Results for Anger in the Veterinary Workplace!

Thanks to everyone who helped out with the Anger in the Veterinary Workplace survey.  The results are still coming in.  The topic is clearly a volatile one with over 80 respondents thus far (if you’d still like to weigh in, go to this link).

As a way of leavening the raw data, I consulted with attorney Matthew Blit of New York City’s top labor-law firm, Levine and Blit.  I also got extraordinary input from Dr. Joel Mausner, an industrial psychologist also working in New York City who has extensive experience on the subject.  As soon as I’ve completed putting together their full responses, I’ll post them as well.  I’m sure you’ll find what they had to say fascinating.  In the mean time, I’m posting the raw data below. 

One last request…since anger and conflict often go hand-in-hand, how do you feel about answering a few more questions on interpersonal office conflict?  Only 7 questions.  Very short, very easy.  Click here. 

Results of Anger in the Veterinary Workplace:

1. Have you ever yelled at or loudly admonished an employee in front of his or her peers?

Yes  28.1%

No   71.9%

2. Have you ever raised your voice and been visibly angry with an employee behind closed doors?

Yes   51.6%

No    48.4%

3. Have there been times when you were justified in losing your temper at work?

Yes   45.3%

No    54.7%

4. What are your thoughts on the repercussions of temper outbursts at your work place?

They are serious                                                             65.6%

They blow over in a few days                                        10.9%

They blow over in a few weeks                                       3%

Sometimes, it’s the only way to get through to people 6.3%

Other  14.2%

8. Some would argue that the work conditions in veterinary practices lead to a more volatile atmosphere.  Do believe that is true?  

Absolutely 12.5%

That may be true 46.9%

I’m unsure 12.5%

That’s probably not true 23.4%

Other 4.7%

Still feel like doing the conflict survey?  Only take you two minutes tops.  Once again, here’s the link.  Thank you for you help in getting this data together!

Paid Doctor Production for the 'New Normal' in Veterinary Economics

Paid doctor production is a way of remunerating doctors based on their gross sales.  Typically a doctor is paid a base salary (ideally 20% of their projected annual sales) and receives an additional 20% bonus on all sales that exceed their annual goal.  These additional payments may be broken down monthly, quarterly, or paid out at the end of the year.  Production deficits may be carried over to the next period or may be wiped clean after an accounting term depending on the practice.  Vacations, maternity leave, unexpected slumps in business, and associate rivalry have all bedeviled the success and perceived fairness of the system.   Production-based pay works extremely well for some practices and is a cause for rancor in others.

Regardless of your practice’s past level of success with paid production, it’s likely you’ll need to rethink your position very soon. As we price more competitively and invest in new services and team training, the old rules are simple not practical and I would argue, unrealistic.

Begin 2012 with a review of your practice’s margin on production-based services and products, then discuss your findings with your veterinary team.  Including everyone in the discussion will improve buy-in.  Keeping the conversation about margin, rather than a doctor’s level of involvement with a service or sale of a product, will keep egos at bay.

Consider pulling production-pay on products that are competitively priced like flea, heartworm or non-steroidal medications.  If spays and neuters are priced as loss-leaders, perhaps production pay on these services could be reduced rather than fully eliminated.  Again, you have everything to gain by allowing the whole practice team to participate in the discussion.  A meeting like this may be just the spark you have been looking for to ignite a hospital-wide understanding of today’s veterinary business challenges and what every team member can do to improve the likelihood of success.

For a full list of recommended doctor production rules click here and follow the hyperlink to Veterinary Paid-Production Rules.

Anger in the Veterinary Workplace

Anger in the Veterinary Workplace.  Hey all, I'm putting together an article and a presentation on some of our 'blow up' experiences in the workplace.  Would you like your thoughts to go on record?  Please take ONE MINUTE (swear that's all it takes) to add your ANONYMOUS thoughts to this 'hot' topic.