Psychological safety, purpose, path, and partnership reduce associate veterinarian desire to leave current employment

To identify demographic and employment variables associated with an associate veterinarian's intent to remain at their organization in the next 5 years and to assess the impact of positive leadership in the practice and on veterinarians' well-being.

2,037 associate veterinarians in private practice who participated in the 2021 and 2022 AVMA Census of Veterinarians surveys.

Associate veterinarian demographic and employment information was used in regression analysis to determine the likelihood of remaining employed at their organization in the next 5 years and the impact leadership has on an associate veterinarian's employment.

Higher levels of burnout, living in an urban community, and working in corporate practice were associated with lower odds of remaining in the next 5 years. Associates who worked in a practice in which they believed their leaders practiced positive leadership had higher odds of remaining in the next 5 years. An increase in a practice's leadership index was associated with a likelihood to remain employed over the next 5 years. Decreases in the leadership index were associated with higher burnout levels among associates, more work experience, working more hours, and specialty/referral practices.

Findings supported anecdotal evidence that lack of positive leadership in a private practice may lead to higher odds of retention issues in a practice, as well as lower job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and workplace well-being among associates. Positive leadership practices might provide protective factors to critical veterinary business outcomes like team member retention and engagement.