In a recent Women In Optometry Pop-up Poll, respondents said that finding staff was a challenge. This time, WO asked respondents to share their recruiting resources and benefits to hire or retain current staff. Fully 81 percent of respondents said that they increased pay and benefits packages since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. It’s a huge difference compared to the 13 percent of respondents who said they didn’t make or see salary changes and the six percent of respondents who said they had to scale back staff funding.

Higher salaries are also an important recruiting tool, with 80 percent saying that they had to boost pay or benefits to recruit staff. Another popular method was adding flexible time, such as a designated or extended lunch break or shift changes. 

Retirement plan funding and greater insurance benefits for health, dental and vision were also additional incentives offered to staff. Many businesses are struggling to onboard new employees, and it’s also impacting the optometry side, respondents said.