Volume 7 • 2020 • Issue 1

11 Issue 1 | 2020 | CDA at W ork Just under half of dental assistants planned on staying in the profession until retirement, according to the “working conditions” survey, meaning most do not plan on remaining dental assistants and will exit the profession at some point. The main reasons that were given for this trend were: • Lack of respect in the office • Poor wages and benefits • Physically demanding work “These are the most important factors that need action to improve retention,” says Costa Papadopoulos, engaged in health policy at the Canadian Dental Association. “In general, most dental assistants felt anxiety about their long-term ability to remain in a profession that is both emotionally and physically demanding, especially considering their compensation levels.” The “working conditions” survey showed that common reasons for becoming a dental assistant were work-life balance, helping people, and short, inexpensive training. It also revealed that employment factors dental assistant candidates are looking for in a job include: • A full-time position • A positive environment • Higher salary Most dental assistants describe their current workplace as being a healthy environment, and the great majority feel they have healthy and positive working relationships with their current employer dentists and colleagues. However, many reported having experienced harassment, disrespect and unacceptable behavior of some kind in previous workplaces from dentists, office managers, colleagues or patients. A report from Statistics Canada in 2018 suggested that health care workers are more likely to be harassed than any other employment sector. 1 The same report found that female workers were more likely to be harassed than male workers, and clients (or patients) are most often the source of harassment. What’s the take-home message for dentists? Most importantly, create a healthy work environment that values all team members’ contributions to oral health care. Ensure a collegial and kind culture that supports staff and reduces stress. ➜ Source: Factors,Realities,andExperiencesofEmploymentasaDentalAssistant inCanada: FinalReportonaNationalSurveyofCanadianDentalAssistants,2019. 250 200 150 100 50 215 198 160 157 155 139 78 148 176 20–24 25–29 30–34 35–39 40–44 45–49 50–54 55–59 60+ "How old are you?"