{"id":9448,"date":"2020-12-01T00:00:47","date_gmt":"2020-12-01T08:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/todaysveterinarybusiness.com\/?p=9448"},"modified":"2022-06-15T17:46:42","modified_gmt":"2022-06-15T17:46:42","slug":"spouse-veterinary-couples","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarybusiness.com\/spouse-veterinary-couples\/","title":{"rendered":"Odd Couples"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dr. Jill and her husband, Jack, launched Happy Critters Animal Clinic right after getting married. Because money was in short supply, Jack filled in as manager. What was supposed to be a short-term part-time solution became a long-term full-time job. A decade later, Jack and Dr. Jill are not doing well as a couple and their practice\u2019s culture is toxic at best.<\/p>\n

Married couples \u2014 one person a veterinarian and the other a manager \u2014 are commonly at the helm of practices. In some cases, the arrangement ends in drama and divorce<\/a>. If the marriage is already dysfunctional, don\u2019t expect the business relationship to be any different.<\/p>\n

Here are five examples of spousal situations that can lead to trouble inside or outside of the practice, followed by a licensed clinical social worker\u2019s recommendations.<\/p>\n

1. Bad Habits<\/h3>\n

A rather benign example is when one spouse is consistently late to work and the other is always early. If team members are expected to be on time, the discrepancy sets a bad example.<\/p>\n

A worse situation is when one spouse tolerates the other\u2019s poor workplace behaviors. Examples of this include cursing and taking time for personal phone calls.<\/p>\n

At one Wyoming practice, the veterinarian struggled with alcoholism and team members were terrified of approaching the spouse, \u201cfearing their jobs might be at stake,\u201d a witness reported. Realizing how dangerous the situation was, a technician was brave enough to speak up and \u201cOur colleague was able to get the help he needed.\u201d<\/p>\n

2. A Lack of Boundaries<\/h3>\n

Because so many on-the-job situations are emotional, delicate or ethically challenging, work rarely stays at work. When couples are co-workers, discussing the latest crisis over dinner or during other personal time is easy. The lack of separation can create an unhealthy work-life balance, which can harm personal and professional partnerships.<\/p>\n

Pennsylvania veterinarian Emily M. Tincher, DVM, agrees.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen your relationship is at work, your home life will creep into your workday,\u201d Dr. Tincher said. \u201cAmong the veterinarian-manager couples I have worked with, the whole team knew when the couple was fighting or major life events were happening. Having been privy to details of separations, mental health struggles and children\u2019s health events made me wonder how the couples felt being the subject of office gossip as they were enduring difficult times.\u201d<\/p>\n

3. Unfulfilled Dreams<\/h3>\n

Couples who start a veterinary practice together often remain business partners long term. One consequence is the non-veterinary spouse might not be following his or her passion, leading to unspoken resentment.<\/p>\n

The manager should be encouraged to pursue his or her dreams rather than stay in a position that doesn\u2019t allow for personal growth.<\/p>\n

4. Going the Cheap Route<\/h3>\n

Another unhealthy consequence of an unsuccessful marital business partnership is the development of scarcity thinking. A managing spouse might be used as free labor for years because finding a replacement is seen as difficult and more costly. The expense of hiring a new manager and the lack of trust in that person are often the excuses given. This scenario can harm the marriage<\/a> if the spouse \u201cstuck\u201d in the position doesn\u2019t truly want to be there, is resentful about not getting paid or isn\u2019t cut out for the job.<\/p>\n

An associate doctor recalled: \u201cThe manager spouse was supposed to find his own replacement. For years, he claimed that not a single person he interviewed was suited for the job. Ironically, he didn\u2019t seem to enjoy being in the position. It became kind of a joke in the practice.\u201d<\/p>\n

5. Alienating the Team<\/h3>\n

A common problem that can arise from a couple working together in a veterinary practice is the negative effects on the team and the culture.<\/p>\n

Jenn Galvin, co-owner and manager of Advanced Animal Care in Fort Mohave, Arizona, recalled a past job.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was the lead technician for a clinic that was owned by a female veterinarian who didn\u2019t like confrontation,\u201d Galvin said. \u201cShe hired her husband as the office manager. Since he had a full-time job elsewhere, he would come into the clinic like a tornado every afternoon and pull people aside to tell them all the things they had done wrong. Since he only had a few minutes to get this done, it was always said quickly, without tact and without time for employees to respond. It led to frustrated team members and a high turnover until we had a full-time manager step in.\u201d<\/p>\n

Other examples include:<\/p>\n