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2019 Salary Survey Results – Part 2 – Gender Differences

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We decided to include a question on gender in this year’s survey. 594 vets chose to answer either male or female. There was no intent to offend anyone by not including an option for a gender other than male or female; the question was optional and we were interested in whether pay rates vary specifically according to whether someone is male or female. When looking at the data, we excluded practice owners/partners, on the assumption that they wouldn’t show gender bias for or against themselves – although this may not actually be true.

The results show a difference of about $4 an hour in the median hourly rate for full time vets between males and females, which is 10%, and means a difference in the calculated annualised salary of $7,904. This difference persists in most categories of both experience, and number of years since graduation.

To download this Report as a printable pdf please click here
https://www.vetsuppliersdirectory.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Salary-Survey-2019-part-2-Gender-difference.pdf

Gender vs Job classification (2)

Gender vs Job Classification

Gender vs Experience - Full Time only

Gender vs Experience level

* Key to Self-Assessed Experience Level

  1. Has broad theoretical knowledge, requires a more experienced vet to be available for discussion for consults/medicine, and guidance for surgery most of the time
  2. Confident for consults, requires guidance for surgery/procedures most of the time
  3. Confident for consults and routine surgery and seeks guidance for new procedures
  4. Confident for consults and routine surgery, able to work sole charge regularly
  5. Confident for consults, surgery, sole charge, and after hours emergencies
  6. Has or is working towards post graduate qualification in medicine, or other non-surgical qualification
  7. Has or is working towards post graduate qualification in surgery or ECC
  8. Has additional qualifications, supervises and teaches less experienced vets
  9. Has or is working towards specialist qualification
  10. Experienced in non-clinical / Industry roles

 

© Copyright Kookaburra Veterinary Employment

2nd September 2019

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04/09/2019 |

The ATO Grinch & Fringe Benefits

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We’re all getting excited about our Office Christmas party – but here’s a quick reminder about the tax implications from the ATO Grinch!

If your business holds a Christmas party:

  • on a working day, on your business premises, and only for your current employees, you don’t pay fringe benefits tax (FBT) for the food and drink
  • off your business premises, or the party includes associates of employees (such as their partners), you don’t pay FBT if the party is a minor benefit – that is, the cost for each person is less than $300 and it would be considered unreasonable to treat it as a fringe benefit
  • that includes clients, you don’t pay FBT for the costs relating to the clients.
fancy calligraphy saying merry grinch-mas

If you give your employees a Christmas gift, you don’t pay FBT if the value of the gift is less than $300 per person and it would be considered unreasonable to treat it as a fringe benefit.

If the Christmas party is not subject to FBT, you can’t claim income tax deductions (or GST) for the cost of the party.

https://www.ato.gov.au/businesses-and-organisations/hiring-and-paying-your-workers/fringe-benefits-tax/types-of-fringe-benefits/entertainment-related-fringe-benefits/how-to-work-out-fbt-on-entertainment

Quick Guide to FBT (Fringe Benefits Tax)

Fringe Benefits

A fringe benefit is a payment made to an employee but in a different form to salary or wages. Benefits made to volunteers or contractors are NOT fringe benefits. A fringe benefit is provided “in respect of employment”. It can also be a benefit given to an associate of the employee. So, for example if an employer pays the gym fees of an employee’s spouse, this is considered a fringe benefit provided to an associate of the employee.

Examples of fringe benefits include:

  • allowing an employee to use a work car for private purposes
  • car parking
  • paying an employee’s gym membership
  • providing entertainment by way of free tickets to concerts
  • reimbursing an expense incurred by an employee, such as school fees
  • giving an employee a discounted loan

Some work-related items (mainly used for work purposes) are exempt benefits. The exact exemption rules vary for small businesses:

  • Portable electronic devices
  • Software, protective clothing, tools of trade

‘Minor benefits’ are also exempt

  • When it’s both less than $300
  • And ‘unreasonable for it to be treated as a fringe benefit’

Fringe Benefits Tax – FBT

FBT is the amount of tax that would have been paid by the employee if they had paid for the benefit out of their own wages, at the top marginal tax rate including the medicare levy (47%) – eg. To buy a gym membership costing $1,100 including GST, the wages required would be $2,075: – $975 tax and $1,100 membership.

