Twenty-five per cent of vets revealed they are working in excess of 60 hours a week, according to a new survey. Nearly half of respondents said they work more than 50 hours a week.
This year, the top priority of vets is to have a better work/life balance, which replaced last year’s biggest aspiration of having a bigger salary and may have been a result of the pandemic. A majority of practices said they planned to take on additional vets and nurses over the coming year as staffing issues are the top challenge facing veterinary practices.
The research, undertaken by accounting and advisory firm HLB Sheehan Quinn, found that those working the longest hours are sole traders and practice owners. This year’s study is the fourth annual report on veterinary practices throughout Ireland.
Despite working long hours, 71 per cent of respondents said they were happy with their career choice. Only 10 per cent of vets said they are unsatisfied with their career choice and levels on job satisfaction had grown 13 per cent compared to the previous year.
More than two-thirds of respondents earn more than €50,000 a year with the highest earners male practice owners.
New pet owners and people working from home having more time to interact with their pets during the lockdown, contributed to an increased turnover for nearly half of the vets surveyed in 2020.
LSL News.