This article by Beverley Griffiths, Senior Lecturer at Buckinghamshire New University, reviews a recently published Journal for Emergency Management paper, exploring recruitment and retention issues in emergency management professionals in the United States; with a call to replicate the research in the UK.
The paper explores the challenges faced by emergency managers in the US, such as high levels of burnout, fatigue, and turnover. It identifies the increasing scope, scale, frequency, concurrency and complexity of disasters and emergencies as major contributing factors. The authors suggest that similar challenges may exist in emergency management sectors worldwide, emphasising the need for comprehensive emergency plans that include preventative stress management, support, cultural changes, fair pay, and adequate resources.
The article highlights the cost to the taxpayer and the broader cost to society of losing highly skilled and experienced professionals regarding future response capabilities. It provides readers with a citation and link to the original research paper and webinar.