Why You Should Let Employees Leave Work to Go to the Dentist

James Marsh tweeted me the following question: “What is the most reasonable way to treat requests for time off during office hours to attend scheduled doctors appointments?”

My response, “approve them all unless there is a massive problem. How often are your people going to the doctor?” This was probably predictable in that I constantly preach that you should judge employees based on their performance and not based on their time in seat anyway.

To keep reading, click  here: Why You should Let Employees Leave Work to Go to the Dentist

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6 thoughts on “Why You Should Let Employees Leave Work to Go to the Dentist

  1. Amen to this. It can be really difficult to get a doctor’s appointment even when scheduled in advance. Not to mention if you have an unexpected problem and need to get in right away, you have to take what you can get. Maybe big-shot executives can pay for concierge medicine, but the rest of us have to make do.

  2. This! Until our society structure changes to service industries recognizing and accommodating the basic 8 to 5 work day we will still struggle with scheduling.

    My daughter was overjoyed to find a pediatric office whose hours are from 7;00 AM to 10:00 PM six days a week, with half-days on Sunday. Yet this should no longer be rare.

    And does any cable company, auto repair, etc., keep these kind of hours?

    These changes, along with a school year that doesn’t pretend that children still have to help get in the harvest, will help move us in to the position with the rest of the world.

  3. Wow; if the average employee is only making 3 dr. appts. a year then no wonder the rest of the employees get hassled so much!! Three a year/no way! Just wellness visits (annual screenings, 2 cleanings + one dentist visit & one eye exam) is at least 5 or 6. For those who have chronic issues it’s way more than that. I will have at least 10 visits this year, not counting the Chiropractor.

    1. That’s what the statistics say. It didn’t include dentist visits, just doctor visits. There are of course, people who NEVER go, and people who ALWAYS go.

      But, overall, average is 3 per year.

  4. I agree; one has to trust ones employees. If you treat them well and like intelligent grownups, they will respond in a positive way for the business. The business will be way ahead. In saying that, one also has to be cautious. There is usually one who spoils it for everyone. If someone is abusing the system, you approach them and talk about it. If the talking does not work, then you will have to get rid of the bad apple.

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