HR Dental: A Complete Guide for Employers

For a dental practice to be successful, it relies heavily on its staff – particularly, human resources. Without the help of its HR department, it’s almost impossible to run a professional dental business.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a smaller dental practice that’s just starting out, or a larger one with numerous chains. Every employer can benefit from having a solid, professional HR department at the root of their business.

If your business is found to be negligent or non-compliant of the law, you could end up causing irreversible damage to your business. Losing clients is just the start. Employers could end up causing serious injuries to others, and even criminal prosecution in serious cases.

For more information on HR for dental practices, speak to one of our expert HR advisors today. Now, let’s look at ways employers can improve their HR services to grow business success for their dentists.

Address recruitment issues

More than one in five general dental jobs were vacant from March 2024, according to research by NHS England. It doesn’t just reflect those pursuing careers in the dental industry – it also takes retention and turnover rates into consideration.

Dental employers and their HR department need to focus on addressing recruitment issues found in their sector. Investing in the right steps will lead to creating a loyal, talented, and motivated workforce.

Let’s look at ways dental HR teams can help improve their businesses:

Recruitment methods: The dentist industry runs on specific skill-sets and qualifications. It falls to employers and their HR staff to find suitable candidates. By investing in a quality workforce, you’ll invest in a talented workforce, as well as your business success.

Job adverts: Employers shouldn’t sit on modern methods in marketing, particularly when it comes to digitalised advertising. HR teams can utilise tools like AI, SEO, and paid social media for hiring dental staff.

Retention: According to the same NHS research above, 75% of dental practices struggle to fill long-term vacancies. HR teams must focus on increasing retention rates, particularly for any investible employees. Losing valuable individuals to rival competitors could be detrimental for your business.

Track performance and achievements

According to dentist-run app FollowApp Care, 50% of dentists have sought to reduce their NHS hours over the last 3 years. This reflects employee welfare for individuals, but it also impacts the business in terms of productivity and output.

Employers will benefit from tracking performance and achievements for their staff. It helps identify those who are working well and honour them for their hard work and efforts.

Let’s look at ways dental HR teams can help improve their businesses:

Performance management: Employers must invest in methods that will help track, award, and improve staff performance. HR teams can invest in all kinds of performance management tools and software suitable to your business practices.

Recognition and awards: Who doesn’t love being complimented for their hard work and efforts? Your HR teams should ensure employees are being recognised for their achievements. From verbal recognition to award ceremonies – celebrate wins together.

Feedback: HR teams should provide staff with constructive feedback on their performance. Schedule feedback meetings to highlight how employees can grow their personal skills to better their abilities and talents.

Progress career development

The NHS Long Term Workforce Plan highlights an aim to increase dentistry training places to over 1,100 places by 2031/32.

This means it’s crucial for dental employers to invest in their staff, particularly when it comes to career development. This doesn’t just grow individual skills; employers end up gaining a valuable, talented, and investable workforce.

Let’s look at ways dental HR teams can help improve their businesses:

Training: HR teams should offer training to help employees progress their status, knowledge, and overall career. Not only does it show interest in their development, the business benefits from having expert, professional workers.

Staff development: Every employee under your business should have access to developing their careers. Introduce eLearning platforms, work shadowing, and probation periods to your staff. This level of investment in their futures will help keep them loyal and connected to your business.

Soft skills: Having the right employees to interact with your clients is crucial for any business. Providing soft skills training to your staff allows them to work on their customer service abilities. Compassionate, empathy, communicative, positivity – these are just some of the words that’ll soon be used to describe your business and workforce.

Follow proper work conditions

Salaries are creeping up – but not fast enough, with 25% of dental nurses still earning under £25k per annum (compared to 88% in 2021) according to Dentistry.

Employers have a legal duty to provide a safe workplace environment. This means following proper work conditions and practices – minimising potential health risks to your staff, customers, and the public.

Let’s look at ways dental HR teams can help improve their businesses:

Payroll: HR teams will benefit tremendously from modernising their payroll system. Not only does this eliminate the chance of human errors, but it also tracks other forms of pay. Like, payments for overtime, commission, bonuses, or piece work.

Working hours: Dental practices offer a variety of opening times, especially after the introduction of emergency hours. Employers have a legal duty to ensure all dental staff work the legal amount of daily and weekly hours. This includes providing proper breaks and rest days – helping to promote a healthy work-life balance.

Overtime: Whether employees work an extra 30 minutes after work or take on an unscheduled shift, HR teams must pay overtime rates properly. If employees aren’t compensated for their work hours, they could end up leaving or even filing a tribunal claim against your business.

Protect employee wellbeing

Under the same research above, Dentistry found that 70% of dental staff find it hard to unwind after work; and 27% regularly feel insecure due to their jobs.

Employers have a legal responsibility to protect employee wellbeing – including both their physical and mental state. With the right protective measures in place, employees will feel happy, healthy, and content during their daily work life.

Let’s look at ways dental HR teams can help improve their businesses:

Occupational health: Work life within dental practices can lead to all kinds of work-related health problems; like stress, anxiety, and burnout. HR teams should manage any occupational health issues and encourage a healthier workplace environment.

Equality and diversity: It’s always good to champion equality and diversity within your business. Cultures, ethnicities, beliefs – these can be found across your workforce. Your workplace will benefit from being more inclusive of these favourable factors.

Dissatisfaction: Employees who don’t feel valued or even listened to at work are bound to feel levels of dissatisfaction. Employers must address this and make reasonable changes related to such issues. Not only does this help resolve the situation, but it also creates stronger workplace relations.

Get expert advice on dental HR with Peninsula

Unfortunately, businesses like dental practices are affected by labour shortages, high turnover, and poor wellbeing. It falls to employers and their HR departments to ensure their business protects staff through proper work conditions, regulations, and cultures.

Peninsula offers expert advice on dental HR. We offer specialised guidance on HR contracts and documentation – ensuring your dental practice meets all its HR compliance. Want to find out more? Contact us on 0800 028 2420 and book a free consultation with one of our HR consultants today.

Sources

Dental Workforce | NHS England

200+ Dental Industry Statistics for 2024 | FollowApp Care

NHS Long Term Workforce Plan | NHS England

2024 Dentistry Census: key findings | Dentistry