• DVM360_Conference_Charlotte,NC_banner
  • ACVCACVC
  • DVM 360
  • Fetch DVM 360Fetch DVM 360
DVM 360
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
By Role
AssociatesOwnersPractice ManagerStudentsTechnicians
Subscriptions
dvm360 Newsletterdvm360 Magazine
News
All News
Association
Breaking News
Conference Coverage
Education
Equine
FDA
Law & Ethics
Market Trends
Medical
Politics
Products
Recalls
Regulatory
Digital Media
dvm360 LIVE!™
Expert Interviews
The Vet Blast Podcast
Medical World News
Pet Connections
The Dilemma Live
Vet Perspectives™
Weekly Newscast
dvm360 Insights™
Publications
All Publications
dvm360
Firstline
Supplements
Vetted
Clinical
All Clinical
Anesthesia
Animal Welfare
Behavior
Cardiology
CBD in Pets
Dentistry
Dermatology
Diabetes
Emergency & Critical Care
Endocrinology
Equine Medicine
Exotic Animal Medicine
Feline Medicine
Gastroenterology
Imaging
Infectious Diseases
Integrative Medicine
Nutrition
Oncology
Ophthalmology
Orthopedics
Pain Management
Parasitology
Pharmacy
Surgery
Toxicology
Urology & Nephrology
Virtual Care
Business
All Business
Business & Personal Finance
Hospital Design
Personnel Management
Practice Finances
Practice Operations
Wellbeing & Lifestyle
Continuing Education
Conferences
Conference Listing
Conference Proceedings
Resources
CBD in Pets
CE Requirements by State
Contests
Veterinary Heroes
Partners
Spotlight Series
Team Meeting in a Box
Toolkit
Top Recommended Veterinary Products
Vet to Vet
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Advertisement
By Role
  • Associates
  • Owners
  • Practice Manager
  • Students
  • Technicians
Subscriptions
  • dvm360 Newsletter
  • dvm360 Magazine
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us
  • MJHLS Brand Logo

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences™ and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

My veterinary team looks shabby, not chic

April 1, 2013

I'm a practice manager at a hospital where several team members, including a doctor, come to work looking like they just rolled out of bed. When I hired all of these people I went over the dress code, which includes professional attire, clean scrubs, doctors in white coats, and neat hair. I want our practice to present a well-put-together, professional appearance. Our clients are judging us from the minute they walk in the front door. I've addressed workplace attire at staff meetings and in the employee handbook, but it doesn't seem to stick. What's the next step?-Dressed for Success

I'm a practice manager at a hospital where several team members, including a doctor, come to work looking like they just rolled out of bed. When I hired all of these people I went over the dress code, which includes professional attire, clean scrubs, doctors in white coats, and neat hair. I want our practice to present a well-put-together, professional appearance. Our clients are judging us from the minute they walk in the front door. I've addressed workplace attire at staff meetings and in the employee handbook, but it doesn't seem to stick. What's the next step? —Dressed for Success

Dear Dressed:

Advertisement

Employee appearance and personal expression are touchy subjects to manage, but the real issue here has to do with accountability and trust more than professionalism. The practical response to your dilemma is the three-strike rule. Speak to the fashion felons about their insubordinate behavior, and give them 30 days to get it right.

If it happens again in 30 days, give them a second warning and another 30 days to comply. If it happens again before the 30-day period ends, go to step three—termination. This issue was covered by your employee handbook for a reason: The dress code is meant to be followed and is supposed to save you time by addressing simple rules so you don't have to on a daily basis. Hold your team accountable to these rules.

What are they saying to you with their resistance? Typically, this type of blatant disregard of the rules is an expression of a lack of trust in leadership. If they don't share your practice's values about professionalism and are insubordinate at every turn, termination may be your best bet for your hospital to run smoothly.

—Shawn

Related Content:

Practice ManagerRoles
3 tips for selling your practice
3 tips for selling your practice
A day in the life of an Australian veterinary student
A day in the life of an Australian veterinary student
Texas Tech professor inspires students with large animal surgery
Texas Tech professor inspires students with large animal surgery

Advertisement

Latest News

Veterinary training to expand in Ontario with government investment

Pet Advocacy Network honors outstanding contributions to the pet care community

Traditional and holistic treatments for giardia

ASU trustees approve the creation of a new veterinary school

View More Latest News
Advertisement