Colorado
Who responded: 66 total, including 35 full-time hygienists
Paid holidays: 20% are off with pay for four holidays; 17% enjoy six paid holidays off, and additional 17% have five paid holidays.
Paid vacation: 37% have three weeks or more off each year; 26% have two weeks of paid vacation each year; and 11% enjoy one week. 14% said vacation leave is a standard policy that does not increase with years of service.
Paid sick leave: Up to five days (29%); up to 10 days (11%); up to 15 days (3%); more than 15 days (3%). 54% said they do not receive paid sick days. Of the 46% receiving paid sick days, 25% said they are paid a cash equivalent for unused days.
Continuing education: 27% are reimbursed for all CE costs. Tuition is reimbursed for 21%, but not other expenses. 52% of dental hygienists pay all of own CE expenses. 31% are paid their salary for CE on regularly scheduled workdays.
Uniforms: Employers provide uniforms or scrubs for 67% of respondents.
Other benefits received (individual comments about specific benefits “important” to respondent):
- Twice a year, the entire office goes on an "outing," and we are paid for the day. For example, last year we had a full spa day with massages, facials, manicures, and pedicures. We also had a day that we went on a guided fly fishing outing, all expenses paid. In the past, we have gone to Rockies baseball game, white water rafting, Broncos game, hiking, etc.
- Family is covered for needed dental work by our office. Any staff meeting lunches are paid for.
- Flexibility in work time/comp time
Montana
Who responded: Seven full-time hygienists out of 11 total
Other benefits received (individual comments about specific benefits “important” to respondent):
- Bi-weekly staff meeting with lunch provided. ADHA membership paid annually, matching on Simple IRA, flexible work schedule if I need a day off without 24 hours notice (sick child, etc.)
- At anniversary, $100 for each year employed
- Bereavement leave pay up to two weeks per tragedy.
- Profit sharing
- Bonus when quarterly goals are met by office
New Mexico
Who responded: Eight full-time hygienists out of 14 total
Oklahoma
Who responded: 14 full-time hygienists out of 23 total
Paid holidays: 36% are off with pay for six holidays; 14% said they are paid for five holidays; and 7% enjoy eight paid holidays each year.
Paid vacation: 29% have two weeks off each year; 21% have three or more weeks of paid vacation each year; and 7% enjoy one week. 36% said vacation leave is a standard policy that does not increase with years of service.
Paid sick leave: Up to five days (14%); up to 10 days (0%); up to 15 days (0%); more than 15 days (14%). 71% said they do not receive paid sick days. Of the 29% receiving paid sick days, 8% said they are paid a cash equivalent for unused days.
Continuing education: 31% are reimbursed for all CE costs. Tuition is reimbursed for 15%, but not other expenses. 54% of dental hygienists pay all of own CE expenses. 21% are paid their salary for CE on regularly scheduled workdays.
Uniforms: Employers provide uniforms or scrubs for 43% of respondents.
Other benefits received (individual comments about specific benefits “important” to respondent):
- Another employee and myself have been here over 20 years. While I have never needed it, we are basically paid the whole time we are off ill or hospitalized. They have been really great to us "old" employees.
- Monthly bonus.
- I am able to take unpaid days off if I have approval two months in advance.
Texas
Who responded: 62 full-time hygienists out of 84 total
Paid holidays: 32% are off with pay for six holidays; 16% said they are paid for five holidays; and 11% enjoy 10 or more paid holidays each year.
Paid vacation: 27% have three or more weeks off each year; 27% have two weeks of paid vacation each year; and 24% enjoy one week. 37% said vacation leave is a standard policy that does not increase with years of service.
Paid sick leave: Up to five days (27%); up to 10 days (3%); up to 15 days (2%); more than 15 days (5%). 61% said they do not receive paid sick days. Of the 39% receiving paid sick days, 28% 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. 31% are paid their salary for CE on regularly scheduled workdays.
Uniforms: Employers provide uniforms or scrubs for 50% of respondents.
Other benefits received (individual comments about specific benefits “important” to respondent):
- Complimentary dental care for my family and me. Compensation pay for jury duty instead of using a personal day/wellness pay for a mandatory civic duty. Bonuses for meeting our monthly and quarterly goals.
- Bonus paid monthly based on production goals.
- Paid days when the dentist takes days off for his personal leave.
- If a product makes us more efficient we are encouraged to order it for the practice; we are not discouraged from "spending too much money" in the hygiene department. We go on trips for CE usually once per year but sometimes more or less often, including Hawaii or Las Vegas.
- Profit-sharing twice a month, Christmas dinner. Pays for our birthday lunch for all employees, and has a summer party where we are paid for a half day.
- One free massage a month.
Wyoming
Who responded: Five full-time hygienists out of seven total
Other benefits received (individual comments about specific benefits “important” to respondent):
- Working alongside multiple hygienists and dentists to learn from each of them.
