Career Quarterly Newsletter

Employers Embrace Flexible Work Options in a Difficult Economy

by Danise A. Cooper, Physician Recruitment Senior Search Consultant, Cejka Search

Medical groups appear to be implementing more flexible work options for their physicians, particularly for pre-retirement and early-career female physicians, the physicians most likely to leave a practice. This is good news for those physicians looking for more flexible work options.

An increasingly important factor contributing to physician job satisfaction is the ability to balance time in clinical practice with personal interests and commitments. According to the 2008 Physician Retention Survey from Cejka Search and the American Medical Group Association (http://www.PhysicianRetentionSurvey.com), 48% of medical groups agreed that part-time options encourage physicians to stay in practice while meeting personal or family needs.

Nearly two-thirds (62%) of respondents to the survey said they believe that physicians are delaying retirement due to the economy and almost half (49%) find that part-time options are enabling physicians to delay retirement. As a result, respondents are working with their pre-retirement physicians to encourage them to stay longer:

Alternative approaches mentioned also include extended vacation periods of up to several months at a time and flexibility to modify job descriptions, as appropriate.*

Today’s younger physicians—female and male—are also increasingly seeking flexible work arrangements. Among those female physicians who practice less than full-time, the vast majority (70%) cite family responsibilities including pregnancy, followed by those who are pursuing unrelated professional or personal interests (22%). Even the younger male physicians are more likely than their predecessors to prefer lighter schedules. Male physicians offer a greater variety of reasons for part-time employment. Approximately 31% are engaging in unrelated professional or personal pursuits, 20% are preparing for retirement, and another 20% cite administrative or leadership duties as their reason for seeking part-time employment.**

Whether male or female, in early career or approaching retirement, the need to have work/life balance is growing in importance among physicians. Medical groups are recognizing this and becoming much more flexible in their staffing in order to retain experienced physicians and to attract and retain younger generations of physicians. The end result is a workplace environment that allows for both professional growth and personal satisfaction.

Source *: 2008 Physician Retention Survey
Source **: 2006 Physician Retention Survey

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