Illinois
Who responded: 120 total, including 70 full-time hygienists
Paid holidays: 24% are off with pay for six holidays; 16% enjoy five paid holidays off; and additional 13% have four paid holidays.
Paid vacation: 33% have three or more weeks off each year; 31% have two weeks of paid vacation each year; and 16% enjoy one week. 41% said vacation leave is a standard policy that does not increase with years of service.
Paid sick leave: Up to five days (24%); up to 10 days (3%); up to 15 days (3%); more than 15 days (0%). 70% said they do not receive paid sick days. Of the 30% receiving paid sick days, 21% said they are paid a cash equivalent for unused days.
Continuing education: 24% are reimbursed for all CE costs. Tuition is reimbursed for 21%, but not other expenses. 55% of dental hygienists pay all of own CE expenses. 19% are paid their salary for CE on regularly scheduled workdays.
Uniforms: Employers provide uniforms or scrubs for 60% of respondents.
Other benefits received (individual comments about specific benefits “important” to respondent):
- Christmas bonus
- I get my parking paid, which is $80 a month.
- Free dental care for myself, discounted for my immediate family.
- In a small practice, it is very hard for someone to miss days for an emergency. I am very lucky to have an employer who understands that family is very important and comes before work. This is a value that is lacking in today's workforce.
- Unpaid time off mostly whenever I need to take it.
- I receive a bonus if I meet my monthly goal
- Birthday lunches for staff. A clothing allowance for items needed for work such as shoes.
- Free dental care provided to staff (lab bills only must be paid), and 50% off dependents/spouse dental care. Monthly lunch meeting paid. Doctor is very flexible if personal time off needed (however, this is never abused by any staff member).
- We have a monthly bonus system bases on the average of production and collections. This can range any wear from $100 to $3,000 per month.
- Free dentistry for my parent. I sometimes get paid for a few hours on a day he takes off, if it is unexpected, but there is no set rule for this. They are very good about letting me take time off in advance or get out early, it has rarely happened but In the past I have needed to leave a couple hours early and they are great about moving patients.
Indiana
Who responded: 51 total, including 31 full-time hygienists
Paid holidays: 26% are off with pay for six holidays; 19% enjoy five paid holidays off; and additional 10% have four paid holidays.
Paid vacation: 47% have three or more weeks off each year; 20% have two weeks of paid vacation each year; and 10% enjoy one week. 39% said vacation leave is a standard policy that does not increase with years of service.
Paid sick leave: Up to five days (26%); up to 10 days (3%); up to 15 days (0%); more than 15 days (0%). 71% said they do not receive paid sick days. Of the 29% receiving paid sick days, 21% said they are paid a cash equivalent for unused days.
Continuing education: 21% are reimbursed for all CE costs. Tuition is reimbursed for 31%, but not other expenses. 48% of dental hygienists pay all of own CE expenses. 27% are paid their salary for CE on regularly scheduled workdays.
Uniforms: Employers provide uniforms or scrubs for 54% of respondents.
Other benefits received (individual comments about specific benefits “important” to respondent):
- Christmas party, Christmas bonus.
- Office luncheons, birthday cakes, free dental care for my entire family.
- If I need to take a day off, I can; but it's my responsibility to create the clinic time for moving those patients.
- Pays into IRA, girls’ night out luncheon, and used to have day trip flight for the office once a year. Birthday money and luncheon.
- Good working environment.
- I can clean my husband's teeth after hours without a fee being charged.
- We have a Christmas party of some sort and receive a bonus that varies from year to year.
- Lunch once a month, coffee once a week, year-end and quarterly bonuses.
- He pays ADHA dues.
Michigan
Who responded: 54 full-time hygienists out of 115 total
Paid holidays: 46% are off with pay for six holidays; 19% said they are paid for five holidays; and 11% enjoy seven paid holidays each year.
Paid vacation: 44% have three or more weeks off each year; 30% have two weeks of paid vacation each year; and 11% enjoy one week. 41% said vacation leave is a standard policy that does not increase with years of service.
Paid sick leave: Up to five days (35%); up to 10 days (6%); up to 15 days (2%); more than 15 days (0%). 56% said they do not receive paid sick days. Of the 44% receiving paid sick days, 41% said they are paid a cash equivalent for unused days.
