The good news for veterinary team morale is that practices are paying more attention to “soft skills” when it comes to measuring success, which in turn lifts morale.
“In general, people are starting to look at soft skills and finding ways to measure communication, staff and client relations, medical record-keeping, compliance with OSHA protocols, professional appearance, [and] professional demeanor,” said Charlotte Lacroix, DVM, JD, of Veterinary Business Advisors.1
Practices are also raising pay: The median hourly wage for credentialed and non-credentialed veterinary technicians has increased in the last 2 years, a Veterinary Hospital Managers Association (VHMA) survey showed.2,3 “I talk to more and more veterinarians who wish to help their employees make a career out of working for a veterinary hospital, which is a wonderful plan,” said Leslie A. Mamalis, MBA, MSIT, CVA, of Summit Veterinary Advisors.4
Related Article: The Sky's the Limit: Career Planning for Veterinary Technicians