COMP NEWS – Nearly one in four veterinary team members leave their current role each year, prompting discussions among animal care organizations about how to retain key talent year after year.
The average annual turnover rate among veterinary team members is 23% and increasing each year, Garth Jordan, CEO of the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), told AVMA News.
It’s no wonder, then, that retention has become a critical topic for veterinary practices, as reducing employee turnover benefits employers and employees alike. Not only is it more cost-effective to retain current employees than to recruit new ones, but also by investing in employee retention, practices can create a more positive work environment that encourages valuable talent to stay.
To improve employee retention in veterinary practices, managers must understand the primary drivers of both attrition and retention, Jordan said.
In a recent survey, 30% of respondents noted that they intended to leave their current role within the next year.
More than 133,000 email invitations for the survey were sent between March 10 to March 30, 2023. The survey gathered responses from more than 14,000 individuals working in various roles within small animal practice, a 10.8% response rate. Roles included veterinarians as well as credentialed veterinary technicians, practice managers, customer service representatives, and veterinary assistants.
Those in clinical practice were asked if they planned to stay or leave and why. Respondents also were asked to give the top three factors for why they are staying in clinical practice. Those who had left clinical practice, about 2,000 of the respondents, were asked if they would consider returning or not and why. The results are as follows:
- Thirty percent of surveyed veterinary professionals currently in clinical practice say they plan to leave their current position within the next year.
- Fifteen percent of surveyed veterinary professionals say they plan move out of clinical practice within the next year.
- Nine out of 10 of the 15% who say they plan to move out of clinical practice within the next year say they wouldn’t anticipate returning to clinical practice once they leave.
To read more about the study, click here.
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