Assoc. Editor
C D A J O U R N A L , V O L 5 0 , Nº 8
The Great Resignation Ruchi K. Sahota, DDS, CDE
I
n one of Aesop’s fables, a mighty oak tree stood tall in the middle of a forest. Next to it was a brook. Daily, the oak tree would admire its reflection in the water and beam with satisfaction. Around the periphery of the water were tiny reeds. They would bend and move as the wind blew, while the mighty oak stood tall and strong. The mighty oak was proud that it did not need to bend. It did not succumb to the wind. The mighty oak would direct the reeds to do the same. The reeds would politely decline. The mighty oak would still scoff at this and tell them to be “strong” like it. This went on for years. One day, the reeds grew tired and piped back. They warned the mighty oak that its ego would get the best of it one day. Soon thereafter, a strong windstorm blew through the forest. The oak tried and tried to fight through the gusts but was ultimately toppled and landed next to the reeds. The reeds survived, proving that flexibility and a willingness to find a solution would help endure the toughest storm. The pandemic proved to be quite the storm for our dental offices. Many realized that they could shut down for six weeks and still have a very productive year. Many survived because of government funded grants. Some dentists retired. And others grappled with the added pressures the pandemic presented to our profession. Some became nimble. Some fell. During the early shutdowns, many offices laid off personnel. Offices reopened. They rehired employees. Many months later, offices revved up their schedules to match pre-pandemic times. The storm was starting to weaken, but many of the roots of the offices had been shaken. If trees did not fall, many of their branches did. Staff
CDA will continue to identify the potential moments for us to bend and bow and help our practices endure as we deliver excellent oral health care to our patients.
members began to resign. A high number of resignations did not plague only dentistry. In fact, our nation hit a 20-year high in the “quit” number last November when 4.5 million workers left their jobs. Schools are seeing teacher shortages. Hospitals are enduring nursing shortages. Help-wanted signs are browning as they weather the storms of the many months since they were posted. The Great Resignation is upon us. After the stock market crash of 1929, our country endured the Great Depression. After the subprime mortgage crisis in 2006, our country suffered through the Great Recession. Small businesses are now braving through an incredible shift in the labor market labeled the Great Resignation. Data elucidates that the labor issues had started to spark even before the pandemic. But the fireworks went off more recently in our dental offices. Not only are hiring and recruitment more difficult, but retention is also challenging. CNN Business notes that employers are increasing wages but still struggling to find staff. Historically, local dental society executive directors have helped with staff shortage issues. For many years, they teamed up with local dental assisting and hygiene schools. The dental societies housed graduates’ resumes. They were the hub of connection — creating a network of internships in member-dentists’ offices for
the schools. However, just before the pandemic, a heavy storm hit. Budget cuts shut down many of the local dental assisting and hygiene schools or decreased their enrollment. Early in the pandemic, CDA identified helping fill staff shortages as a priority. For many years, local component executive directors had proven to be like the reeds of the forest. They had nimbly and patiently aided in connecting dental assisting schools with member-dentists. In 2021, the component executive directors connected pathway programs like the Jewish Vocational Services (JVS) and CDA. The Smile Crew of CA bootcamps, in partnership with JVS and local workforce boards, has been rolled out in locations in Northern and Southern California regions. The online self-led didactic program, in-person training and local internships are a conduit for new dental assistants to go directly into CDA members’ offices. The Smile Crew CA campaign was marketed to specific service workers who had resigned from other industries. An expanded online career center was launched to connect CDA member-dentists to job-seeking auxiliary staff. How else can we be nimble and bend like the reeds in the forest? CDA’s practice management analysts have pointed out a few key strategies to add glitter to a help-wanted notice: Consider a hiring AUGUST 2 0 2 2
435
