[Results of an inquiry among veterinary assistants]

Veterinary assistants being members of the Swiss Veterinary Association received a questionnaire in 1989. Informations concerning the search for employment, employment conditions, introduction into the job, working climate, field of activities, postgraduate education, professional aims and prospects for the future as well as the particular situation of women were collected. 2/3 of the assistants in practice and 4/5 of Faculty assistants found their jobs privately without any public advertisement. 3/5 of the assistants in a practice have been employed without a written contract. The mean working time without emergency calls and night work amounts to 45 hours a week in small animal practice and 50 hours in large animal practice. Salaries have been shown to be clearly higher in practice compared to universities. Postgraduate education, however, has obviously been missing in over 50% of assistants in practice but not at the Faculty. Most assistants in practice as well as at the universities strive for partnership practice, especially for both, small and large animals.