Instead of paying the employee extra salary of $2,075, the employer pays the gym membership of $1,100, claims $100 GST credits, and pays the tax required directly to the ATO as FBT. The employer can claim an income tax deduction for both the cost of the gym membership, and the cost of the FBT.
The employee then does not pay income tax on the fringe benefit.

The FBT year is from 1st April to 31st March, and a FBT return must be lodged each year.

For more information visit https://smallbusiness.taxsuperandyou.gov.au/expense-payments-fringe-benefits-tax and https://www.ato.gov.au/businesses-and-organisations/hiring-and-paying-your-workers/fringe-benefits-tax

Author:
Wendy Nathan
Kookaburra Veterinary Employment

This information includes the views and opinions of Kookaburra Veterinary Employment and is of a general nature only. Factual information is believed to be correct at the time of writing, however, should not be relied upon and any person should confirm details with the relevant authorities and through their own research prior to acting on any of the suggestions in this article.

12/12/2024 |

2020 Edition Printed Directory

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The 2020 Printed version of the Vet Suppliers Directory is now arriving at vet practices in the mail, during October and November.

This is an A to Z directory of veterinary specific products and services – if you didn’t receive your Free copy, phone Paddy on 02 6650 9092.

Access to the very best Referral services is improving for all practices across Australia – make sure you keep the Directory as a handy guide to available referral services and the facilities that they offer, as well as for contact details of a wide range of other veterinary suppliers.

2020 Directory
14/10/2019 |

2017 Salary Survey Results

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Kookaburra_Logo_transparent_stackedSome of the most common questions that we get asked at Kookaburra Vets relate to Salary levels. Thanks to all the vets who participated in our survey – the more vets who reply, the more useful this information is. We hope that in future years more of you will take the small amount of time required to complete our survey. We asked for full time annual salary range not including Super.

Minimum pay rates and conditions are set in the Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award, which you can find using Google, or at https://www.fwc.gov.au/documents/documents/modern_awards/award/ma000118/default.htm

Thank you to everyone who also submitted ideas for collection of other information for future surveys.

2016 Survey Results

Results

( 336 Respondents)

Full Time Salaries – All Types of Practice

KookaburraSurvey2107AllSalaries

Locum Rates

Hourly rates for locums and casual vets. There was no statistical difference between vets working in mixed, equine and small animal practice. Rates below $30 an hour were excluded as likely to be permanent part time rates.

2017 Results

Total Number of Responses       70
Average rate (mean)                     $56.23
Minimum                                           $35
Maximum                                          $80
Median                                               $55

2016 Results

Total Number of Responses       79
Average rate (mean)                     $53.40
Minimum                                           $33
Maximum                                          $75
Median                                               $55

Experience Range of Locum Vets:

KookaburraSurvey2107Locumsyearssincegraduating

Full Time Salaries – Small Animal Practice

KookaburraSurvey2107SmallAnimalSalaries

Full Time Salaries – Mixed Practice

KookaburraSurvey2107MixedSalaries

Full Time Salaries – Equine Practice

KookaburraSurvey2107EquineSalaries

Full Time Salaries – Industry and Non-General Practice

KookaburraSurvey2107IndustrySalaries

Male vs Female Salaries

KookaburraSurvey2107Male-vs-FemaleSalaries

KookaburraSurvey2107Male-vs-Female

Future Plans

Associates – Current Job Classification

KookaburraSurvey2107AssociatesJobClassification

Where Do Associates Plan to be in 5 years’ time?

KookaburraSurvey2107Associatesfutureplans

Practice Owners – Current Job Classification

KookaburraSurvey2107PracticeOwnersjobclassification

Where Do Practice Owners Plan to be in 5 years’ time?

