If you are considering a career as a vet, then you may be wondering what benefits veterinarians get. At all practices, you should expect the basic working conditions, sick pay, and holiday entitlement that any employer offers, but most veterinary practices often have more generous benefits for their employees.
We have compiled examples of the benefits you should be able to expect from most veterinary practices, as well as some benefits that are less commonly offered by practices but may still be available.
Most veterinary practices offer the following benefits:
Enhanced annual leave plus bank holidays
Most full-time workers are legally entitled to a minimum of 28 days (the equivalent of 5.6 weeks) paid annual leave a year, but many practices will offer additional holiday days as a benefit.
Enhanced maternity and paternity pay
Companies are required to pay statutory maternity pay at 90% of average weekly earnings for the first six weeks of maternity leave and £184.03 or 90% of average weekly earnings (whichever is lower) for the following 33 weeks and also for the 1-2 weeks of paternity leave. However, veterinary practices will often offer a more generous package than this.
Healthcare insurance
Many practices will offer their veterinarians healthcare benefits in the form of private medical insurance, meaning you will be covered for certain private healthcare treatments and will not have to use the NHS in these scenarios.
Enhanced sick pay
By law, employers must pay statutory sick pay to employees who meet the eligibility conditions, including being off sick for at least 4 consecutive days. Some practices however may offer a benefit to their veterinarians in the form of additional days of sick pay.
CPD funding and additional CPD leave
Vets are required to complete a minimum number of hours of continuing professional development (CPD) every year, so being given the funding, or at least some financial support for these courses is a significant benefit for any vet. You may also receive additional time off work to complete them without having to eat into your holiday allowance.
RCVS, BVA and VDS fees paid
As an employed veterinarian, you need to pay annual fees to the Royal College of Veterinary Science, the British Veterinary Association, and the Veterinary Defence Society. Having these fees covered by your employer is very useful.
Access to wellbeing support and Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
Your health and wellbeing are of paramount importance and the veterinary profession can be stressful, so it is important to know that your employer values your wellbeing too and offers this kind of support.
Access to a wide range of discounts
Depending on the practice, veterinarians may be entitled to a wide range of discounts for use during their time off work. These could be discounts for days out, high street businesses, or holidays. While this kind of benefit may not be make-or-break for taking a job, it’s definitely a nice bonus!
Less commonly, practices may offer:
Paid sabbatical
Some practices may offer a paid sabbatical as a benefit after every 5 years of service. Paid sabbaticals are quite rare but do offer unique opportunities for research, travel, or education while retaining your employment position and pay.
Vehicle allowance or company vehicle
Some practices may give you a company car, a vehicle allowance, or a fuel allowance as a benefit to help you get to and from work or for use on the job, such as doing house calls.
Accommodation allowance
Some veterinary practices may offer accommodation allowance or even provide accommodation for their employees as part of a salary sacrifice agreement.
‘Pet’ernity leave
As a vet, you’ve probably got a soft spot for animals! If you get a new pet of your own, some practices may even give you some time off to get them acclimatised to their new home.
Cycle to work scheme
If your employer is part of the cycle to work scheme, you may be eligible for a new bike and the necessary accessories as part of a salary sacrifice, meaning you can make your daily commute much healthier!
Relocation packages
If you need to relocate to take a new position with your employer, they may offer you a relocation package that will help with the expenses involved in the move.
Life assurance
Some practices will offer life assurance as a benefit, with a payout of 4x the veterinarian’s annual salary if they pass away, which can bring a sense of financial security to their family or dependents.
The benefits that you will get as a veterinarian will vary from employer to employer, so you will need to check with the specific practice you are applying to for the benefits they offer. However, it is worth noting that many practices do have very good benefit schemes in place to reward their vets’ hard work and commitment.
If you are looking for a veterinarian position, then you can browse our current listings.