7 Thoughtful Ways to Thank Your Veterinary Staff | Independent Veterinary Practitioners Association

Veterinarians, it is easy to take your staff for granted. You’re always busy taking care of animals and may not have much time left over to show your staff how much they mean to you.

But this year, make some changes!

Here are 7 ways veterinarians can thank their staff and create an environment where everyone feels appreciated.

Thoughtful Ways to Thanks to Your Veterinary Staff

Send Handwritten Notes of Encouragement With Thoughtful Words About Their Contributions.

Thanking your staff is not just a nice gesture. It’s an opportunity to show each member what a difference their work means to you.

A good way of doing that is by sending handwritten notes with specifics about why you appreciate each person on your team. Everyone will feel you acknowledge the hard work they do!

Buy Them a Small Gift or Gift Card From Their Favorite Store.

If you know your staff well (and we hope you do), you’ll have an idea of what they might like. Buying your team members a gift card is an excellent way to say thank you.

If the staff member has mentioned something in particular, take the time to find that item online and purchase it as soon as possible (as long as you aren’t overdoing it).

You can also get great gift ideas by looking through their social media. You’ll find what they like and what cheers them up on a bad day.

Take Time to Say Thank You in Person and Give Praise Publicly When Deserved.

Sometimes just saying thank you is enough. But it’s good to remember that some staff members may not feel comfortable approaching their boss to receive praise. If you think this is the case, consider writing a note of appreciation. Better yet, acknowledge their accomplishments in front of their peers.

Let Them Take the Day Off if They’ve Been Working a Lot Lately and Need Some Time to Themselves.

Some staff members may suffer from long work hours without getting days in between. Let them have time to rest and recharge so they can be at their best.

We promise this is one of the best ways to show your vet staff how much you appreciate all they do!

Who doesn’t love a day off?

Take the Time to Get to Know Your Employees on a More Personal Level – Ask Them About Their Hobbies or Family.

It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day of running a veterinary practice. It’s even easier to forget that your staff is human too. You might be surprised what they do when not at work!

Asking about their hobbies will go miles for improving morale on both ends. It may seem like it won’t make much difference – but try thinking back to when you felt appreciated by your boss; how did those interactions make you feel?

Asking about their lives will really have an impact!

Share With Your Staff Any New Information You’ve Learned From Conferences You’ve Attended.

Your staff undoubtedly contains passionate, caring people who love animals. And more than likely, they plan to become veterinarians themselves.

If you’ve recently learned something new from a conference or event, share it with your staff as soon as possible. Not only will they appreciate it immensely, but what you teach them may someday end up saving the life of an animal in need!

Send Thank-You Cards After a Successful Surgery.

Thank-you cards are a classic way to show your appreciation for a job well done. When you and your vet staff have successfully completed a surgery without complication, send them thank-you cards.

This will be one of the most appreciated ways that you can say “thank you,” and it’ll encourage them to continue to work hard!

Conclusion

Your vet staff is an essential part of your practice. They help you take care of animals and provide you with needed information about them. If you want to thank them for all their hard work, we have a few unique suggestions on how to do it!

Take time to say thanks in person, give praise publicly when deserved, let them take days off, get to know your employees on a more personal level, and share any knowledge learned from conferences. These will also go a long way towards showing your staff your appreciation.

These 7 thoughtful ways to thank your veterinary staff are by no means the only way. What other creative, heartfelt things have you done for your team? Let us know in the comments below, and we’ll be happy to share them with our readers!

Also, if you’re looking to find meaning in your work, the IVPA is here for you. We are a community of veterinarians who want to help small and private practices thrive. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out!