Introduction
Chipping Stoneford Vets (CSV) is a company with a mixed veterinary practice located in England. In the past, the organization consisted of independent practices, but in recent years has merged its facilities, administrative systems, and expertise. The business is currently operating successfully, and CSV’s management plans to expand and diversify in the future. The COVID-19 pandemic and Brexit have resulted in a significant increase in the number of services that the company currently needs to provide. These circumstances led to an increase in the stress load on the staff and frequent absences of workers. Filling vacancies due to the new pandemic rules has also become a difficulty for businesses. Therefore, the morale of the organization’s team is greatly reduced by some workers actively looking for another job.
Reducing Staff Absence and Alleviating Work Pressure
CSV is experiencing difficulties with increased workload and shortage of staff, which also puts a lot of pressure on the company’s directors. First of all, to reduce the stress and absence of employees, it is necessary to create more comfortable conditions for daily practice. First of all, part-time workers should be transferred to full-time jobs if they wish, since the financial condition of the organization allows this to be done. It is also important to establish fixed working hours for each team member and increase the number of breaks during the working day. It is essential for managers to maintain a sense of common goals, individual value, and team spirit (Agarwal et al., 2019). Diez (2020) underlines that within small businesses, there is often no corporate culture that could simulate work engagement and productivity. In conditions of increased stress, it is important for the team to clearly articulate the current difficulties, as well as include employees in the decision-making process.
CSV needs to develop a problem-oriented strategy within which it is necessary to include each team member in the workflow. It is critical for the managers of an organization to create a sense of shared ownership of the ongoing work of the company. It is also important for directors to delegate tasks to subordinates, in particular administrators. This will relieve part of the working pressure from management to make more effective decisions. Additionally, nurses need to be empowered for more holistic practice assistance for veterinarians.
Recruiting New Team Members
The problem of recruiting new team members for CSV is currently more acute. Reducing the workload may provide an opportunity to develop skills and delegate more responsibilities to veterinary nurses. In particular, they can participate in training to improve their skills and take some of the responsibilities from the vets. However, this measure cannot fully solve the existing problem, so it is important for the organization to also pay attention to the hiring of part-time veterinarians or college recruiting. In particular, young veterinarians can act as a support for full-time workers to reduce the workload.
Conclusion
In conditions when hiring foreign specialists is impossible or limited, one should focus on the local market. In particular, it is important for the company to create competitive conditions that could be attractive to candidates. The effects of the pandemic and Brexit have affected the industry as a whole, which is why companies should offer candidates higher wages. So the organization will be able to lure specialists from competitors, as well as increase the morale of already working veterinarians. This step is associated with increased costs, but in the long run, it can become the basis for the survival of the business in the new conditions.
References
Agarwal, B., Brooks, S. K., & Greenberg, N. (2019). The role of peer support in managing occupational stress: A qualitative study of the sustaining resilience at work intervention.Workplace Health & Safety, 68(2), 57-64. Web.
Diez, E. (2020). Managing a veterinary practice: A guide to organizational culture in veterinary practice. International Journal of Applied Research in Business and Management, 1(1), 18-26. Web.