Stay Interviews Could Save Your Veterinary Team This Year
Hiring is a challenge. Keeping good people? That is even harder. In veterinary practices across the country, employee retention is top-of-mind. And yet, most hospitals are skipping a simple and effective tool that could help keep teams strong: the stay interview.
What Is a Stay Interview?
A stay interview is a casual, proactive check-in between a manager and a team member. It is not about performance. It is about experience. You might ask:
- What do you enjoy most about your job?
- What would make your work life better?
- What could we do differently to support you?
These small conversations help identify what is working and what is not, long before a resignation letter lands on your desk.
Why Most Practices Skip Them
According to the 2025 Practice Manager Report, only 14 percent of practices are using stay interviews. The main reasons? Time, uncertainty about how to conduct them, and a lack of structured support.
That is understandable. With 68 percent of PMs saying they spend most of their time managing support staff, carving out extra time for one-on-one conversations can feel impossible.
But the cost of not doing it is much higher.
The Cost of Silence
When no one is checking in, employees feel unseen. They disengage quietly before they leave loudly. Despite this, only 7 percent of practices track turnover reasons. That means missed opportunities to prevent future departures.
The report shows that hospitals that do use stay interviews report better team morale and stronger retention, especially when combined with development plans or appreciation programs.
Getting Started Without Burning Out
If you are unsure how to begin, try this:
- Choose one person per week to talk with for 15 minutes
- Ask three open-ended questions
- Track themes and trends over time
This does not need to be formal. What matters most is showing that you care and that you are listening.
It’s Time to Rethink Retention
The 2025 report makes one thing clear: team members stay where they feel heard, appreciated, and supported. Stay interviews are one of the most effective, low-cost tools available to veterinary hospitals today.
Want to build a stronger team?
