Helpful Tips on Retaining Staff After the Transition

​By Corey Young, DDS, MBA, ABI and Jen Bennett, OMNI Practice Group

Congratulations! You just achieved a major professional milestone in completing the purchase of your new practice.
There are many tasks that will require your immediate attention after closing, but one often overlooked item that is crucial to your transition is ensuring you retain the staff.
Here are some helpful tips for you to consider:
The first thing you will want to do is a formal “meet and greet.” I highly recommend that you meet your new employees within two days of the seller notifying the staff. This will help ease their anxiety about who the new boss is and give you an opportunity to personally remind them that they are an asset to the practice. It is also always a nice touch to schedule the introduction during lunch hour and as a kind gesture, to bring lunch for all. Be sure to check with the seller on any dietary restrictions, food allergies, and favorite restaurants.
Next, your new staff will be worried that you will be making changes that may negatively impact their lives such as pay, benefits, work hours, scheduled time off, etc. Make it a top priority to understand their concerns and to assure them that you will carefully evaluate all potential changes before making any decisions. While things might not be run exactly how you want them to be, be sure to weigh the consequences of losing a key staff member because of a decision you might make. Sometimes it is better to leave things intact while you get yourself established with the staff and with your new patients before you implement your desired changes.
Finally, you will be busy but find time to make a personal connection. Set aside one-on-one time with each staff member, get to know them, what they care about, and why they got into veterinary practice. Establishing a relationship early on will pay dividends down the road as your new patients will certainly be asking their trusted veterinary technician, assistant, or office staff member, “What do you think about the new guy/gal?” The goal is to not only retain your staff but to retain patients as well. Having staff in your corner is critical to your long-term success.