Number Sense

Staff training has never been so crucial.

During the Covid crisis, it has been challenging, and a bit of a moving target, as everything continuously changes.

Now that restrictions are easing, more practices report returning to—and even enhancing—training. These are unprecedented times, and the critical staff training research just completed by Eyecare Business shows both how challenging and beneficial it can be.

More than 8 out of 10 respondents (81%) believe that training helps with staff retention—something that’s critical since offices are amping up their staffing as more patients return to in-person visits. To help train for this new normal, more than 9 out of 10 respondents (93%) share that they would like to see vendors increase training support.

To provide a more in-depth look at ECP wants and needs, as well as the current state of training, EB presents the findings of our exclusive Staff Training Focus Group Study.

It’s clear from the results of EB’s Staff Training Focus Group Study that there is little consistency in the what, how, when, where, and even why of staff training among practices. Now that the new normal is taking shape, creating a cohesive, well-rounded program is more important than ever.

We hope you will use this report to review and, where needed, revamp your own program to make your staff—and your practice—the best it can be.

DO YOU CONDUCT ONGOING TRAINING?

While 8 out of 10 practices do conduct ongoing training, nearly 20% do not. Is this misstep inviting consumers to go elsewhere?

PRACTICE DEETS + MEETS

➤ WHERE.
76% conduct ongoing training at staff meetings.

➤ HOW.
65% use a training manual for new hires, while 35% do not.

➤ IN-HOUSE.
61% budget nothing, 28% earmark $2,000 or less, and 11% dedicate over $2,000 for in-house staff training.

➤ C.E.
48% have no budget, while 34% dedicate $2,000 or less, and 18% budget $2,001 and up for continuing education training and credits.

➤ CONCERN.
19% of survey respondents say training makes employees more attractive to the competition.