High employee turnover rates result in more time and energy spent hiring and training new employees. It creates an unwelcoming work environment and could be a symptom of a larger problem.

Knowing how to improve employee retention can transform your dental practice. Another way to maintain employees is through proper dental staff training. Training is the time to set expectations early on.

Nine Ways To Improve Employee Retention

When employee retention is low, there may be several issues at play. 

So, how do you know how to improve employee retention if everyone has different needs? There are still basic ways to improve employee retention. 

1. Improve Your Benefits

A decent salary isn’t always enough. Look at the benefits you’re offering your employees and look for areas with room for improvement. 

Don’t stop at the basics of health insurance, paid holidays, and retirement plans. Your employees can go to most other employers and find the same thing. To improve employee retention, you need to offer something different. 

Consider more flexibility in hours or work-from-home opportunities. Flexible work shows an interest in your employees’ work-life balance while improving office morale.

2. Always Practice Clear Communication

You undoubtedly expect clear communication from your employees, so you must set the tone by modeling it. Setting a precedent will also help new employees adjust to your practice’s work culture.

Giving specific timelines, providing an employee handbook, and having regular meetings can also help improve office communication. Remain open to questions, as employees should feel comfortable coming to you if something isn’t clear. 

3. Establish a Sense of Community

Most employees spend at least 40 hours a week in your office. They are much more likely to enjoy this time if there is a sense of community and camaraderie among staff.

Holding team-building activities, encouraging collaboration, and setting conflict resolution protocols are all strategies for improving office culture.

4. Provide Opportunities for Growth and Education

Investing in your employees’ education shows you care about their growth and careers. Offering payment for continuing education through certifications or graduate programs is a great way to support growth. 

You may also provide in-office growth opportunities. Offer frequent feedback, training to learn new skills, and opportunities to take on new responsibilities.

5. Keep an Organized Office

No one wants to work in chaos. While you can’t control every problem that may arise in your dental practice, you can at least ensure your employees are in a clean, organized environment. A cluttered workspace causes unnecessary stress and confusion.

Express your expectations of office cleanliness to your housekeeping staff. Your employees and patients will appreciate the effort.

6. Hold Yourself Accountable

There’s nothing worse than a boss who believes they’re above the rules. Communicating your expectations for employees is important, but it’s also essential that you lead by example. 

If you expect your employees to be on time for meetings, ensure you’re also on time. Not only does this model behavior for your employees, but it also shows that you have respect for them.

7. Involve Your Team in Decision Making

Your employees want to have a say in your practice. Talking about your goals and vision as a team makes them much more attainable. Making clear action plans, utilizing time-management techniques, and outlining goals together are all great ways to increase efficiency and retain employees.

8. Give Individualized Attention

It’s easy for staff problems to fall through the cracks, especially if you have a large team. Checking in with each of your employees regularly will help you identify any issues and brainstorm solutions together.

This individualized attention will help you gauge whether your employees need additional support. Catching problems early means you’re less likely to lose employees over them. 

9. Recognize Efforts

Some employees will leave if they don’t feel valued. Prevent employees from feeling like this by recognizing when they accomplish something big or small. Constructive feedback helps, but so does praise. Recognition will boost employees’ confidence and morale. 

Improve Employee Retention With Dental Intelligence

A strong team makes a strong dental practice. Employee retention is vital in building your perfect team, even in times of crisis. The dental Employee Retention Credit is available to dental practices that kept employees on their payroll during the 2020 and 2021 pandemic. 

Now that you know how to improve employee retention, learn about how you can continue boosting your team’s efficiency with Dental Intelligence. Dental Intelligence has a variety of software available to take your dental practice to the next level. Schedule a demo today to get started.