefits for individual families, these events have also proven to be a powerful tool for strengthening employee relations. Team members across different departments have embraced the opportunity to connect outside of work, making plans to attend events together with their children. This informal interaction fosters camaraderie and breaks down work silos, contributing to a more collaborative and supportive organizational culture — a key objective identified for the program.
The shared experiences at family events create informal networking opportunities, allowing employees from different teams to connect on a personal level. These relationships can translate into more effective communication and collaboration within the workplace. Additionally, the program opens doors for opportunities such as job shadowing, volunteer work, and even future employment with Ballad and further integrating the organization with its employees’ lives. The emphasis on community engagement also leads to improved relationships with the local community and businesses, enhancing Ballad Health’s reputation as a responsible and highly invested partner in the region.
Turnover metrics further validate the program’s success. In 2024, the company-wide turnover rate at Ballad Health stood at 18.5%. In stark contrast, the turnover rate among employees participating in the Balladeer program was significantly lower at just 11.3%. The difference in turnover meant that 125 additional team members were retained that may have otherwise left Ballad Health, saving the organization $1.25 million when using a conservative $10,000 cost to each departing employee.
This positive impact is further underscored by the engagement survey data collected from program members. When asked, "How likely are you to recommend this organization as a good place to work?", an overwhelming 91% of the members ranked their likelihood of this recommendation as "high" or "very high." This metric greatly outpaced the already strong scores organizationally and served as a powerful endorsement from within the program, highlighting the positive perception and strong sense of advocacy it has instilled among its members. Such high levels of recommendation are invaluable in attracting new talent and further solidifying Ballad Health’s reputation as an employer of choice.
Perhaps the true impact of the Balladeer program is best illustrated in the qualitative data shared by employee participants through heartfelt feedback from the survey. One employee shared, "I absolutely love this program. It has brought so many new friendships, especially at a point where I was in a dark place suffering from postpartum depression." This powerful testimonial highlights the program’s role in fostering social connections and providing crucial support during challenging personal times, underscoring the profound impact of these programs on individual well-being.
Reflecting the value of the benefit program on rehiring employees, one survey participant wrote, "The Balladeer Program was one of the many reasons I chose to come back to Ballad as an employee!" This direct link between the program and employee retention speaks volumes about its value in the eyes of the workforce. Finally, the sentiment, "We are appreciative to have the program and are thankful that Ballad has recognized the importance of being together as a family," underscores Ballad’s commitment to work-life balance and the underlying value proposition of the program.
By prioritizing family well-being and fostering a supportive community, Ballad Health has cultivated a more loyal and engaged workforce within the program’s large membership. The data provides strong evidence that the program is contributing to an increase in team member engagement and a greater propensity to remain with the organization.
In conclusion, the Balladeer Children’s Program at Ballad Health stands as a testament to the power of innovative, employee-focused initiatives. Born out of the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, this family-focused program has not only helped to reconnect a workforce but has also yielded tangible benefits in terms of improved employee and community engagement. By recognizing the importance of family well-being and investing in meaningful experiences, Ballad Health created a unique benefit that resonates deeply with its employees, fostering a stronger, more connected, and ultimately more resilient workforce within the Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia region. The success of the Balladeer program offers a compelling model for other organizations seeking to add benefits that cultivate a supportive and thriving workplace culture in an ever-evolving workforce landscape. ♦
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Author bios:
Annie Brenner is the program coordinator for the Balladeer Children’s Program and came into this role in early 2023. Partnering with the community that team members serve, the Balladeer Children’s Program affords opportunities to the families that are unique and unforgettable.
Shawna Dehart is the Manager of the Balladeer Children’s Program at Ballad Health. Shawna came to this position in 2021 and coordinated the launch of this program in February 2022, which has since gained over 3,100 children and over 1,800 team members.
Hamlin Wilson has over 35 years of healthcare human resources leadership experience and is currently working for Ballad Health, a healthcare system headquartered in beautiful Johnson City, Tennessee, surrounded by the Appalachian Mountains. He has served as the chief human resources officer for Wellmont Health System and is currently the Vice-President for Employee Relations/Organizational Development at Ballad.