Working in the veterinary industry has significant challenges. However, the passion for the job allows employees to overcome many of these obstacles.
Working in the veterinary industry has significant challenges. However, the passion for the job allows employees to overcome many of these obstacles.
Working in the veterinary industry has significant challenges. However, the passion for the job allows employees to overcome many of these obstacles.
Despite this passion, staff turnover continues to be a huge problem for the practice owners.
It has been shown to be the biggest expense to the veterinary clinic (Pownall, 2018). An even more surprising point of note is that the highest percentage of personnel turnover is not actually from the veterinarians themselves but from other staff members (Zimlich, 2008).
Despite this passion, staff turnover continues to be a huge problem for the practice owners.
It has been shown to be the biggest expense to the veterinary clinic (Pownall, 2018). An even more surprising point of note is that the highest percentage of personnel turnover is not actually from the veterinarians themselves but from other staff members (Zimlich, 2008).
There are of course many reasons why an employee might not be happy in their current role. Something that I have used previously that has enabled me to overcome anxiety and stress is “If you’re worried about a situation, then write everything down you’re worried about, then cross out the things you can’t control and deal with the things you can (Niilo, 2022).” The clinical environment plays a huge part in staff demeanor. Some parts of the clinic can of course not be altered but new equipment such as cages, examination tables can make a big difference for everyday tasks.
I remember working in an old clinic and always hitting my head on a particular shelf corner.
Of course, management would say “we have big plans to renovate the clinic soon!” Soon was unfortunately too late for myself and many other staff members. Working in a clinic is a very physically demanding job and therefore a staff member who is injured cannot work to their full ability. New equipment definitely decreases the percentage of possible injuries in a workplace and makes the workplace feel safer (Gerneral Kinetics,n.d.).
For example, an examination table that folds down to avoid picking up heavy dogs can save a lot of back problems. I know a lot of veterinarians who avoid placing large dogs on examinations tables and therefore examine them on the floor which also places a lot of strain on their backs.
With covid hitting the world we have been forced to focus so much staff time on clinical cleaning.
This of course means the employees have less time to complete other tasks. Stainless steel examination tables and cages are proven to be the easiest to clean and maintain which decreases the spread of virus between employees and patients too. For example, the bio-security that Veterinov offer with all their products helps decrease the spread of virus such as Parvo and are easy to clean and maintain which allows staff to get the job done quickly but still efficiently (Veterinov, n.d).
Also, by investing in new equipment, less money is spent maintaining or fixing old tables or cage doors that just don’t close properly. All these might seem like minor problems to a big clinic but these minor problems do add up which equals less staff time to help with patients and client care. We all know the phrase “time is money,” however in a clinic time is not just about money. The feeling of not being able to complete a task because of poor equipment can be extremely frustrating and it might be the last straw for that person to seek employment elsewhere.
With covid hitting the world we have been forced to focus so much staff time on clinical cleaning.
This of course means the employees have less time to complete other tasks. Stainless steel examination tables and cages are proven to be the easiest to clean and maintain which decreases the spread of virus between employees and patients too. For example, the bio-security that Veterinov offer with all their products helps decrease the spread of virus such as Parvo and are easy to clean and maintain which allows staff to get the job done quickly but still efficiently (Veterinov, n.d).
Also, by investing in new equipment, less money is spent maintaining or fixing old tables or cage doors that just don’t close properly. All these might seem like minor problems to a big clinic but these minor problems do add up which equals less staff time to help with patients and client care. We all know the phrase “time is money,” however in a clinic time is not just about money. The feeling of not being able to complete a task because of poor equipment can be extremely frustrating and it might be the last straw for that person to seek employment elsewhere.
With covid hitting the world we have been forced to focus so much staff time on clinical cleaning.
This of course means the employees have less time to complete other tasks. Stainless steel examination tables and cages are proven to be the easiest to clean and maintain which decreases the spread of virus between employees and patients too. For example, the bio-security that Veterinov offer with all their products helps decrease the spread of virus such as Parvo and are easy to clean and maintain which allows staff to get the job done quickly but still efficiently (Veterinov, n.d).