Continuing education: 23% are reimbursed for all CE costs. Tuition is reimbursed for 46%, but not other expenses. 31% of dental hygienists pay all of own CE expenses. 17% are paid their salary for CE on regularly scheduled workdays.
Uniforms: Employers provide uniforms or scrubs for 70% of respondents.
Other benefits received (individual comments about specific benefits “important” to respondent):
- No co-pay on in-house dentistry. Totally free dental work for employees who do not have dental insurance. End-of-year holiday bonus equivalent to three to four days of average pay.
- $95 a year for shoes allowance
- Quarterly bonuses are not expected, but so appreciative to receive. Nice that my boss includes his staff in on these.
- Bonus pay at the end of the year. Based on daily production
- Small gifts on each holiday — St. Patty's, Valentine's Day, etc. $1000 Christmas bonus.
Ohio
Who responded: 62 full-time hygienists out of 90 total
Paid holidays: 32% are off with pay for six holidays; 21% said they are paid for five holidays; and 13% enjoy four paid holidays each year.
Paid vacation: 47% have three or more weeks off each year; 31% have two weeks of paid vacation each year; and 10% enjoy one week. 49% said vacation leave is a standard policy that does not increase with years of service.
Paid sick leave: Up to five days (39%); up to 10 days (5%); up to 15 days (3%); more than 15 days (3%). 48% said they do not receive paid sick days. Of the 52% receiving paid sick days, 21% said they are paid a cash equivalent for unused days.
Continuing education: 29% are reimbursed for all CE costs. Tuition is reimbursed for 25%, but not other expenses. 46% of dental hygienists pay all of own CE expenses. 23% are paid their salary for CE on regularly scheduled workdays.
Uniforms: Employers provide uniforms or scrubs for 79% of respondents.
Other benefits received (individual comments about specific benefits “important” to respondent):
- Bonus money is given for the amount of my cost for my disability policy. He reimburses me for my cost of my liability insurance. He pays for my state dental hygiene licensure, a renewable bi-annual cost.
- $200 dollar monthly reimbursement for health insurance.
- Two paid personal days.
- Doctor will pay for CEs and travel for once at year at state dental convention.
- Birthday treat and a small ($25) gift card somewhere, staff "fun" days, lunch provided during long staff meetings (once a month), small gifts for days like Valentine’s Day, Easter, etc.
- The office has very good flexibility, my best benefit.
- $50 per month uniform allowance.
- My employer also pays us our hourly salary for time spent driving to and from an CE courses as well as gas reimbursement.
- Freedom to order supplies that are needed (within reason). Doesn't mind us ordering new instruments/equipment.
- Good equipment. Comfortable environment. Nice Christmas bonus.
West Virginia
Who responded: Three full-time hygienists out of four total
Wisconsin
Who responded: 49 full-time hygienists out of 86 total
Paid holidays: 41% are off with pay for six holidays; 14% said they are paid for seven holidays; and 14% enjoy five paid holidays each year.
Paid vacation: 51% have three or more weeks off each year; 27% have two weeks of paid vacation each year; and 8% enjoy one week. 35% said vacation leave is a standard policy that does not increase with years of service.
Paid sick leave: Up to five days (35%); up to 10 days (12%); up to 15 days (0%); more than 15 days (3%). 53% said they do not receive paid sick days. Of the 47% receiving paid sick days, 32% said they are paid a cash equivalent for unused days.
Continuing education: 22% are reimbursed for all CE costs. Tuition is reimbursed for 54%, but not other expenses. 24% of dental hygienists pay all of own CE expenses. 41% are paid their salary for CE on regularly scheduled workdays.
Uniforms: Employers provide uniforms or scrubs for 64% of respondents.
Other benefits received (individual comments about specific benefits “important” to respondent):
- ADA sessions are attended with most expenses covered.
- Christmas bonus of $200.
- Profit sharing plan and bonuses.
- 3% match on retirement fund.
- Christmas bonus and gifts. Doctor makes meals for us on special occasions
- Our employer pays for our CPR recertification and OSHA training during work hours.
- My office is very family friendly. They are very accepting of last minute changes to the schedule for family emergencies or family functions (school events/sports events).
- My family receives free dental care, spouse and any children living at home. Every five years my employer will pay for a new pair of prescription eye wear for me. My vacation time includes my sick days and I'm up to six weeks of paid time off per year.
