Birgitta currently works as CEO of JATC Omsorg. She is a true entrepreneur with many years of experience in the field of exercise, health, nutrition and lifestyle change. Birgitta has, among other things, founded and run the international chain Itrim.
JATC is a company that operates in the health and care sector. What are your biggest challenges as a leader in these "Corona times"?
We in the health and care sector are facing major challenges in these times. This sector is running at full speed, to say the least. Our business has had to adapt very quickly by overstaffing while maintaining quality and safety. This is at the same time as sick leave has increased, plus several of our employees are at home due to quarantines. Another important focus right now is to create extra security in the organization through continuous clear and transparent communication. Everyone must feel involved with great commitment and take responsibility beyond the ordinary.
Have any of your users or employees fallen ill with Corona? What have you done to protect the people in the organization?
So far, no one among the users has fallen ill or shown symptoms. We were early in communicating to the organization about the measures and guidelines that apply. We very quickly took help from external expertise. Eva Åberg from Audiendo trained all leaders in holding interactive web meetings and Civil Defence trained our organization in crisis preparedness, to name a few partners. In addition, a frequent meeting structure was established for management and follow-up. We continuously communicate the importance of following procedures regarding meetings, hygiene, cleaning routines and "keeping physical distances". I am extremely proud that we have been able to keep the business "healthy" so far.
You are relatively new as CEO of the business. How have you prioritized the first 100 days?
In the first 100 days, I've been getting to know the business and understanding how hugely complex it is. We have many demanders and stakeholders with completely different needs such as clients (municipalities), users (within the LSS Act), relatives and the Good Man group, IVO (inspecting authority) and others. I have mainly focused on valuation work, structured work environment work as well as routines and structures and worked with crisis and emergency plan. I have just finished a clear handbook for each area.
What can other sectors such as IT companies, industrial companies, etc. learn from health and social care?
Diversity and a humane view of people is what I want to highlight first. For us, diversity is everything that makes a person unique, and what power there is in this approach. We are 200 employees of 30 different nationalities. Our oldest employee is 80 years old. We have a deaf girl working in our finance function, we have another employee in another department who has autism. The list goes on and on with wonderful examples of our diversity that provide useful perspective.
The coronavirus pandemic is severely testing our society and is hitting many people hard. At the same time, it gives us important opportunities to reflect, and reshape life/work. This can create new habits for a better tomorrow. The only way forward is to help each other and do it together.