What do employers, employees want? Communication and relationships
An Aug. 3 panel at AVMA Convention 2019 in Washington, D.C., turned into a spirited discussion with the audience about relationships between employers and employees.
Dr. Pat Wohlferth-Bethke, AVMA assistant director of veterinary career services, moderated the two-hour session "Employment Value: What Candidates and Employers Want From Each Other." To be successful, she said, the employment value proposition must allow everyone to achieve his or her goals. She invited panelists to share thoughts.
Dr. Sandra Faeh, a part owner of four small animal clinics in the Chicago suburbs, said communication is the biggest key. She said employers need to be upfront with what they expect and vice versa.
Dr. Aaron Smiley, chief of staff at two small animal practices in central Indiana, said work is not just business; it's very personal. He said it's important to forge good relationships with healthy boundaries.
It's all about attitude for Dr. Irving McConnell, CEO of a biomedical and health sciences company. He wants employees to bring excitement to the company and become part of the family.
Dr. Maggie Canning, a relief veterinarian in Philadelphia, was raised by two small-business owners, so she understood early on to think about the needs of the business. She also agreed that two-way communication is important.
Dr. Maureen Hall, a relief veterinarian in Illinois, shows up ready to work and tries to practice the highest-quality medicine she can. She said the No. 1 issue for unhappy employees is communication. They don't feel they are heard, or they don't ever get asked, or they don't reach out to the employer.
Peter Ellis, a veterinary student at the University of California-Davis, said there are minimum tangible requirements in any employment situation. A veterinarian has to produce at a level that allows the practice to survive financially. The intangible ways to add value are building relationships with clients and contributing to the practice culture.
Dr. Jeremy Keen, a small animal practitioner in Tennessee, is transitioning into ownership. He believes the worst thing to do is to become complacent in practice.
The panelists and audience discussed issues such as lack of confidence in new graduates, a need for veterinarians to learn about the business side of medicine, work-life balance, utilization of support staff, the importance of feedback, and accommodating differences in communication styles.
Audience members then met in small groups to discuss what employees would like to see from employers and what employers expect from employees.
The discussion between the panelists and audience then resumed, turning to topics such as a desire for career advancement, participation in business planning, various interviewing processes, scoping out employers, the hot job market, salary negotiations, educational debt, teamwork, mentorship, and weathering the next economic downturn.
Related JAVMA content:
Hiring crunch (April 1, 2019)
Turn to the AVMA for hiring resources (April 1, 2019)