I just don’t understand it.
With the compassion fatigue, burnout and suicide rates of veterinarians, why doesn’t the USA like giving their staff time off?
We have a very mentally taxing, physically taxing for some and especially an emotionally taxing profession.
You need time off!
Here in Australia, full time employees are entitled to 4 weeks paid holidays, 1 weeks conference leave, 10 days sick or carers leave available and there are 10 public holidays (called bank holidays in the UK). I’m sure anyone from the USA reading this is thinking, you have go to be kidding me!
In the US as I understand it, it’s up to your employer. Most seem to give 1-2 weeks holidays after a certain time.
I know when I worked full time and even now that I’m part time, I needed at least 2 weeks to wind down and stop thinking of work. To go on holiday and do all those things I never had time for. (Now that I have children, it’s very important that they have 2 weeks where they aren’t in before and after school care or vacation care. They need a break too!)
After my holidays, I came back to work refreshed and ready. I was refreshed mentally.
I just don’t get the US model and I totally disagree with it. Once you start to get fatigued whether its mentally or physically, your capacity to cope with challenges reduces. Your empathy is reduced. You become less caring. You can’t handle the frenetic days as best as you previously could.
Veterinarians are expected to do so much more now. It’s not about diagnosing and treating animals. Now you are expected to build your rapport and relationships with clients. You may have KPI’s for consultations, revisits, number of procedures booked + more.
Plus I’m sure since the GFC, veterinarians in practice are expected now to do more with less. Less support staff. So the pressure is increased.
For the introverts among us, you need a break and time away from clients to reset usually every day.
I know I can’t do the 10 hour frenetic days anymore where you don’t get time to eat and a bathroom break is done at a run. I don’t want to do that anymore either.
I want to spend time with my clients. I want to be able to sit and think about cases. I can’t do that if I’m exhausted or when the tank is low.
So when it comes time to negotiate your salary and conditions, consider negotiating for more time off. If you have a family, they will thank you for it.
Natasha
I completely agree. However, it’s not just veterinary medicine, that’s how almost all US businesses function – the idea that you would take that much time off does often give the perception that you are less serious and dedicated to your work which can have serious negative consequences. Not saying it’s right, but it’s true.
Honestly, since many vets in the states are on base + compensation, we don’t actually even technically get paid time off. If you take off it will likely decrease the revenue you bring in and thus decrease your overall compensation.
To make matters worse, with the veterinary debt situation being what it is – many might not be able to afford to get that much time away from home – either in terms of lost income or being able to pay for a vacation.
None of these is a valid excuse for not preserving your sanity, but those are some of the factors that work against US vets taking the time they really need for themselves.