Seeking full or part-time employment?

Last article I discussed the advantages of working as a temp, or temporary employee. If you’re considering a career as a dental assistant or hygienist, for example, because you’re attracted to the idea of working part-time, or for the freedom of being able to set your own schedule, the great news is that if you change your mind there are many benefits to working full-time too!

A place to call ‘home’ 

What does home mean to you? I bet you weren’t thinking about the bricks and mortar that make up the exterior of your house or apartment building, or wherever else you currently reside; and if you were, you probably looked beyond that and considered what the structure represents—what it means to you, the people that live there, and the memories it evokes. Perhaps you were thinking about somewhere else other than where you live, or maybe there are several places you call home. Even if you are free-spirited or thrive on adventure and welcome change and variety, there is no place quite like home. Home can mean many things to different people, but there tends to be some common underlying themes. When someone says, “Take your shoes off, make yourself at home,” they are welcoming you to get comfortable and be yourself. When someone is ‘homesick,’ they are missing home and have a longing to go back. Home is familiarity. It is also security, warmth, happiness, and pride. It is a favourite place to be. Importantly, home is not dependent on where you live. The workplace can be all of these things. We spend many of our waking hours on the job, which is why it is so important to love where you work. Relationships take work, and as dentists or other business owners and operators, you can act as lead facilitators in creating a positive sense of community. See other Enspire articles on the significance of company core values, workplace culture, communication, leadership, teamwork, and other topics for strategies to implement in order to optimize your working environment. If you are a temp, as we mentioned in the last post the best part is you get to ‘try before you buy.’ Test different locations, build relationships, and settle in the environment that is most encouraging. Ultimately, home is the people you share it with and a sense of belonging. As a permanent member of the family, the workplace can be your home away from home! 

Get to know your patients

In addition to the relationships you’ll build with coworkers, because your location and work schedule will likely be consistent, you’ll also get to know most of your patients and the ‘regulars’ pretty well, who tend to come at particular times that suit their schedules. Just as coworkers become family, familiarity with clients can offer a sense of comfort and stability in the workplace, and it can be a joy to encounter friendly faces on a daily basis. Even if you don’t have a set schedule, it can be particularly rewarding when a patient specifically requests to see “my regular dentist” or “that hygienist who was here last time.” 

Employee benefits

While being self-employed has its perks, so does being an employee of a company. These include basic employee benefits such as payment for vacation, statutory holidays, overtime, sick leave, workers’ compensation, severance, etc. They also include employer Canada Pension Plan (CPP) contributions, Employment Insurance (EI), and certain tax credits like the Canada Employment Amount (CEA). Extended benefits such as medical, dental, and vision care are also usually provided. Another bonus is that most of your paperwork is done by the company, so little record-keeping is required of you for tax purposes. 

Reliable income

As customer service providers, dental clinics tend to be busier at certain times of the year. For example, dental clinics tend to be busier in August, just before the school year begins. They also tend to be busier when people have time off during spring break, and in December when that year’s dental benefits expire. They are usually slower over the holidays and during the earlier summer months when people are on vacation. As a permanent employee, your income will remain stable rather than rising and falling with the tides of business. As mentioned, employee benefits will provide additional insurance against unforeseen circumstances. This can make it easier to plan for the future, and some financial institutions may be more willing to extend a mortgage and other forms of credit. 

Consistency

Besides convenience and the obvious benefits to your social life, a predictable schedule can be particularly important if you are a new parent or have younger children at home, or if you have other special commitments. A consistent schedule can also make it easier to predict the traffic and allows you to maintain a comfortable routine.

Transportation

Whether you live in a big city or a rural setting where clinics are few and far between, a permanent place of work makes it possible to buy or rent a place nearby, saving you both time and money on transportation fare or gas and other vehicle expenses. If you live close enough you may be able to forego a motorized vehicle altogether and get in some added exercise by walking or riding a bicycle to work.

Earn more

In addition to employee benefits, guaranteed hours, as well as possible savings on transportation, you may choose to take on additional sources of income outside of your regular work hours. Become a tutor, a pet sitter, or if you just can’t get enough, work as a dental temp as well! Whether temporary or permanent, opportunities in the dental industry really are endless.