Veterinary Burnout on the Rise: How can Locum Insurance support?

According to a recent survey, 48% of UK veterinary professionals have considered leaving their career and 75% of UK veterinary professionals have been made absent by work-related mental health issues (1). Tired, stretched and stressed, veterinary workforce statistics suggest that burnout is on the rise and potentially leading to a shortage within the sector.  This leaves veterinary practice managers strained with little physical resource from staff members and financial concerns due to unforeseen absence of valuable employees.

Here’s why a Veterinary Locum Insurance policy might be the safety net you’re missing…

 Physical Support

Each staff member within your practice plays a valuable role when it comes to the day-to-day operations. Partnered with an increase in regulatory requirements (2), even just one staff member absence can cause a physically demanding toll on the practice.

Hiring a Locum, who is able to temporarily fill the position of a permanent vet, could minimise the physical demand of an absent employee.  In turn, this could also lessen the chance of any further employees taking absence. If a locum is able to fill in for the demand of a missing employee, it should promote a year round sustainable work load for staff.

Financial Support

Here at Lloyd & Whyte, we are proud to offer a Locum Insurance Policy that is provided on a benefit basis and not an indemnified policy. This means that in the event of a claim you would not be required to provide evidence of the financial loss caused by the unexpected absence of an employee.

A Locum Policy which is provided on a benefit basis can offer flexibility, you and an insurance adviser are able to arrange a weekly agreed sum that you receive in the event of a successful claim. Although the name ‘Locum Insurance’ implies that any claim payout would need to be used to hire a locum; as we require no proof of expenses, any payout from a successful claim can be spent on resources that provides the best support to the practice as you deem fit.

For instance, the benefit can be used to pay for providing overtime to current staff, or just simply keeping the lights on.

Emotional Support

The benefits of a Locum policy are not limited to supporting the practice both physically and financially. As suggested in the recent study (1), work-related mental health absences are significantly high – currently sitting at 75% in the last year alone. Whilst practices should review preventative measures for these absences, it is just as important to review how the practice responds. A Locum policy may be able to do both.

Providing your practice with a group wide policy may ease the minds of your staff in regard to taking leave, knowing that the practice will remain sufficiently covered. From a managerial point of view, preparation for unforeseen staff absences can lessen the impact on your team and practice.

Following the recent statistics, a Locum policy quotation or review is worth considering. Other than providing physical, financial and emotional support in the event of any absent staff members, further guidance surrounding business interruption can be discussed with one of our friendly specialist insurance advisers.