A voluntary bonding scheme for new graduates has existed for many years. Te Whatu Ora has announced an expansion of the scheme with an increase in place for nurses.
Under the scheme new graduates will receive just over $14,000 in three instalments towards paying off their student loan if they remain with Te Whatu Ora for five years.
Data suggesting new graduates who opt to be bonded have higher retention rates when compared to non-bonded colleagues does not mean bonding works. Arguably new graduates who decide to take up the scheme already have the intention of remaining with the same employer for a particular period compared to other new graduates. Hence, they sign up to the scheme because it will reduce their student loan.
Nurses Society director David Wills says the two groups may have had different intentions from the outset.
“Comparing retention rates between bonded and non-bonded new graduates is not necessarily evidence that bonding works.”
Moreover there have been various bonding schemes for new graduates over the years and the impact on retention is questionable.
Continuing improvements in salaries and conditions, as well professional environment, infrastructure, and management play a greater role in recruitment and retention.
The extra monies involved are modest, and earlier schemes involved commitment to have to fill specialties and/or geographic locations. This made them unattractive to new graduates.
A voluntary bonding scheme for new graduates has existed for many years. Te Whatu Ora has announced an expansion of the scheme with an increase in place for nurses.
Under the scheme new graduates will receive just over $14,000 in three instalments towards paying off their student loan if they remain with Te Whatu Ora for five years.
Data suggesting new graduates who opt to be bonded have higher retention rates when compared to non-bonded colleagues does not mean bonding works. Arguably new graduates who decide to take up the scheme already have the intention of remaining with the same employer for a particular period compared to other new graduates. Hence, they sign up to the scheme because it will reduce their student loan.
Nurses Society director David Wills says the two groups may have had different intentions from the outset.
“Comparing retention rates between bonded and non-bonded new graduates is not necessarily evidence that bonding works.”
Moreover there have been various bonding schemes for new graduates over the years and the impact on retention is questionable.
Continuing improvements in salaries and conditions, as well professional environment, infrastructure, and management play a greater role in recruitment and retention.
The extra monies involved are modest, and earlier schemes involved commitment to have to fill specialties and/or geographic locations. This made them unattractive to new graduates.