Also, by investing in new equipment, less money is spent maintaining or fixing old tables or cage doors that just don’t close properly. All these might seem like minor problems to a big clinic but these minor problems do add up which equals less staff time to help with patients and client care. We all know the phrase “time is money,” however in a clinic time is not just about money. The feeling of not being able to complete a task because of poor equipment can be extremely frustrating and it might be the last straw for that person to seek employment elsewhere.
I’ve left this point as the last to discuss in this article because I find it is the most important, mental health.
We have seen so many movements lately about the importance of mental health in the veterinary industry. Increased morality is so difficult in a workplace especially when socializing is limited because of covid. Investing in new equipment might seem shallow but it has been shown to boost morale and overall work ethic (Interiors, 2020).
There need to be more support groups for mental health and more veterinarians need to discuss the hardship of the business. However, when discussing staff turnover, a new cage setup might be exactly what keeps your staff happy and help them stay working for the clinic.
I’ve left this point as the last to discuss in this article because I find it is the most important, mental health.
We have seen so many movements lately about the importance of mental health in the veterinary industry. Increased morality is so difficult in a workplace especially when socializing is limited because of covid. Investing in new equipment might seem shallow but it has been shown to boost morale and overall work ethic (Interiors, 2020).
There need to be more support groups for mental health and more veterinarians need to discuss the hardship of the business. However, when discussing staff turnover, a new cage setup might be exactly what keeps your staff happy and help them stay working for the clinic.
I’ve left this point as the last to discuss in this article because I find it is the most important, mental health.
We have seen so many movements lately about the importance of mental health in the veterinary industry. Increased morality is so difficult in a workplace especially when socializing is limited because of covid. Investing in new equipment might seem shallow but it has been shown to boost morale and overall work ethic (Interiors, 2020).
There need to be more support groups for mental health and more veterinarians need to discuss the hardship of the business. However, when discussing staff turnover, a new cage setup might be exactly what keeps your staff happy and help them stay working for the clinic.
Making your clinic a desirable place to work is an overall investment not just for the clinic but for all the employees too.
Staff turnover does not only mean losing an important part of the clinic but it’s also the financial burden to retrain someone new.
Get ahead of the turnover by asking the questions to your staff? What do they want/need? Are they happy?
Making your clinic a desirable place to work is an overall investment not just for the clinic but for all the employees too.
Staff turnover does not only mean losing an important part of the clinic but it’s also the financial burden to retrain someone new.
Get ahead of the turnover by asking the questions to your staff? What do they want/need? Are they happy?
Making your clinic a desirable place to work is an overall investment not just for the clinic but for all the employees too.
Staff turnover does not only mean losing an important part of the clinic but it’s also the financial burden to retrain someone new.
Get ahead of the turnover by asking the questions to your staff? What do they want/need? Are they happy?
Remember: focus on the problems you can control and not on what you cannot.
References:
1. Rebecca Rose, R.R. (2021) Does your practice have a turnover problem? Available at: https://www.aaha.org/publications/newstat/articles/2021-04/does-your-practice-have-a-turnover-problem/
2. Rachael Zimlich, R.Z.(2008) Tackling turnover. Available at: https://www.dvm360.com/view/tackling-turnover
3. Mike Pownall DVM MBA, M.P. (2018) The High Cost of Employee Turnover in a Veterinary Clinic. Available at: http://www.veterinarybusinessmatters.com/2018/07/19/the-high-cost-of-employee-turnover-veterinary-clinic/
4. Karl Niilo (2022). 30 Second Trick For STRONGER Mentality.(Jan 2022) Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YI3mZancFE8 (Accessed on Dec 2021).
5. Veterinov (n.d) Kennel Run. Available at: https://veterinov.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Kennel_veterinov_brochurePromo21_EN_1.pdf
6. General Kinetics (n.d.) How safer equipment reduces employee turnover. Available at: https://www.generalkinematics.com/blog/how-safer-equipment-reduces-employee-turnover/
7. Key Interiors (2020). How an office renovation boosts employee morale. https://www.keyinteriors.us/blog/how-an-office-renovation-boosts-employee-morale/
Digital References:
photo by Marissa-Grootes – Unsplash
2022 – Article by
Catherine Siouffi-Pearce
Animal Health Consultant
