Printer Friendly Email Article

	Photo: Getty Images

With the economy like this, no one’s quitting their job—right? According to Gregory P. Smith, a business growth specialist, that’s the worst assumption any employer can make.

“It’s a big, fatal mistake a lot of companies are making right now,” Smith says. “A person may ‘quit’ three to six months before they actually turn in their resignation.”

Top 10 reasons people quit

Dental practices face some of the same pitfalls as other businesses, large and small, and primary reasons employees quit can include:

1. Mismatched ethics. Being forced to treat or charge a patient in a way that makes them uncomfortable or, on the flip side, having their ethics questioned.
   
   

2. Strained relationships. Whether with the employer or other staff members, disrespect, discord and delayed reconciliation make an otherwise great practice a nightmare to work for.
   
   

3. Uninspired. Pride in one’s work is only part of the equation. Feeling as though the employer is equally invested in trying new things and trusting staff to execute new protocols is part of what keeps the job interesting and rewarding.
   
   

4. Few opportunities to learn. Likewise, a commitment to continuing education and making that promise a reality is crucial to staff feeling valued and committed to you.
   
   

5. Unnecessary competition. Pitting departments against one another creates dissension among staff and disregard for the person in charge.
   
   

6. Salary and benefits. Conversations about raises, bonuses or other ways of recognizing work well-done are off the table or current numbers aren’t competitive with other practices in the area.
   
   

7. Hours. Too many or too few can be a deal-breaker for an employee with a family’s needs to consider.
   
   

8. Downward spiral. Losing patients, losing money, and employer seems uninterested in addressing problems or brainstorming solutions.
   
   

9. Commute. With gas prices up and salary flat, making long drives might not be worth it.
   
   

10. Poor communication. Whether it’s pay, protocol or Patty at the front desk, the employer didn’t create an environment in which employers recognized or asked about the needs and concerns of their staff.

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

1 of 2