Nine out of 10 dentists who are looking to hire reported it has been “extremely” or “very” challenging to recruit dental hygienists and assistants in the past year, according to a November 2021 American Dental Association poll.
The California Dental Association released a Feb. 2 article with potential solutions to help alleviate the problem.
Below are 10 tips from the CDA to overcome staffing shortages:
- Provide additional employment benefits such as starting bonuses or extra vacation days to make offers stand out.
- Expand recruitment methods by developing relationships with schools and using social media.
- Provide growth opportunities for current employees.
- Celebrate the small wins to make sure employees feel valued.
- Prioritize diversity and inclusion to foster a welcoming environment.
- Offer referral bonuses to encourage current employees.
- Consider flexible scheduling.
- Communicate the expectations of the role clearly.
- Utilize performance evaluations.
- Evaluate the open position’s compensation.
