What Do Associates Want? Fewer Hours And Higher Pay
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- Published: Friday, 11 August 2023 10:32
- Written by Guy Tuggle
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A majority of dental associates only want to work part time and for increased remuneration according to a new survey which charts the challenging dynamics of the associate dentist recruitment market.
MediCruit, a division off Henry Schein, has extensive knowledge of the dental industry and brands itself as the ‘UK’s largest dental jobs agency’. Its Recruitment Insights Report 2023 studied ‘Associates, EU Dentists and Non-EU Dentists’ requirements when searching for a job.’
Preferred Hours
Only 12% of respondents wished to work full time, although this was up from 6% last year. 52% want to work part time and of these 39% only want to work one day a week, 37% two days whilst 25% of the 52% opted for three days.
Monday to Friday are the preferred days although 22% of dentists would be willing to work on Saturdays.
That such a high percentage of dentists only want to work part time to some extent reflects the growing number of female clinicians who juggle work with family commitments.
But added to the disclosure that only 12% of respondents said they were willing to work ‘full time’, a spotlight is thrown on whether dentistry has become such a stressful career that a majority of clinicians simply can’t face spending five day a week, month in, month out, delivering the service.
Location, Location, Location…
Associate dentists are keen to work close to home. 38% said they will only travel up to 10 miles, 17% would travel 11-15 miles and 20% would commute 16-20 miles. This will come as no surprise to dental practices struggling to recruit in remote locations.
Show Me The Money!
There has been a 136% increase in Associates seeking £450 a day or above compared to 2022. 45% of Associates now seek £450+ and 34% are looking for at least £400 a day.
Highly worrying for practice owners recruiting to fulfil NHS contracts, 62% of Associates are seeking ‘private only’ work or above £12.50 per UDA compared to 49% in 2022.
UDA targets too are increasingly off-putting. The 2023 survey suggest that 54% of Associates are looking for a target of between 2000 – 3000 UDAs, a 24% increase from 2022’s figure of 30%.
Only 15% of Associates are up for 6000 or more UDAs.
EU and Foreign Dentist Requirements
In our next report on the survey, GDPUK will analyse the results from EU and foreign dentists. Teaser alert - they’re up for longer hours and less pay.
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