Nearly two-thirds (65%) of respondents to a recent Women In Optometry Pop-up Poll said that they encourage staff members to follow learning and professional development opportunities. Four percent said that they offer monthly training to staff.
But nearly one-third of the respondents said this kind of training is not routinely available. Twenty-three percent said that they will provide those opportunities if the staff member asks, and eight percent said their practices do not offer these kinds of opportunities.
This particular poll drew a lot of responses from employees. Fifty-two percent of respondents said they were owners an eight percent said they were independent contractors. The remaining 40% were current or former employees.
In terms of showing appreciation for staff members, money seems to have the biggest appeal. Nearly 77% said that they offer salary increases, and 65% said they’ll provide bonuses or gift cards for jobs well done. Respondents could select more than one answer.
CALL OUT GOOD WORKS
The next most common way to acknowledge good work is through callouts at staff meetings (42%). That was followed by special tokens, such as additional perks like extra discounts on purchases or a nail salon visit or other fun event (27% each). Fifteen percent said lunch or coffee with the owner and 12% each said a recognition wall or employee of the month kind of honor were their choices for calling out special effort.
Eight percent of respondents said their offices provide no special recognition for employees.
“What has proven highly effective for us is empowering our para-staff through workshops designed to enhance their communication skills and help them speak more articulately. Staff members have shared that these trainings have positively impacted not only their work but also their personal lives, improving interactions with their spouses and children, especially when addressing conflicts or daily challenges,” says Diana Canto-Sims, OD, Buena Vista Optical in Chicago, Illinois.
An educator noted that individual or group awards selected for special staff recognition and voted on my faculty with public recognition at a campus-wide event was an effective way of highlighting excellent work.
Ninety-six percent of the respondents said they were female, with 73 percent being females ODs and another 23% who said they were nonOD females. Four percent said they were male ODs.
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Read other WO Pop-up Poll results here.
Featured photo: Getty Images, Cecilie_Arcurs
