Flexible working means different things to different people but there is no doubt that it is a hot topic in the veterinary profession at the moment. As all levels of the profession strive to find solutions to the workforce shortages, embracing flexible working features high up the agenda.
Why do we want flexible working?
In a recent survey1 44 percent of veterinary surgeons said they would like to work more flexibly. While traditionally, flexible working has been the preserve of those with caring responsibilities, the same study revealed that having more time for leisure activities was actually the most common reason for wanting a more flexible approach to the working week. Having time for caring for others, including childcare came third after lifestyle needs.
With nearly half the profession looking for more flexible veterinary job roles, finding new systems of working, and new approaches to filling the rota has never been more important. Maybe flexible working needs to become, if not the new normal, then at the very least a key player.
Flexible vet work – just part time?
For years, when the term ‘flexible working’ was used, it usually referred to a part time vet job role, with set hours. However times are changing and as well as part time hours, it may mean:
· Flexible start and finish times
· Flexitime, often with vets or vet nurses working core hours and additional hours on a flexi basis
· Job shares
· Staggered shifts
· Compressed hours, with full-time hours worked over fewer days
Of course, while work-life balance and time off is important, flexible working can also be applied to the duties expected of an employee. Whether you are looking for a high caseload of surgical cases, a predominance of feline patients, or a consult-only position, roles tailored to the individual are starting to become more widely available.
Top 5 benefits of flexible working in veterinary practice
Flexible working needs to work for individuals, but also other team members, employers and the practice as a whole. So how does flexible working benefit employees? And does flexible working benefit employers?
· Attracting talented vets and RVNs
Advertising a role as flexible, helps to ensure that interest is attracted from as wide a pool of candidates as possible, and ultimately helps find the best person for the job.
· Improved staff engagement
Staff with flexible working options are more likely to have better engagement, tend to be more productive and are more likely to recommend their veterinary practice as a great place to work.
· Improved job satisfaction
Studies in other industries, have shown that employees offered flexible hours have higher levels of job satisfaction and are more likely to put in additional discretionary effort
· Reduced staff absenteeism
With improved work-life balance, and more time to manage other responsibilities, flexible working helps to support mental health and reduce stress. The end result is fewer days off which benefits everyone.
· Improved staff retention and loyalty
Offering flexible working hours can reduce staff turnover by as much as 87 percent.2
Putting flexible working into practice
The benefits of flexible working are clear to see, but much of the evidence comes from other lines of work. Is flexible working really possible in a profession where the very nature of the job means that workflow can be unpredictable?
While in the not too distant past, the answer to this would more than likely have been a firm ‘no’, there has been a shift in mindset. So what has triggered this change in view? The COVID pandemic definitely played its part, when practices up and down the country had to find new ways of working. Add to that the current challenges of recruiting, and discussions about flexible working have come to the fore.
How can you make flexibility work in veterinary practice?
Lack of perceived fairness is one of the biggest barriers to adopting flexible working in veterinary practice.3 Complete transparency and accurate recording of hours worked can help to overcome this and ensure that flexibility works for all. More than this, flexible working can help reduce staff absence and improve retention, and when it comes to recruitment can make a job opportunity more appealing to candidates. In the long run, flexible working can benefit all.
Communication is key, from transparent decision-making, through to thorough clinical notes, and proper hand-over of ongoing cases at the end of a shift. A bit of give and take on both sides also goes a long way. For example, vets who work part-time hours, may be happy to cover additional shifts on an ad hoc basis. Or those on flexi-time may be able to adjust their hours to cover busier times.
How do I find a vet job with flexible hours?
So finding that dream vet job, that allows you time to drop your children off at school, join the local running club, or just bring the right work-life balance to your life, is no longer as difficult as it once seemed.
Vet job adverts offering flexibility are increasingly common. However, one of the benefits of using JHP Recruitment to help in your search, is that we often have access to veterinary job opportunities that are not publicly advertised. Add to that, the time that we invest in not only getting to know candidates, but also vet practices and employers, and we can help match you to the opportunities that best meet your requirements.
There is no quick fix to veterinary workforce shortages, but one factor that is not in doubt, is that improving retention is critical. As happier vets with better work-life balance are more likely to stay in the profession, embracing flexible working has to be part of the solution.
To find your dream job, get in touch today: [email protected]
References
1. BVA (2021) Voice of the profession survey
2. Institute for Employment Studies & The Work Foundation (2018) People and the bottom line: https://www. employment-studies.co.uk/system/files/resources/files/448.pdf
3. Flexee Report (2020)