KookaburraSurvey2107PracticeOwnersfutureplans

© Copyright Kookaburra Veterinary Employment

24th July 2017

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24/07/2017 |

The Vet Shortage – Musings of an Employment Agent

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Kookaburra Vets LogoJanuary 2019

In the last 12 to 18 months, the veterinary shortage has continued to bite in Australia and is now affecting practices in the cities as well as rural and regional areas. The results of the Lincoln Institute survey in Australia have been in the news this month ( Link to SBS report) , and Kookaburra Vet Employment has recently been approached by multiple news outlets for interviews and comments ( link to ABC Sunshine Coast article )

A BVA (British Veterinary Association) and University of Exeter study in the UK released late in 2018 found that 37% of vets were actively thinking about leaving the profession (1,250 vets surveyed ). 59% of vets said they were either very stressed or somewhat stressed at work. A smaller Kookaburra Vet Employment survey from 2017 of just 336 vets showed that 17% of associates thought they would have left the profession in the next 5 years.

The suicide rate of vets in Australia has been found to be 4 times higher than the general population – that’s one vet every 12 weeks. Here at Kookaburra we feel the impact of losing a veterinary colleague way too frequently.

Male VetSo is there a shortage of vets – and is it due to vets quitting the profession?

In absolute terms looking at the widely reported figures in Australia, NZ, the UK and the USA for numbers of vets compared to numbers of pets – no, there shouldn’t be a shortage. So why are there so many veterinary vacancies? There are between 11 and 12,000 vets registered in Australia, and there are approximately 2,200 veterinary practices.

This time 5 years ago, in 2014, Kookaburra Vet Employment had 170 jobs listed for vets, and 20% of those jobs were suitable for new graduates (the clinic could provide the support and training needed for a new or recent grad). It was taking 8-9 weeks to fill a vet job.

At the moment (January 2019) Kookaburra Vet Employment has 437 current vet jobs listed, and 34% of those will now consider a new graduate. Vacancies are being listed for an average of 13 weeks. However, in the last 3 months, 11% of vacancies listed with us have been removed because the clinic either gave up looking, or restructured their clinic staff to cope. Some practices on our books have been advertising continuously for over 3 years without filling their vacancy.

So what impact does pay rates have?

Kookaburra did a small survey (including vets and vet nurses) in 2018 and found that out of 167 respondents, 73% had not had a pay rise in the last 12 months.  Out of 235 respondents, 70 % said that a pay rise would make them reconsider if they were considering looking for another job, and 21% said that it may make them reconsider.
Most vets earn in the range of $60,000 to $90,000 pa.

Female VetAn interesting study, again from the BVA and University of Exeter, released in 2018, investigated gender bias in the veterinary profession ( link to BVA Employers’ Study 2018) . The profession is becoming increasingly feminised as more than 50% of recent graduates are female. The VetFutures study surveyed 260 employers and managers. 42% believed there was no gender discrimination in the veterinary profession – but then that same section when tested in the survey offered males a higher salary than females. Could the feminisation of the profession be linked to stagnating pay rates?

As an employment agency we hear from both employers and job seekers.

For employers, retaining suitably qualified staff seems to be a challenge, however, we have found that very many clinics have expanded dramatically over the last 10 years or so, and have sought to employ more vets. Do they really have an increased workload and associated practice income, or are they trying to create a better work/life balance? Without an increase in practice income, new vacancies cannot be supported. Kookaburra has also seen a number of new practices set up in areas already well supplied by vets – including private practices, house call practices, as well as corporate practices and in-pet store clinics.  This has seemed to outstrip closure of clinics.

Associate vets are looking for a practice where they are paid well according to the work they do, where they know their work is valued by colleagues and clients, where they have accessible role models and mentors, access to and support for continuing education, a good work/life balance, and a modern well equipped workplace with trained supportive staff. Practices that provide this are likely to have less trouble recruiting, and more success at retaining the staff in whom they have made an investment.

Author:

Wendy Nathan
Kookaburra Veterinary Employment

This information includes the views and opinions of Kookaburra Veterinary Employment and is of a general nature only. Factual information is believed to be correct at the time of writing, however, should not be relied upon and any person should confirm details with the relevant authorities and through their own research prior to acting on any of the suggestions in this article.

22/01/2019 |
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